Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The open canopy is characterized by the presence of both Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda. A mixture of mesic hardwoods includes Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Quercus falcata, and Quercus velutina. In addition to overstory species, the subcanopy includes Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Liquidambar styraciflua. The patchy shrub layer includes Vaccinium elliottii, Asimina parviflora, Aesculus pavia, Hamamelis virginiana, and Arundinaria gigantea. This community has a sparse herbaceous layer, including Piptochaetium avenaceum, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Elephantopus tomentosus, Hexastylis arifolia, Iris verna, Rudbeckia fulgida, Solidago juncea, Euphorbia pubentissima, and Mitchella repens.

Dynamics:  The total and relative density of the overstory may be altered by a number of factors. For example, Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) damage was noted in a plot attributed to this type (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). Southern Pine Beetle may decimate the pine overstory or heavily reduce it. Selective logging or thinning may also alter the ratio of pines to hardwoods in stands. In some instances following the removal of the commercially valuable species, and in the absence of fire, stands could become populated with successional hardwoods (e.g., Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica) as well as less fire-adapted pines (Pinus taeda). Fire suppression inhibits the reproduction of Pinus echinata and Quercus alba.