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CEGL002101 Quercus palustris - (Quercus stellata) - Quercus pagoda / Isoetes spp. Wet Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pin Oak - (Post Oak) - Cherrybark Oak / Quillwort species Wet Forest
Colloquial Name: Pin Oak - Post Oak Lowland Flatwoods
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This pin oak - cherrybark oak bottomland or flatwoods forest community type is found in the central United States, principally in the Ohio and Mississippi River plains and tributaries. Stands occur on poorly drained terrace flats that are seasonally wet (mostly during winter and early spring and dry in late summer and early fall). Soils are slowly to very slowly permeable due to a high clay content or the presence of a fragipan. This results in a shallow, perched water table during the rainy season (winter and spring) and dry conditions during the summer and fall. Soils are silt loam to silty clay loam, deep, heavy, strongly acidic (pH 5.1-5.5), and poorly drained. Dominant canopy species are Quercus palustris and Quercus pagoda. Other trees often encountered include Ulmus americana, Fraxinus spp., Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus shumardii, and Quercus stellata. Severe floods due to dams may have eliminated Quercus stellata from most occurrences of this community. Quercus bicolor can be plentiful in northern extensions of this association, while Quercus texana is commonly found in southern occurrences. The subcanopy is sparse and dominated by Acer rubrum, although a diverse mixture of bottomland species can be present as well. Ilex decidua and Crataegus viridis dominate the shrub layer. Carex spp. dominate the herbaceous layer, but a diverse mixture of forbs can also be present. Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, an herbaceous species more commonly associated with dry uplands, reflects the dry conditions seasonally found in this forest. Campsis radicans and Toxicodendron radicans dominate the vine stratum. Isoetes spp., characteristic of this community, are found often in the shallow pools. As with other flatwood forests, vegetation density and diversity are largely regulated by the duration and depth of seasonal flooding and summer drought.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Quercus palustris and Quercus pagoda are good indicator species and should be the dominant contributors to the forest canopy. Less dominant but also diagnostic is the presence of Quercus stellata, which is indicative of periods of dry to very dry conditions.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Structural variation in this community is regulated by the duration and depth of flooding, moisture availability, and soil physical properties. Understory, shrub, herbaceous, and vine strata can be dense when moisture conditions are ideal and canopy closure is incomplete (patchy). Quite often, however, the vegetation in this element shows outward signs (wilting, poor growth) of drought conditions during the hot summer months. Trees in this forest range from moderate in size (pin oak: 25-30 m in height, 1 m in diameter) to very large (cherrybark oak: 30-40 m tall, 1-1.5 m in diameter). Cherrybark oak is one of the tallest southern oaks, with a long, straight trunk, massive branches, and an open, wide-spreading crown. Pin oaks have straight trunks which extend up into a symmetrical, pyramidal crown. The trunks of this tree (below the canopy) display tough, drooping branches commonly referred to as "pins." Trees in this community are often stunted due to lack of moisture and limited root penetration.
Floristics: This community is dominated by broadleaf deciduous trees, with sparse to well-developed understory, shrub, and herbaceous strata. Dominant canopy species are Quercus palustris and Quercus pagoda. Other trees often encountered include Ulmus americana, Fraxinus spp., Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus shumardii, and Quercus stellata. Quercus bicolor can be plentiful in northern extensions of this type, while Quercus texana (= Quercus nuttallii) is commonly found in southern occurrences. The subcanopy is sparse and dominated by Acer rubrum, although a diverse mixture of bottomland species can be present as well. Ilex decidua and Crataegus viridis dominate the shrub layer. Carex spp. dominate the herbaceous layer, but a diverse mixture of forbs can also be present. Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, an aromatic herbaceous species more commonly associated with dry uplands, reflects the dry conditions seasonally found in this forest. Numerous ubiquitous species grow in this natural community; the most commonly encountered are Campsis radicans and Toxicodendron radicans which dominate the vine stratum.
Considerable variability in species composition and physiognomy is encountered within and among occurrences of this natural community throughout its range. This variability is a result of hydrologic influences (duration, depth, and timing of flooding), soil physical properties (the presence of clay or a fragipan), and the amount of light penetrating the tree canopy. Quercus bicolor can be plentiful in northern extensions of this type, while Quercus texana is commonly found in southern occurrences. Quercus stellata, a species most often associated with dry uplands, is also commonly found within this unique blend of environmental conditions.
Considerable variability in species composition and physiognomy is encountered within and among occurrences of this natural community throughout its range. This variability is a result of hydrologic influences (duration, depth, and timing of flooding), soil physical properties (the presence of clay or a fragipan), and the amount of light penetrating the tree canopy. Quercus bicolor can be plentiful in northern extensions of this type, while Quercus texana is commonly found in southern occurrences. Quercus stellata, a species most often associated with dry uplands, is also commonly found within this unique blend of environmental conditions.
Dynamics: Natural disturbance includes damage caused by flooding, wind, lightning, drought, and fire. These may favor more heliotrophic plant species. Unnatural flood severity due to levees and channelization may have eliminated Quercus stellata from most examples of this forest. This community is seasonally wet due to the presence of a shallow perched water table and then dry in the summer when a hardpan or impermeable clay soils prevent replenishment of soil moisture from capillary action and restrict rooting depth. This community occupies a position which is intermediate in the flooding gradient. Mature trees can be killed by prolonged flooding (Yeager 1949). Although species found in this community suggest a middle successional stage, unique edaphic conditions probably make it a climax forest.
Environmental Description: Soils are slowly to very slowly permeable due to a high clay content or the presence of a fragipan. This results in a shallow, perched water table during the rainy season (winter and spring) and dry conditions during the summer and fall, thereby restricting rooting depth. Soils are silt loam to silty clay loam, deep, heavy, strongly acidic (pH 5.1-5.5), and poorly drained. These soils have a moderate to high clay content and a high shrink-swell capacity. Subsequently, when soils are wet, they are very impermeable; when dry, they crack excessively. This tendency to contract and expand in response to moisture creates a hummocky, uneven surface with many slight depressions. As with other flatwood forests, vegetative density and diversity are largely regulated by the duration and depth of seasonal flooding and summer drought (TNC 1995a).
Soils include predominantly level or nearly level soils that formed in water-laid clayey or loamy sediments on the floodplains of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Although flatwoods are best developed on soils with massive, brittle fragipans, they are also well-represented on relatively impermeable clay soils. Fragipans (hardpan) are usually developed from glacial till of Illinoisan age in the Midwest (White and Madany 1978). This glacial material forms a loamy brittle subsurface horizon that is low in porosity and organic matter, low or moderate in clay, but high in silt or very fine sand. A fragipan appears cemented and restricts root growth and water flow. Clays also display an affinity for water, which makes it unavailable to plants when soils begin to dry. Clay soils have a high shrink-swell capacity and crack excessively as they dry. During the rainy season, water slowly permeates these soils and ponds in depressions. The soil dries rapidly in the summer or during drought, and herbaceous vegetation wilts in response to this stress. The penetration of tree roots in the subsoil and burrowing by animals is limited by the hardpan (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985). Order: Entisol, Mollisol; Subgroup: Typic Fluvaquents, Vertic Haplaquent, Fluvaquentic Halplaquolls; Family: fine-silty, montmorillonitic-mixed, non-acidic, mesic, udic; Series (IL): Beaucoup, Bonnie, Birds, Cairo, Cape, Darwin, Jacob, Karnak, Petrollia, Piopolis. Bedrock is deeply buried Paleozoic sandstone or stratified Cenozoic marine deposits.
Ponding of water in shallow depressions encourages growth of hydrophytic vegetation during the growing season. Flooding is rare, occurring seasonally for only a brief duration. During the summer and periods of drought, soils in this community can become quite dry. This characteristic encourages the growth of vegetation typically associated with dry uplands. Tree species in this type may not tolerate deep flooding (Robertson et al. 1984).
Soils include predominantly level or nearly level soils that formed in water-laid clayey or loamy sediments on the floodplains of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Although flatwoods are best developed on soils with massive, brittle fragipans, they are also well-represented on relatively impermeable clay soils. Fragipans (hardpan) are usually developed from glacial till of Illinoisan age in the Midwest (White and Madany 1978). This glacial material forms a loamy brittle subsurface horizon that is low in porosity and organic matter, low or moderate in clay, but high in silt or very fine sand. A fragipan appears cemented and restricts root growth and water flow. Clays also display an affinity for water, which makes it unavailable to plants when soils begin to dry. Clay soils have a high shrink-swell capacity and crack excessively as they dry. During the rainy season, water slowly permeates these soils and ponds in depressions. The soil dries rapidly in the summer or during drought, and herbaceous vegetation wilts in response to this stress. The penetration of tree roots in the subsoil and burrowing by animals is limited by the hardpan (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985). Order: Entisol, Mollisol; Subgroup: Typic Fluvaquents, Vertic Haplaquent, Fluvaquentic Halplaquolls; Family: fine-silty, montmorillonitic-mixed, non-acidic, mesic, udic; Series (IL): Beaucoup, Bonnie, Birds, Cairo, Cape, Darwin, Jacob, Karnak, Petrollia, Piopolis. Bedrock is deeply buried Paleozoic sandstone or stratified Cenozoic marine deposits.
Ponding of water in shallow depressions encourages growth of hydrophytic vegetation during the growing season. Flooding is rare, occurring seasonally for only a brief duration. During the summer and periods of drought, soils in this community can become quite dry. This characteristic encourages the growth of vegetation typically associated with dry uplands. Tree species in this type may not tolerate deep flooding (Robertson et al. 1984).
Geographic Range: This community is found in southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana, southeastern Missouri, and possibly eastern Kentucky. Further field research is needed to verify the occurrence of this community in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN, KY?, MO, TN?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686638
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M503 | 1.B.3.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.2.h <i>Quercus bicolor - Fagus grandifolia - Acer rubrum</i> Swamp Forest Group | G918 | 1.B.3.Na.2.h |
| Alliance | A4474 <i>Quercus palustris - Quercus bicolor</i> Central Interior Swamp Forest Alliance | A4474 | 1.B.3.Na.2.h |
| Association | CEGL002101 Pin Oak - (Post Oak) - Cherrybark Oak / Quillwort species Wet Forest | CEGL002101 | 1.B.3.Na.2.h |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus palustris - (Quercus stellata) - Quercus pagoda / Isoetes spp. Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Quercus palustris - (Quercus stellata) - Quercus pagoda / Isoetes spp. Forest (TNC 1995a)
>< Quercus phellos - Quercus palustris shallow floodplain type (Robertson et al. 1984) [Flatwoods occupy low-lying dry timber land on level to nearly level soil that has an impermeable or slowly permeable layer (hardpan) which causes a shallow, perched water table and widely fluctuating soil moisture (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985).]
< Pin Oak - Sweetgum: 65 (Eyre 1980)
< Swamp Chestnut Oak - Cherrybark Oak: 91 (Eyre 1980)
= Quercus palustris - (Quercus stellata) - Quercus pagoda / Isoetes spp. Forest (TNC 1995a)
>< Quercus phellos - Quercus palustris shallow floodplain type (Robertson et al. 1984) [Flatwoods occupy low-lying dry timber land on level to nearly level soil that has an impermeable or slowly permeable layer (hardpan) which causes a shallow, perched water table and widely fluctuating soil moisture (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985).]
< Pin Oak - Sweetgum: 65 (Eyre 1980)
< Swamp Chestnut Oak - Cherrybark Oak: 91 (Eyre 1980)
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