Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Laurel Oak - Willow Oak / Southern Arrow-wood - (Gulf Sebastian-bush) / Southern Waxy Sedge Upper West Gulf Wet Flatwoods Forest

Colloquial Name: Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Laurel Oak Flatwoods Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This hardwood flatwoods forest is one of several described types known to occur in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas, and probably Arkansas and Louisiana, as well as in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas. It is found on broad, seasonally wet flats on high Pleistocene terraces which are not typically affected by overbank flooding from streams or rivers. The local landscape in which this type occurs is topographically variable with alternating mounds and depressions. Mounds may be only a few feet higher than depressions, but the difference contributes to local vegetation differences which are represented by different associations. As currently described, this association encompasses vegetation occurring in swales with varying hydroperiods and/or possibly varying soil nutrients, primarily areas with fairly substantial hydroperiods. The vegetation is characterized by Quercus laurifolia in the canopy often occurring with Quercus phellos. Understory components may include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Nyssa biflora, Ditrysinia fruticosa, Sabal minor, Cephalanthus occidentalis, and Cornus foemina. Areas with apparently slightly shorter hydroperiods or differing soil nutrients, characterized by a mixture of hydric to mesic oaks and other hardwoods in the canopy, including Quercus phellos which is often dominant, Quercus pagoda, Quercus michauxii, Quercus nigra, Nyssa biflora, and Fraxinus pennsylvanica, are accommodated by other associations. Subcanopy components include Crataegus marshallii, Carpinus caroliniana, Ulmus alata, Ilex opaca, Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum, and Ulmus americana.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: When originally created, this flatwoods forest was broadly defined to accommodate the vegetation present on both mounds and swales. This type has now been modified to represent only swale vegetation; however, even within the swales or intermounds, the vegetation is quite variable and may warrant further separation into distinct associations. Drier mounds are covered under ~Quercus alba - Carya tomentosa / Symplocos tinctoria / Mitchella repens Forest (CEGL007980)$$. This association is known from the Yellow Creek Hunt Club in Arkansas and from a number of sites on the national forests in eastern Texas, where vegetation and soil data have been collected (Turner et al. unpubl. data, NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). In southeastern Texas, these areas are locally known as "Pin Oak Flats." The difference between this type and ~Quercus phellos / Chasmanthium laxum - Carex (flaccosperma, intumescens) - Hymenocallis liriosme Wet Flatwoods Forest (CEGL007371)$$ is not readily apparent. Although these types are widely geographically separated, future work is needed to clarify the differences.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available