Print Report
CEGL003559 Pinus echinata / Quercus incana / Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine / Bluejack Oak / Riddell''s Spikemoss Woodland
Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Xeric Stream Terrace Shortleaf Pine Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This xeric stream terrace forest/woodland of the West Gulf Coastal Plain occurs on very well-drained Pleistocene terraces and low, broad ridges on deep, acidic sandy soils. The open canopy consists of Pinus echinata (sometimes with some Pinus taeda as well). An open to dense subcanopy consists of Quercus margarettae, Quercus incana, and Quercus hemisphaerica. The patchy to open shrub stratum may include Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Vaccinium arboreum, Frangula caroliniana, Asimina parviflora, Chionanthus virginicus, Stillingia sylvatica, Vitis aestivalis var. lincecumii. Due to xeric conditions, graminoids and forbs are very sparse in this community, and patches of exposed sand are common. Typical herbs include Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii, Opuntia humifusa, Cnidoscolus texanus, Aristida desmantha, Tephrosia virginiana, Cyperus grayoides, and Carex tenax. Lichens (Cladonia spp.) and spikemoss (Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii) form large patches.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The nominal Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii occurs on gravelly or sandy soils in the coastal plain of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma and on granite outcrops in Georgia and Alabama. It is included in the name as a geographic and environmental indicator, indicating a xeric habitat. Examples occur at "Pearfield," Winn District, Kisatchie National Forest, Winn Parish, Louisiana (this is presumably also called "Prickly Pear Flat" [see Martin and Smith 1991, p. 247]). There are lingering doubts about the relationship of this type with floristically overlapping types of the region, but as currently conceptualized, this association differs from most other extremely xeric types of the region due to occurrence on stream terraces. Arguably, the most related association is ~Pinus palustris / Quercus incana / Schizachyrium scoparium - Liatris elegans - Opuntia humifusa Woodland (CEGL003580)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The open Pinus canopy ranges generally from 15-40% cover, with some examples being slightly more or less dense (10-60%); however, all occurrences are included under the Woodland Class. The stunted, scrubby tall-shrub stratum ranges from approximately 2-5 m in height. This stratum is patchy and varies from approximately 30-60% in cover and is dominated by Quercus incana, Quercus margarettae, and Quercus hemisphaerica. Other associates include Vaccinium arboreum (= var. glaucescens), Ilex vomitoria, Frangula caroliniana, Asimina parviflora, Chionanthus virginicus, Stillingia sylvatica, Vitis aestivalis var. lincecumii (= Vitis lincecumii), and Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. lanuginosum. Due to the xeric conditions, trees are typically stunted, and graminoids and forbs are not abundant in this community. The very widely scattered herbaceous layer may contain Aristida desmantha, Opuntia humifusa (= var. humifusa), Tephrosia virginiana, Carex tenax, Cyperus grayoides, Cnidoscolus texanus, and others. Open patches of bare sand intermix with patches of lichens (Cladonia spp.) and spikemoss (Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii).
Dynamics: Although specific fire frequencies are not yet known, fire certainly played an important role in this community. Fire-suppressed examples of this type are observed to have an increased canopy cover. Historical fire intervals were probably equal to or greater than those estimated for xeric Pinus palustris-dominated sandy woodlands of the Western Gulf Coastal Plain (30-50 years). The adjacent Pinus palustris woodland matrix was likely important in the fire ecology of this community.
Fire-suppressed occurrences, especially on the less xeric sites, may experience an increased cover of Pinus and Quercus and succeed to a Pinus - Quercus forest. Windthrow, insect infestations, and disease also play a role in this community''s dynamics; hurricanes and tornadoes are infrequent but important events in much of this community''s range.
Fire-suppressed occurrences, especially on the less xeric sites, may experience an increased cover of Pinus and Quercus and succeed to a Pinus - Quercus forest. Windthrow, insect infestations, and disease also play a role in this community''s dynamics; hurricanes and tornadoes are infrequent but important events in much of this community''s range.
Environmental Description: This woodland occurs on low xeric Pleistocene terraces on very well-drained, deep, acidic sands. Soils types include Betis, Briley, and Bienville sands. This woodland is most often found scattered near streams on the Sparta and Catahoula geologic formations.
Geographic Range: This is a West Gulf Coastal Plain community occurring in west-central Louisiana and possibly in eastern Texas. It does not occur in Arkansas as presently defined (T. Foti pers. comm.) or southeastern Oklahoma (B. Hoagland pers. comm.).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, LA, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684269
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2Q
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M016 | 1.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.1.g Loblolly Pine - Shortleaf Pine - Oak species Forest & Woodland Group | G013 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
| Alliance | A0386 Bluejack Oak - Arkansas Oak - Shortleaf Pine Woodland Alliance | A0386 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
| Association | CEGL003559 Shortleaf Pine / Bluejack Oak / Riddell''s Spikemoss Woodland | CEGL003559 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
Concept Lineage: Merged in; they are 2 phases of the same thing, with acceptable physiognomic variation.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IB6a. Western Xeric Sandhill (Allard 1990)
? Loblolly Pine - Hardwood (USFS 1988)
< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
= Sandy Woodland, Stream Terrace Phase (Martin and Smith 1991)
< Shortleaf Pine - Bluejack Oak / Tragia Grossarenic Dry Uplands (Turner et al. 1999)
< Shortleaf Pine - Oak: 76 (Eyre 1980)
< Southern Scrub Oak: 72 (Eyre 1980)
? Loblolly Pine - Hardwood (USFS 1988)
< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
= Sandy Woodland, Stream Terrace Phase (Martin and Smith 1991)
< Shortleaf Pine - Bluejack Oak / Tragia Grossarenic Dry Uplands (Turner et al. 1999)
< Shortleaf Pine - Oak: 76 (Eyre 1980)
< Southern Scrub Oak: 72 (Eyre 1980)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Egan, R. S. 1987. A fifth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 90:77-173.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Foti, Tom. Personal communication. Ecologist [retired]. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock.
- Hoagland, Bruce W. Personal communication. Ecologist, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, University of Oklahoma, Norman.
- LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
- Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
- Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1993. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Evangeline and Catahoula districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 274 pp.
- Martin, W. H., S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. 1993a. Biodiversity of the southeastern United States: Lowland terrestrial communities. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 502 pp.
- Orzell, S. L., principal investigator. 1990. Texas Natural Heritage Program inventory of national forest and national grasslands in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Natural Heritage Program, Austin.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TNHS [Texas Natural History Survey]. No date. Unpublished data. Texas Natural History Survey, The Nature Conservancy, San Antonio.
- Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. 1999. Ecological classification system for the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX. 95 pp. plus appendices.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1988. Silvicultural examination and prescription field book. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.