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CEGL008410 Pinus (echinata, taeda) / Symplocos tinctoria - Morella cerifera - Vaccinium elliottii Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Shortleaf Pine, Loblolly Pine) / Horsesugar - Wax-myrtle - Elliott''s Blueberry Forest

Colloquial Name: Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Shortleaf Pine - Loblolly Pine Naturally Mixed Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: Natural forests occurring in the Coastal Plain west of the Mississippi River dominated by Pinus echinata and/or Pinus taeda. This forest is known from the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas, Louisiana, eastern Texas, and southeastern Oklahoma. This type is highly variable in terms of species composition and density due, in part, to occurrence across a wide range of site conditions ranging from dry-mesic to mesic. The canopy cover in stands can range from nearly pure pine of either Pinus echinata or Pinus taeda singly or in combination to approximately 25% hardwood species. Species composition tends to vary according to soil moisture with Pinus echinata attaining greater importance on drier sites, along with Quercus stellata, Quercus falcata. Pinus taeda and hardwoods such as Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus alba, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Symplocos tinctoria may be more important on mesic sites. The short-shrub stratum is sparse to patchy and includes canopy seedlings and Symplocos tinctoria, Morella cerifera, Vaccinium elliottii, Viburnum dentatum, Cornus florida, and Callicarpa americana. Vines may be sparse to moderately dense and include Vitis rotundifolia, Gelsemium sempervirens, Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax pumila, and Smilax rotundifolia. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense and includes Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Carex spp., Mitchella repens, Eupatorium perfoliatum, and Polystichum acrostichoides. This forest typically occurs on Pleistocene terraces above the current floodplain but not on rugged topography. This community is commonly found on middle and lower slopes between uplands and streambottoms, but also on ridges and upper slopes. Soils are acidic and include silt loams, sandy loams underlain by clay, silty clays and clays. Caddo silt loam is a typical soil series.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type represents the merger of 3 formerly distinct types, former Pinus echinata / Myrica cerifera - Symplocos tinctoria Forest (CEGL007077), Pinus taeda / Symplocos tinctoria - Myrica cerifera - Vaccinium elliottii Forest (CEGL007111), and Pinus taeda - (Pinus echinata) / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum Natural Successional Forest (CEGL007113), which were found in different alliances. Shrub nominals of the former CEGL007111 were restored to this type.

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

Floristics: The canopy cover in stands can range from nearly pure pine of either Pinus echinata or Pinus taeda singly or in combination to approximately 25% hardwood species. Species composition tends to vary according to soil moisture with Pinus echinata attaining greater importance on drier sites, along with Quercus stellata, Quercus falcata. Pinus taeda and hardwoods such as Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus alba, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Symplocos tinctoria may be more important on mesic sites. The short-shrub stratum is sparse to patchy and includes canopy seedlings and Symplocos tinctoria, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Vaccinium elliottii, Viburnum dentatum, Cornus florida, and Callicarpa americana. Vines may be sparse to moderately dense and include Vitis rotundifolia, Gelsemium sempervirens, Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax pumila, and Smilax rotundifolia. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense and includes Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Carex spp., Mitchella repens, Eupatorium perfoliatum, and Polystichum acrostichoides. Other species include Athyrium filix-femina, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Botrychium spp., Prenanthes altissima, Spigelia marilandica, Solidago spp., Erigeron pulchellus, Epifagus virginiana, Viola spp., Desmodium nudiflorum, Uvularia perfoliata, Galium circaezans, Polygonatum biflorum, Cynoglossum virginianum, Sanicula spp., Arisaema triphyllum, Trillium spp., Tipularia discolor, and Melica mutica (Martin and Smith 1993). The exotics Lonicera japonica, Ligustrum sinense, and Microstegium vimineum may occur in this community.

Dynamics:  One factor influencing the variability in this community is the time since the last natural disturbance. Pinus taeda comes in immediately after a natural disturbance event and dominates solely for a period afterwards. Hardwood species are able to colonize with canopy closure, and can quickly capture space and resources with the opening of the Pinus canopy due to natural mortality. Pinus taeda is seemingly able to re-establish itself in canopy gaps and remain in the community, although its overall cover decreases with time (Martin and Smith 1993, Foti 1995). This community results from natural disturbance, such as wind and icestorms. Some examples of this community, especially drier sites on terraces, may experience periodic, low-intensity surface fires. These sites often contain considerable Quercus stellata and Quercus falcata, and lack fire-intolerant species such as Fagus grandifolia, Ilex opaca, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Insect and pathogen outbreaks are other disturbance events affecting this community (Martin and Smith 1993).
Environmental Description:  Hydrology ranges from dry-mesic to mesic. This forest typically occurs on Pleistocene terraces above the current floodplain but not on rugged topography. This community is commonly found on middle and lower slopes between uplands and stream bottoms, but also on ridges and upper slopes in areas topographically isolated from fire-prone uplands. Soils are acidic and include silt loams, sandy loams underlain by clay, silty clays and clays. Caddo silt loam is a typical soil series.
Geographic Range: This forest is known from the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas, Louisiana, eastern Texas, and southeastern Oklahoma (Martin and Smith 1993).

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, LA, OK, TX


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.g Loblolly Pine - Shortleaf Pine - Oak species Forest & Woodland Group G013 1.B.2.Na.1.g
Alliance A3130 Loblolly Pine - White Oak / Viburnum species Forest Alliance A3130 1.B.2.Na.1.g
Association CEGL008410 (Shortleaf Pine, Loblolly Pine) / Horsesugar - Wax-myrtle - Elliott''s Blueberry Forest CEGL008410 1.B.2.Na.1.g
Concept Lineage: merged. CEGL007896 merged into CEGL007113 which was subsequently merged into CEGL008410.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IA6e. Loblolly Pine - Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
< Loblolly Pine (31) (USFS 1988)
< Loblolly Pine-Oak Series (Diamond 1993)
< Loblolly Pine: 81 (Eyre 1980)
? T1A9bII2a. Pinus taeda (Foti et al. 1994)
< White Oak - Loblolly Pine - Callicarpa Mesic Lower Slopes and Terraces (Turner et al. 1999)
Concept Author(s): R.E. Evans

Author of Description: J.E. Mohan and R.E. Evans

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-24-06
  • Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
  • Foti, T., M. Blaney, X. Li, and K. G. Smith. 1994. A classification system for the natural vegetation of Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:50-53.
  • Foti, Tom. Personal communication. Ecologist [retired]. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock.
  • Hatchell, G. E. 1964. Small mammal species and populations in the loblolly-shortleaf pine forest type of Louisiana. Research Paper SO-10. USDA Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 12 pp.
  • LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
  • Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
  • Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1993. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Evangeline and Catahoula districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 274 pp.
  • 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.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. 1999. Ecological classification system for the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX. 95 pp. plus appendices.
  • USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1988. Silvicultural examination and prescription field book. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.