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CEGL002396 Quercus stellata - Quercus velutina - Quercus alba - (Quercus falcata) / Croton michauxii Sand Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Post Oak - Black Oak - White Oak - (Southern Red Oak) / Michaux''s Croton Sand Woodland
Colloquial Name: Post Oak - Mixed Oak Sand Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This post oak - mixed oak woodland community is found in the upper reaches of the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain of the southeastern United States, particularly in southeastern Missouri and, at least historically, in adjacent states. Stands occur on gentle to moderately steep mid and upper slopes of hills and plains, on ridges and knolls of terraces, and on ridgetops. Soils are deep (100 cm or more), well-drained, and composed of eolian or alluvial sand and loess. The canopy is 7-30 m tall, dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. The understory is 2-8 m tall with less than 75% cover. Shrubs and small trees are both present in the understory. The low-shrub layer contains Vaccinium pallidum in Missouri. The ground cover consists of mixed herbaceous species with a cover of 10-60%. Herbaceous species include Saccharum alopecuroides, Polygonella americana, Helianthus microcephalus, Solidago odora, Asclepias variegata, Desmodium viridiflorum, Croton michauxii, Cyperus grayoides, and Sida elliottii. Lichens and mosses are often present in drier examples of this community. This community is historic in Arkansas and perhaps in Kentucky.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Concept of this type is taken in part from the Missouri state type - Dry-Mesic Sand Forest (Nelson 1985). It is similar to the dry sand forest type, ~Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica - Quercus falcata / Schizachyrium scoparium Sand Woodland (CEGL002417)$$. This community is poorly understood and further studies are needed. Most remaining examples of this community have been severely altered and at present their classification is unresolved. This community may be similar to submesic oak - hickory forests in the Arkansas portion of Crowley''s Ridge. Crowley''s Ridge is wind-deposited loess and substrates are not typically sand. There are, however, sand dunes found on the Mississippi Alluvial Plain in northeastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri, west of Crowley''s Ridge (D. Zollner pers. comm. 1999).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland community has a tree canopy 7-30 m tall with 25-60% cover. The physiognomy of this community is largely shaped by the degree of moisture available. The more mesic stands have taller, more closed canopies. The understory of the drier stands is shorter, more sparse, and the plants have an open-grown morphology. The dominant tree species include Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. The understory is 2-8 m tall with less than 75% cover. Shrubs and small trees are both present in the understory. The low-shrub Vaccinium pallidum is present in Missouri. communities. The ground cover consists of mixed herbaceous species with a cover of 10-60%. Herbaceous species include Saccharum alopecuroides, Polygonella americana, Helianthus microcephalus, Solidago odora, Asclepias variegata, Desmodium viridiflorum, Croton michauxii (= Crotonopsis linearis), Cyperus grayoides, and Sida elliottii.
Dynamics: Occasional droughts, wind storms, and lightning damage may occur (Nelson 1985).
Environmental Description: In Missouri, this community occurs on sandy alluvial terraces coming off the west side of Crowley''s Ridge and on sand dunes of the Sikeston Ridge. Stands may also be found on loamy sand ridges of Crowley''s Ridge (loess deposits on ancient sand/gravel deposits) (M. Leahy pers. comm. 1999). The drier stands of this community are best developed on southern and western aspects, and have excessively drained soils, 40-100 cm deep. The dry-mesic stands are typically on eastern and northern aspects, except on terraces where the aspect is neutral. These stands have well-drained soils, 100 cm or more deep. The parent material of dry and dry-mesic stands is eolian or alluvial sand and loess (Nelson 1985).
Geographic Range: This post oak - mixed oak woodland community is found in the upper reaches of the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain of the southeastern United States, particularly in southeastern Missouri and, at least historically, in adjacent states.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR?, KY?, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687247
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.c White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G159 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3290 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - White Oak Ozark-Ouachita Woodland Alliance | A3290 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002396 Post Oak - Black Oak - White Oak - (Southern Red Oak) / Michaux''s Croton Sand Woodland | CEGL002396 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus stellata - Quercus velutina - Quercus alba - (Quercus falcata) / Croton michauxii Sand Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
< Dry-Mesic Sand Forest (Nelson 1985)
? Post Oak-Mixed Oak Sand Forest (Midwestern Ecology Working Group n.d.) [Ambrose et al. (1994)]
< Dry-Mesic Sand Forest (Nelson 1985)
? Post Oak-Mixed Oak Sand Forest (Midwestern Ecology Working Group n.d.) [Ambrose et al. (1994)]
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Leahy, Mike. Personal communication. Missouri Natural Heritage Database, Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- Zollner, Douglas. Personal communication. Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock.