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CEGL006433 Quercus alba - (Quercus velutina) / Lespedeza virginica - Eupatorium hyssopifolium Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: This white oak- mixed oak barrens community occurs on the unglaciated Western Allegheny Plateau in Ohio, on moderate to steep hillside slopes and more level to gently rolling ridgetops with southern or southwestern exposure.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - (Black Oak) / Slender Bushclover - Hyssopleaf Thoroughwort Woodland
Colloquial Name: Western Allegheny Plateau Oak Barrens
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This oak barrens community occurs largely on the unglaciated Western Allegheny Plateau of Ohio on moderate to steep hillside slopes and more level to gently rolling ridgetops with southern or southwestern exposure. Soils are generally acidic derived from Mississippian and Pennsylvanian age sandstones and conglomerates. Shallow, droughty, sandy loam soils tend to occupy the slopes, while a more heavy-textured silt loam is found on the ridges. Bedrock is often exposed at the surface. Seepage zones from the porous bedrock may be present. Dominant canopy species are usually Quercus alba and Quercus velutina with Quercus coccinea, Acer rubrum, and Carya spp. Other canopy associates may include Quercus stellata, Quercus montana, Populus grandidentata, and Pinus virginiana. Pinus rigida can be locally dominant, particularly where the Sharon conglomerate outcrops are exposed, as in Pike and Jackson counties, Ohio. The shrub layer is sparse and poorly developed, composed of scattered patches of Vaccinium pallidum or Gaylussacia baccata. Herbaceous cover is discontinuous and may vary considerably depending on topographical position and shade cast by canopy cover. Schizachyrium scoparium and, less often, Sorghastrum nutans may dominate in open areas where soils are well-developed or on the more level ridges. Schizachyrium scoparium also dominates on the drought-prone, sandy soils of hillside slopes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The herbaceous component of this association is similar to the sandstone barrens of Indiana (Homoya 1994). Where this vegetation occurs in the glaciated portion of the ecoregion, it may be sufficiently different to recognize as a separate type; however, insufficient information currently exists to justify a split.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Dominant canopy species are usually Quercus alba and Quercus velutina with Quercus coccinea, Acer rubrum, and Carya spp. Other canopy associates may include Quercus stellata, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Populus grandidentata, and Pinus virginiana. Pinus rigida can be locally dominant, particularly where the Sharon conglomerate outcrops are exposed, as in Pike and Jackson counties, Ohio. The shrub layer is sparse and poorly developed, composed of scattered patches of Vaccinium pallidum or Gaylussacia baccata. Herbaceous cover is discontinuous and may vary considerably depending on topographical position and shade cast by canopy cover. Schizachyrium scoparium and, less often, Sorghastrum nutans may dominate in open areas where soils are well-developed or on the more level ridges. Schizachyrium scoparium also dominates on the drought-prone, sandy soils of hillside slopes. Other common grasses include Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon gyrans, Panicum anceps, and occasionally Andropogon gerardii. Other generally common grasses and sedges include Aristida purpurascens, Dichanthelium depauperatum (= Panicum depauperatum), Dichanthelium laxiflorum (= Panicum laxiflorum), Agrostis hyemalis, Danthonia spicata, and Carex spp. Common forbs may include Asclepias hirtella, Asclepias tuberosa, Asclepias amplexicaulis, Coreopsis tripteris, Cirsium altissimum, Silphium trifoliatum, Solidago nemoralis, Orbexilum pedunculatum, and Chamaecrista fasciculata (= Cassia fasciculata). Other associated forbs include Symphyotrichum patens var. patens, Sericocarpus asteroides, Sericocarpus linifolius, Chrysopsis mariana, Helianthemum canadense, Helianthus microcephalus, Helianthus divaricatus, Helianthus occidentalis, Liatris aspera, Lechea racemulosa, Lechea mucronata (= Lechea villosa), Lechea intermedia, Lechea tenuifolia, Lobelia puberula, and Tephrosia virginiana. Characteristic and conspicuous species include Lespedeza hirta, Lespedeza violacea, Lespedeza virginica, Lespedeza procumbens, Eupatorium rotundifolium, Eupatorium album, Eupatorium serotinum, Eupatorium sessilifolium, and Eupatorium hyssopifolium. Mesic microhabitats created by seepage zones in sandstone may contain Scleria pauciflora, Rhynchospora capitellata, and Aletris farinosa, among others.
Dynamics: Community maintenance was/is highly dependent on frequent fire. The droughty nature of the soils exerts some influence, although in the absence of fire, woody plant succession is relatively rapid from Rhus copallinum, Rhus glabra, Sassafras albidum, Acer rubrum, Pinus spp., Rubus spp., and Smilax spp.
Environmental Description: This oak barrens community of the unglaciated Western Allegheny Plateau (and small portions in the glaciated portion of the ecoregion) occurs on moderate to steep hillside slopes and more level to gently rolling ridgetops with southern or southwestern exposure. Soils are generally acidic derived from Mississippian and Pennsylvanian age sandstones and conglomerates. Shallow, droughty, sandy loam soils tend to occupy the slopes, while a more heavy-textured silt loam is found on the ridges. Bedrock is often exposed at the surface. Seepage zones from the porous bedrock may be present.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the Western Allegheny Plateau in small remnants in Ohio and possibly West Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OH
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685150
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M502 | 1.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.2.c White Oak - Chestnut Oak - Pignut Hickory Forest & Woodland Group | G650 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A4391 White Oak - Quercus montana Western Allegheny Forest | A4391 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
| Association | CEGL006433 White Oak - (Black Oak) / Slender Bushclover - Hyssopleaf Thoroughwort Woodland | CEGL006433 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus alba - (Quercus velutina) / Lespedeza virginica - Eupatorium hyssopifolium Woodland (Sneddon and Menard 2002)
? Sandstone barrens (Homoya 1994) [of Indiana.]
? Sandstone barrens (Homoya 1994) [of Indiana.]
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Homoya, M. A. 1994. Indiana barrens: Classification and description. Castanea 59(3):204-213.
- ONHD [Ohio Natural Heritage Database]. No date. Vegetation classification of Ohio and unpublished data. Ohio Natural Heritage Database, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus.
- Sneddon, L., and S. Menard, editors. 2002. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the United States, Western Allegheny Plateau. Draft revisions based on contributions of the Western Allegheny Plateau Ecology Group. Unpublished report. NatureServe, Boston, MA.