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CEGL003714 Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica - Carya (carolinae-septentrionalis, glabra) / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - (Southern Shagbark Hickory, Pignut Hickory) / Little Bluestem Woodland
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Montmorillonite Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community occurs most commonly on mafic igneous rocks found in the Triassic basins in the Piedmont of the southeastern United States. Examples may be found on flat uplands where diabase (and related rocks such as gabbro) form dikes or sills close to the surface and subsequent soil development has been affected. Typically, these areas develop dense subsurface "hardpans" and shrink-swell properties that limit plant rooting depth. Thus, vegetation often has a somewhat stunted and open canopy dominated by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica. Other typical canopy species include Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, Quercus alba, Quercus phellos, Pinus virginiana, Pinus echinata, and others. Typical understory species include Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Diospyros virginiana, Vaccinium arboreum, Ulmus alata, and Chionanthus virginicus. Shrubs may be sparse or dense, with Viburnum rafinesqueanum, Viburnum prunifolium, Viburnum rufidulum, and Vaccinium stamineum typical. The most common herbs are Danthonia spicata and Schizachyrium scoparium. Other herbs may include Piptochaetium avenaceum, Clematis ochroleuca, Sericocarpus linifolius, Hieracium venosum, Hieracium gronovii, Hypericum hypericoides, Symphyotrichum dumosum, Oenothera fruticosa, Lespedeza spp., and Solidago spp. Cladonia spp. are typically present and sometimes common and conspicuous. The woodland structure is maintained by extreme edaphic conditions or by fire.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The occurrence of a number of species associated with xeric hardpan forest, but which occur largely in pastures, roadsides, or other chronically disturbed areas, supports the idea of a more naturally open vegetation structure (Schafale and Weakley 1990). This association represents the "Basic Hardpan Variant" type of Xeric Hardpan Forest. Another association, ~Quercus stellata - (Quercus marilandica) / Gaylussacia frondosa Acidic Hardpan Woodland (CEGL004413)$$, represents the "Acidic Hardpan Variant" (Oakley et al. 1995). See also ~Quercus stellata - Carya carolinae-septentrionalis / Acer leucoderme / Piptochaetium avenaceum - Danthonia spicata Woodland (CEGL003713)$$, the "Basic Rocky Variant" of Piedmont Xeric Hardpan Forest.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community has a somewhat stunted and open canopy dominated by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica. Other typical canopy species include Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, Quercus alba, Quercus phellos, Pinus virginiana, Pinus echinata, and others. Typical understory species include Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Diospyros virginiana, Vaccinium arboreum, Ulmus alata, and Chionanthus virginicus (Schafale and Weakley 1990). Shrubs may be sparse or dense, with Viburnum rafinesqueanum (= var. rafinesqueanum), Viburnum prunifolium, Viburnum rufidulum, and Vaccinium stamineum typical. The most common herbs are Danthonia spicata and Schizachyrium scoparium. Other herbs may include Piptochaetium avenaceum, Clematis ochroleuca, Sericocarpus linifolius (= Aster solidagineus), Hieracium venosum, Hieracium gronovii, Hypericum hypericoides, Symphyotrichum dumosum (= Aster dumosus), Oenothera fruticosa, Lespedeza spp., and Solidago spp. Cladonia spp. are typically present and sometimes common and conspicuous. Composition at the northern end of the range in Virginia varies a bit from the typical, with Quercus alba often codominant with Quercus stellata and Carya glabra, and Quercus marilandica and Carya carolinae-septentrionalis infrequent. The herb layer of open Virginia stands is usually dominated by dense swards of Piptochaetium avenaceum, Danthonia spicata, and Scleria oligantha.
Dynamics: Many of these sites now have a more-or-less closed canopy, but are assumed to have been more open. The natural fire frequency is not known but is certain to have been greater in the past (Schafale and Weakley 1990).
Environmental Description: This community is perhaps best known from the Triassic Basin of the Piedmont from south-central Virginia southward, extending into Georgia. Examples occur on upland hardpan flats with montmorillonitic or vertic (shrink-swell) soils. The woodland structure is maintained by extreme edaphic conditions (rooting restrictions, shearing, frequent moisture deficits) or by fire. It is more likely to be found in Iredell or other high-magnesium soils, in contrast to the Acidic Hardpan Variant (Oakley et al. 1995).
Geographic Range: This type occurs in areas of mafic lithology in the Piedmont of North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, NC, SC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687110
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.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.a White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Water Oak Forest Group | G165 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A4434 Post Oak Hardpan Woodland Alliance | A4434 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003714 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - (Southern Shagbark Hickory, Pignut Hickory) / Little Bluestem Woodland | CEGL003714 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: included here
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Montmorillonite Forest (Peet and Christensen 1980)
= Xeric Hardpan Forest, Basic Hardpan Variant (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
? Xeric Hardpan Forest, Basic Hardpan Variant (Oakley et al. 1995)
= Xeric Hardpan Forest, Basic Hardpan Variant (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
? Xeric Hardpan Forest, Basic Hardpan Variant (Oakley et al. 1995)
- Fleming, G. P. 2002b. Preliminary classification of Piedmont & Inner Coastal Plain vegetation types in Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-14. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 29 pp.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2003. Preliminary vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2003. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Oakley, S. C., H. E. LeGrand, Jr., and M. P. Schafale. 1995. An inventory of mafic natural areas in the North Carolina Piedmont. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 252 pp.
- Patterson, Karen D. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.
- Peet, R. K., and N. L. Christensen. 1980. Hardwood forest vegetation of the North Carolina Piedmont. Veroffentlichungen des Geobotanischen Institutes der ETH, Stiftung Rubel 68:14-39.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.