Print Report
CEGL007828 Quercus rubra / Ostrya virginiana / Ptelea trifoliata - Ribes curvatum / Helianthus divaricatus Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Red Oak - Hophornbeam / Common Hoptree - Granite Gooseberry / Woodland Sunflower Woodland
Colloquial Name: Ridgetop Novaculite Red Oak Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Stands of this association are open, short (5-10 m tall), submesic Quercus rubra-dominated woodlands on sharp, narrow ridges of novaculite outcroppings in the central Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas. The canopy is strongly dominated by Quercus rubra and Carya texana and can approach a forest physiognomy. Other trees that form a minor canopy component, but may be scattered throughout, include Carya ovalis, Pinus echinata, Quercus alba, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus stellata (can be locally dominant), and Ulmus alata. The understory is dominated by Ostrya virginiana and Diospyros virginiana. Other understory trees may include Acer rubrum, Amelanchier arborea, Celtis tenuifolia, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Crataegus marshallii, Juniperus virginiana, and Prunus serotina. The shrub stratum has moderate cover of tall and short shrubs. Ptelea trifoliata is characteristic, and Ribes curvatum is locally dominant in rocky thickets. Other shrubs can include Aesculus glabra, Frangula caroliniana, Hamamelis virginiana, Hypericum hypericoides, Rhus aromatica, Robinia pseudoacacia, Sideroxylon lanuginosum, and Vaccinium arboreum. Common vines include Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Vitis rotundifolia. Herbaceous cover is variable (50-75%) and is a mixture of forb and graminoid species. Common herbaceous species include Helianthus divaricatus (can be locally dominant), Muhlenbergia sobolifera (can be locally dominant), Ageratina altissima var. altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aristolochia serpentaria, Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea, Campanulastrum americanum, Danthonia spicata, Desmodium marilandicum, Desmodium nudiflorum, Elymus hystrix, Galium arkansanum, Passiflora lutea, Lespedeza virginica, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scutellaria ovata, Solidago ulmifolia, and Streptanthus maculatus ssp. obtusifolius. These woodlands occur over droughty, rocky soils, on narrow, relatively flat, novaculite ridgetops at 450-640 m (1476-2100 feet) elevation in the central Ouachita Mountains. They occur as linear features on multiple adjacent ridges and are interspersed with grassy openings (glades) with Schizachyrium scoparium and Andropogon gerardii, with occasional Quercus stellata and Acer floridanum. This community typically grades into vegetation dominated by Pinus echinata, Quercus velutina, and Quercus alba on southern slopes and Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina on northern slopes. The type location is in Polk County, Arkansas. Other examples are known from Montgomery and Hot Spring counties.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The name, concept, and Global Rank of this association needs review by ecologists in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Comparison and distinctions should be made with ~Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis Forest (CEGL002070)$$. The Elymus species that occurs in this community may be an undescribed variant of Elymus hystrix (D. Zollner pers. comm.).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy of stands is strongly dominated by Quercus rubra and Carya texana and can approach a forest physiognomy. Other trees that form a minor canopy component, but may be scattered throughout, include Carya ovalis, Pinus echinata, Quercus alba, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus stellata (which can be locally dominant), and Ulmus alata. The understory is dominated by Ostrya virginiana and Diospyros virginiana. Other understory trees may include Acer rubrum, Amelanchier arborea, Celtis tenuifolia, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Crataegus marshallii, Juniperus virginiana, and Prunus serotina. The shrub stratum has moderate cover of tall and short shrubs. Ptelea trifoliata is characteristic, and Ribes curvatum is locally dominant in rocky thickets. Other shrubs can include Aesculus glabra, Frangula caroliniana, Hamamelis virginiana, Hypericum hypericoides, Rhus aromatica, Robinia pseudoacacia, Sideroxylon lanuginosum, and Vaccinium arboreum. Common vines include Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Vitis rotundifolia. Herbaceous cover is variable (50-75%) and is a mixture of forb and graminoid species. Common herbaceous species include Helianthus divaricatus (can be locally dominant), Muhlenbergia sobolifera (can be locally dominant), Ageratina altissima var. altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aristolochia serpentaria, Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea, Campanulastrum americanum, Danthonia spicata, Desmodium marilandicum, Desmodium nudiflorum, Elymus hystrix, Galium arkansanum, Passiflora lutea, Lespedeza virginica, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scutellaria ovata, Solidago ulmifolia, and Streptanthus maculatus ssp. obtusifolius (= Streptanthus obtusifolius).
Dynamics: The open structure of this community is thought to be controlled by a combination of periodic fire and severe drought. Most overstory trees have multiple stems indicating past die-back due to severe drought of decades-long intervals. Summer leaf loss is common and snags extant. Minor droughts cause extensive die-backs in smaller stems and appear to maintain shrubby conditions in places. Historically fire is thought to have played a more important role than today in maintaining the open canopy. The effects of fire suppression are unknown but have probably allowed these woodlands to increase in density.
Environmental Description: These woodlands occur over droughty, rocky soils on narrow, relatively flat, novaculite ridgetops at 450-640 m (1476-2100 feet) elevation in the central Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas. They occur as linear features on multiple adjacent ridges and are interspersed with grassy openings (glades) with Schizachyrium scoparium and Andropogon gerardii, with occasional Quercus stellata and Acer floridanum. This community typically grades into vegetation dominated by Pinus echinata, Quercus velutina, and Quercus alba on southern slopes and Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina on northern slopes. Novaculite is a weakly metamorphosed rock of sedimentary origin as a bedded, virtually pure silica chert deposited under geosynclinal conditions. It is primarily composed of microcrystalline quartz and chalcedony. The Arkansas novaculite formation is of Devonian and Mississippian age and consists of novaculite interbedded with some shale. It ranges in thickness from about 76 to 275 m (250-900 feet) (Arkansas Geological Commission 2001, Babcock et al. 2001).
Geographic Range: This community is found in the central Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, OK?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685557
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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 | A3288 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Post Oak Ozark-Ouachita Forest Alliance | A3288 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL007828 Northern Red Oak - Hophornbeam / Common Hoptree - Granite Gooseberry / Woodland Sunflower Woodland | CEGL007828 | 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 rubra / Ostrya virginiana / Ptelea trifoliata - Ribes curvatum / Helianthus divaricatus Novaculite Ridgetop Woodland (Smith et al. 2000)
- Arkansas Geological Commission. 2001. Novaculite. [http://www.state.ar.us/agc/novaculi.htm]. (accessed December 10, 2001)
- Babcock, L. L., and others. 2001. Novaculite -- the Arkansas sharpening stone. [http://www.knifeart.com/knifeart/novarsharsto.html] (accessed 10 December 2001).
- Fountain, M. S., and J. M. Sweeney. 1985. Ecological assessment of the Roaring Branch Research Natural Area. Research Paper SO-213. USDA Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 15 pp.
- Smith, S., D. Zollner, and S. Simon. 2000. Reassessment of Roaring Branch Research Natural Area. Unpublished technical report. The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.