Print Report
CEGL002150 Quercus alba - Quercus stellata - Quercus velutina / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - Post Oak - Black Oak / Little Bluestem Woodland
Colloquial Name: Ozark White Oak - Post Oak / Bluestem Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This white oak - post oak woodland community is found in the Ozarks and adjacent regions of the United States. Stands occur on gentle to steep hills, plains, ridges, and flats of all aspects. The soils are well- to very rapidly drained, and very shallow to deep (0-100 cm). The parent material is chert, sandstone, or igneous with areas of bedrock or rock residuum present at the surface. This woodland community has 20-60% tree canopy cover, which is short to medium in height (7-20 m) and dominated by species such as Crataegus spp., Pinus echinata, Quercus alba, Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. The trees are often limby or shrubby in areas of sparse cover where bedrock is exposed. When an understory is present it is variable, consisting of a mosaic of scattered shrubs or groups of small trees. Shrubs include Rhus aromatica, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vaccinium pallidum. The ground cover is dominated by grasses such as Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans, with sparse to mixed forbs. Mosses and lichens are often present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Only a few occurrences of this community are known. Most of the original sites have been destroyed by logging, grazing, conversion to forest because of fire suppression, or invasion by exotic species. This community is associated with glades, cliffs, and dry forests in southeastern Missouri. ~Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica - Quercus velutina - Carya texana / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002149)$$ is similar to this type but drier; however, in Missouri they may be similar enough to combine (M. Leahy pers. comm. 1999). This type could also be in Illinois as the woodland form of the dry-mesic barren type ~Quercus stellata - Quercus alba - (Quercus falcata) / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL004217)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland community has 20-60% tree canopy cover, 7-20 m tall, and dominated by tree species such as Crataegus spp., Pinus echinata, Quercus alba, Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. The trees are often limby or shrubby in areas of sparse cover where bedrock is exposed. When an understory is present it is variable, consisting of a mosaic of scattered shrubs or groups of small trees. Shrubs include Rhus aromatica, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vaccinium pallidum. The ground cover is dominated by grasses such as Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans, with sparse to mixed forbs. Mosses and lichens are often present.
Dynamics: This community is subject to periodic fires, wind damage, and grazing by large herbivores. These disturbances keep woody vegetation from forming a closed canopy.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on gentle to steep hills, plains, ridges, and flats of all aspects. The soils are well- to very rapidly drained, and very shallow to deep (0-100 cm). The parent material is chert, sandstone, or, rarely, igneous with areas of bedrock or rock residuum present at the surface.
Geographic Range: This white oak - post oak woodland community is found in the Ozark region of the United States, particularly in Missouri and Arkansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685460
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.c White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G159 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3290 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - White Oak Ozark-Ouachita Woodland Alliance | A3290 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002150 White Oak - Post Oak - Black Oak / Little Bluestem Woodland | CEGL002150 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus alba - Quercus stellata - Quercus velutina / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Hop, K., M. Pyne, T. Foti, S. Lubinski, R. White, and J. Dieck. 2012a. National Park Service vegetation inventory program: Buffalo National River, Arkansas. Natural Resource Report NPS/HTLN/NRR--2012/526. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 340 pp.
- Leahy, Mike. Personal communication. Missouri Natural Heritage Database, Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.