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CEGL007513 Pinus palustris - Pinus echinata - Quercus (incana, margarettae) / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine - Shortleaf Pine - (Bluejack Oak, Sand Post Oak) / Little Bluestem Woodland
Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Fire-Infrequent Xeric Longleaf Pine Sandhill Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This xeric forest develops on fuel-limited, xeric, deep sands within the range of Pinus palustris in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Louisiana and Texas. An open canopy of some combination of Pinus palustris, Pinus echinata, and/or Pinus taeda is typically present. A midstory of Quercus incana or Quercus margarettae is usually present, indicative of the extreme droughtiness of the sites. The short-shrub stratum is patchy to dense and may include Vaccinium arboreum, Ilex vomitoria, Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. lanuginosum, Asimina parviflora, Chionanthus virginicus, Stillingia sylvatica, Frangula caroliniana, Hamamelis virginiana, and seedlings of canopy species. The scattered herbaceous layer contains Schizachyrium scoparium, Aristida desmantha, and Cnidoscolus texanus. Scattered fruticose lichens (Cladonia spp.) often occur. The ground cover is sparse, due to extreme site conditions. This community generally occurs on uplands surrounded by Pinus palustris-dominated woodlands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a natural type that occurs on fire-protected or fire-infrequent, extremely deep xeric sands in the West Gulf Coastal Plain.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The fairly open to closed, mixed Pinus - Quercus canopy (10-22 m high) ranges from 60-100% cover. Some combination of Pinus palustris, Pinus echinata, and/or Pinus taeda is typically present in the open canopy. Due to its lower stature Quercus incana is generally low in the canopy or forms a subcanopy stratum. In addition to the nominal species, Quercus hemisphaerica may occur. The short-shrub stratum (0.5-2 m in height) is patchy to dense and includes Vaccinium arboreum, Ilex vomitoria, Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. lanuginosum, Asimina parviflora, Chionanthus virginicus, Stillingia sylvatica, Frangula caroliniana, Hamamelis virginiana, and seedlings of canopy species. The scattered herbaceous layer contains Schizachyrium scoparium, Aristida desmantha, and Cnidoscolus texanus. Other herbs that may occur in examples of this community include Eriogonum longifolium, Eriogonum multiflorum, Penstemon murrayanus, Polanisia erosa, Polygonella americana, Polygonella polygama, and Zornia bracteata. Scattered fruticose lichens (Cladonia spp.) often occur.
Dynamics: Fire plays a much more limited role in the maintenance of this community in comparison to Pinus palustris woodlands and may follow a silvicultural prescription. The natural fire regime is thought to be lower than that of other Pinus palustris communities because of naturally sparse fuel conditions. This community results from forest conversion and/or severe fire suppression of historical xeric Pinus palustris woodlands.
Environmental Description: This forest occurs on ridgetops and flat xeric uplands. This type occurs on excessively well-drained, acidic, sandy, often Grossarenic soils on xeric uplands. The extremely permeable soils on which this community is found include Betis, Briley and Boykin loamy sands; it is known particularly from sandy strata in the Sparta, Catahoula, and Fleming geologic formations and the Wilcox geologic group.
Geographic Range: This type is known from western Louisiana and eastern Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: LA, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687382
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D006 | 1.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Na.1 Longleaf Pine / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Macrogroup | M007 | 1.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.1.c Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak Xeric Woodland Group | G154 | 1.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3122 Longleaf Pine / Bluejack Oak Woodland Alliance | A3122 | 1.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL007513 Longleaf Pine - Shortleaf Pine - (Bluejack Oak, Sand Post Oak) / Little Bluestem Woodland | CEGL007513 | 1.B.1.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Loblolly Pine - Hardwood (USFS 1988)
< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
< Longleaf Pine (21) (USFS 1988)
< Longleaf Pine - Scrub Oak: 71 (Eyre 1980)
< Upland Longleaf Pine Forest (Martin and Smith 1991)
< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
< Longleaf Pine (21) (USFS 1988)
< Longleaf Pine - Scrub Oak: 71 (Eyre 1980)
< Upland Longleaf Pine Forest (Martin and Smith 1991)
- Allred, B. W., and H. C. Mitchell. 1955. Major plant types of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas and their relation to climate and soils. Texas Journal of Science 7:7-19.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Hatchell, G. E. 1964. Small mammal species and populations in the loblolly-shortleaf pine forest type of Louisiana. Research Paper SO-10. USDA Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 12 pp.
- LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
- Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
- Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1993. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Evangeline and Catahoula districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 274 pp.
- Orzell, S. L., principal investigator. 1990. Texas Natural Heritage Program inventory of national forest and national grasslands in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Natural Heritage Program, Austin.
- Reed, D. P. 1982. Understory vegetative yield in the loblolly pine-shortleaf pine-upland hardwood forest type, Louisiana. M.S. thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. 256 pp.
- Soil Conservation Service. 1990. Soil survey of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Prepared by Martin, P. G., Jr., C. L. Butler, E. Scott, J. E. Lyles, M. Mariano, J. Ragus, P. Mason, and L. Schoelerman. USDA Soil Conservation Service, in cooperation with USDA Forest Service, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, and Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation Commission. 193 pp. plus maps.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TNHS [Texas Natural History Survey]. No date. Unpublished data. Texas Natural History Survey, The Nature Conservancy, San Antonio.
- Turner, L. M. 1935a. Notes on forest types of northwestern Arkansas. The American Midland Naturalist 16:417-421.
- Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. No date. Unpublished data from the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1988. Silvicultural examination and prescription field book. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.