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CEGL008582 Pinus taeda - (Pinus echinata) / Quercus michauxii / Thaspium barbinode Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Loblolly Pine - (Shortleaf Pine) / Swamp Chestnut Oak / Hairy-joint Meadow-parsnip Forest
Colloquial Name: Neches Bluff Pine / Swamp Chestnut Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry-mesic Pinus taeda forest is found in eastern Texas in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain. It occurs on an unusually steep, north-facing slope close to the Neches River, in Houston County, Texas. The community has calciphilic tendencies due to the underlying presence of the calcareous Weches Formation. Pinus taeda is the dominant overstory tree, but Pinus echinata is also quite common. The subcanopy abundance of Quercus michauxii is an extremely unusual feature of this community. Calciphilic indicators, including Acer floridanum, Ostrya virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Cercis canadensis, are present, along with several caric sedges (Carex oxylepis, Carex caroliniana, Carex amphibola, Carex cephalophora, and Carex albicans var. australis). Thaspium barbinode may also be indicative of calciphilic conditions.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is known and described from the Davy Crockett National Forest; this may be the only location in Texas for Thaspium barbinode.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Pinus taeda is the dominant overstory tree, but Pinus echinata is also quite common. The subcanopy abundance of Quercus michauxii is an extremely unusual feature of this community. Other subcanopy trees and woody species documented in a vegetation plot include Fraxinus americana, Quercus velutina, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Cornus florida, Ostrya virginiana, Cercis canadensis, Tilia americana var. caroliniana (= Tilia caroliniana), Ilex opaca, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Shrub species include Viburnum rufidulum, Ilex opaca, Frangula caroliniana, and Forestiera ligustrina. The sparse herbaceous layer includes Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Dichanthelium boscii, Galium circaezans, and Thaspium barbinode. Thaspium barbinode may be indicative of calciphilic conditions in the Coastal Plain (Bridges and Orzell 1989a). A number of other herbaceous species have been reported from this site, including Carex oxylepis, Carex caroliniana, Carex amphibola, Carex cephalophora, Carex albicans var. australis (= Carex physorhyncha), Polystichum acrostichoides, Packera obovata (= Senecio obovatus), Silene stellata, Phryma leptostachya, Thalictrum dasycarpum, and Woodsia obtusa (Bridges and Orzell 1989a).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is found on an unusually steep, north-facing slope close to the Neches River. At this locality the calcareous Weches Formation occurs sporadically underneath the Sparta Sand Formation (Bridges and Orzell 1989a). Exposed Weches boulders are not uncommon here.
Geographic Range: This forest occurs in eastern Texas where it is currently known from a single county.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686000
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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 | CEGL008582 Loblolly Pine - (Shortleaf Pine) / Swamp Chestnut Oak / Hairy-joint Meadow-parsnip Forest | CEGL008582 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Bridges, E. L., and S. L. Orzell. 1989a. Longleaf pine communities of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Natural Areas Journal 9:246-263.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.