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CEGL007507 Pinus echinata - Quercus (incana, stellata, margarettae) / Cnidoscolus texanus Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine - (Bluejack Oak, Post Oak, Sand Post Oak) / Texas Tread-softly Woodland

Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Xeric Upland Shortleaf Pine - Oak Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shortleaf pine-oak forest/woodland occurs on xeric sandy uplands west of the Mississippi River in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain and less frequently in the West Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregions. Many examples may appear to be short-statured woodlands of Quercus incana, Quercus margarettae, and Quercus stellata with a sparse, emergent canopy of Pinus echinata. The ground cover ranges from patchy to sparse, due to the xeric conditions and the variable effects of fire management. Relative density of herbs may be quite low, but those present are often found almost exclusively on such sites in the region. Such characteristic species include Opuntia humifusa, Cnidoscolus texanus, Eriogonum longifolium, Eriogonum multiflorum, Penstemon murrayanus, Polanisia erosa, Polygonella americana, Polygonella polygama, and Zornia bracteata. Many examples may contain scattered patches of fruticose lichens (Cladonia spp.) and possibly spike-moss (Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii).

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: For unknown reasons, this type was originally conceived as an artifact of fire suppression, but the concept has since been clarified to include natural vegetation. Carya texana was originally used as a nominal species simply to indicate that the range of this community is west of the Mississippi River; Cnidoscolus texanus conveys this range as well as the xeric nature of the community.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: In addition to the nominal species, Carya texana, Quercus marilandica, Cornus florida, Pinus taeda, and rarely Pinus palustris may be present (Turner et al. unpubl. data). The shrub layer includes Sassafras albidum, Vaccinium arboreum, Ilex vomitoria, Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. lanuginosum, Asimina parviflora, Chionanthus virginicus, Stillingia sylvatica, Frangula caroliniana, and seedlings of canopy species. The widely scattered herbaceous layer contains Pteridium aquilinum, Aristida desmantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, Vitis aestivalis var. lincecumii (= Vitis lincecumii), Physalis pumila, Ceanothus americanus, Galactia regularis, Galactia volubilis, Desmodium canescens, Lespedeza hirta, Baptisia nuttalliana, and others. More open examples may contain scattered patches of fruticose lichens (Cladonia spp.) and possibly spike-moss (Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii).

Dynamics:  The importance of fire for this community is not well known or documented. However, fire is believed to have been a critical natural disturbance process which affected the vegetation structure and species composition of many Pinus echinata communities. Pinus echinata itself is a fire-tolerant species. Although young stems may be top-killed by fire, they frequently resprout. In addition, Pinus echinata regeneration decreases dramatically with time since fire (Ferguson 1958). A variety of fire-return intervals have been estimated for Pinus echinata vegetation. Garren (1943) proposed an 8- to 10-year return interval, Landers (1989) inferred a regime of 10 per century, and Martin and Smith (1993) estimated a 5- to 15-year interval; however, none of these estimates were specific to the extreme sandhill habitat of this community. These extremely sandy sites tend to lack continuous cover of herbaceous plants that form the bulk of the fine fuels necessary to carry fire. As a result, fires in this community may be extremely patchy, and the return interval may have been less than sites supporting a greater herbaceous component. When this type occurs adjacent to longleaf pine-dominated vegetation, the historical fire frequency must have been less than that of the Pinus palustris type in order for the Pinus echinata and hardwoods to persist and out-compete the Pinus palustris. 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 type may have been most common and still locally abundant in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of eastern Texas and western Louisiana (primarily north of the historic range of longleaf pine). However, sites are also known in eastern Texas (on the Carrizo Formation) within the range of Pinus palustris (R. Evans pers. obs.). In all cases, this community occurs on soils that are sandy, Grossarenic, nutrient-poor, and strongly acidic, typically on ridgetops and flat uplands. Soil types include Betis sands, Briley sands, Bienville loamy fine sands, Ruston sands, and Smithdale sands (L. Smith pers. comm.). The natural variant of this type which is succeeding from xeric Pinus echinata - Pinus taeda- or Pinus echinata - Quercus spp.-dominated woodlands due to fire suppression is most often found scattered on the Sparta and Catahoula geologic formations.
Geographic Range: This type is known from west of the Mississippi River in eastern Texas, western Louisiana, southeastern Oklahoma, and possibly Arkansas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, LA, OK, TX


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

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 CEGL007507 Shortleaf Pine - (Bluejack Oak, Post Oak, Sand Post Oak) / Texas Tread-softly Woodland CEGL007507 1.B.2.Na.1.g
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IA7a. Xeric Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
? Loblolly Pine - Hardwood (USFS 1988)
< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
< Shortleaf Pine - Bluejack Oak / Tragia Grossarenic Dry Uplands (Turner et al. 1999)
? Shortleaf Pine - Oak (USFS 1988)
< Shortleaf Pine - Oak: 76 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): R.E. Evans

Author of Description: R.E. Evans

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-10-04
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  • Soil Conservation Service. 1990. Soil survey of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Prepared by Martin, P. G., Jr., C. L. Butler, E. Scott, J. E. Lyles, M. Mariano, J. Ragus, P. Mason, and L. Schoelerman. USDA Soil Conservation Service, in cooperation with USDA Forest Service, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, and Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation Commission. 193 pp. plus maps.
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  • Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. No date. Unpublished data from the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX.
  • USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1988. Silvicultural examination and prescription field book. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.