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CEGL003602 Pinus palustris / Quercus incana - Quercus margarettae / Cnidoscolus texanus - Stylisma pickeringii var. pattersonii Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Bluejack Oak - Sand Post Oak / Texas Tread-softly - Patterson''s Dawnflower Woodland

Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Xeric Longleaf Pine Sandhill

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This xeric woodland of the West Gulf Coastal Plain is dominated by an open to fairly closed Pinus palustris canopy. Pinus palustris is usually the only overstory tree present in high-quality, well-burned examples. The presence of Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda in the canopy indicate lower quality examples. Quercus margarettae and Quercus incana are the next most important woody species, along with Sassafras albidum. The shrub layer may be dominated by Vaccinium arboreum. The herbaceous layer may be fairly sparse, yet distinguished by several West Gulf Coastal Plain endemics, and local xeric fidels. Considerable lichen cover (Cladonia spp. and Cladina spp.) may exist along with patches of exposed sand. This type exists in a matrix of pyrogenic Pinus palustris communities and experiences average fire-return intervals of 2-10 years.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Cnidoscolus texanus is included in the name because it is indicative of a xeric moisture regime and a West Gulf Coastal Plain distribution.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Pinus palustris is usually the only overstory tree present in high-quality, well-burned examples. This woodland is dominated by a tall (20-25 m), open to fairly closed (25-60% cover) Pinus palustris canopy. Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda may occur in the canopy but are not dominant; higher cover of these indicates lower-quality examples. The subcanopy may be dense (40-80% cover) due to the lack of fire. Quercus margarettae and Quercus incana are the next most important woody species, along with Sassafras albidum. Other woody species include Quercus marilandica, Rhus copallinum, Asimina parviflora, Diospyros virginiana, and scattered stems of Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda. The shrub layer may be dominated by Vaccinium arboreum. The ground layer of frequently burned examples is dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium and Stylisma pickeringii. Typical species include Opuntia humifusa, Opuntia stricta, Andropogon ternarius, Gymnopogon ambiguus, Aristida desmantha, Tragia urens, Polygala polygama, Triplasis purpurea, Tradescantia reverchonii, Stylisma pickeringii var. pattersonii, Vitis aestivalis var. lincecumii (= Vitis lincecumii), Helianthemum georgianum, Lithospermum caroliniense, Toxicodendron pubescens, Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii, Eriogonum longifolium, Eriogonum multiflorum, Stillingia sylvatica, and Tetragonotheca ludoviciana. Considerable foliose lichen cover exists along with patches of exposed sand (Correll and Johnston 1970, Bridges and Orzell 1989a, Martin and Smith 1991). West Gulf Coastal Plain endemic or near-endemic species that may occur in this type include Berlandiera betonicifolia (= Berlandiera x betonicifolia), Cnidoscolus texanus, Dalea villosa var. grisea, Hymenopappus artemisiifolius, Matelea cynanchoides, Stylisma pickeringii var. pattersonii, and Tradescantia reverchonii (Correll and Johnston 1979, Bridges and Orzell 1989a).

Dynamics:  The presence of Pinus echinata and/or Pinus taeda in the canopy is thought to indicate encroachment during periods of reduced fire frequency. However, it is believed that natural fire regimes in this xeric type were somewhat less frequent than the more mesic, matrix types. As a consequence, shrubs, including Vaccinium arboreum, are more common in this type than in more mesic and more frequently burned Pinus palustris types.
Environmental Description:  This community occurs on ridgetops and upper slopes in highly dissected to rolling topography over extremely well-drained, deep (Grossarenic) sands. In eastern Texas this community is found primarily on the Carrizo Formation and more rarely on the Wilcox Formation, and possibly on the Catahoula, Manning, and Wellborn formations. In western and central Louisiana this type is presumably more widespread on the Pleistocene High Terraces, certain members of the Fleming Formation, and is particularly well expressed on the Catahoula and Sparta formations. Soil subgroups include Grossarenic Paleudults and Typic Quartzipsamments (Bridges and Orzell 1989a, Martin and Smith 1991).
Geographic Range: This type is restricted to the West Gulf Coastal Plain of eastern Texas and central and western Louisiana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  LA, TX


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.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 CEGL003602 Longleaf Pine / Bluejack Oak - Sand Post Oak / Texas Tread-softly - Patterson''s Dawnflower Woodland CEGL003602 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Concept Lineage: Merged

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IB6a. Western Xeric Sandhill (Allard 1990)
< Longleaf Pine - Bluejack Oak / Tragia Grossarenic Dry Uplands (Turner et al. 1999)
< Longleaf Pine: 70 (Eyre 1980)
>< Sandy Woodland (Martin and Smith 1991)
= Upland Longleaf Pine Savanna, Subtype 2 - Xeric sandhill (Bridges and Orzell 1989a)
Concept Author(s): J. Mohan

Author of Description: J.E. Mohan, L.M. Smith and R.E. Evans

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-21-15
  • Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
  • Bridges, E. L., and S. L. Orzell. 1989a. Longleaf pine communities of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Natural Areas Journal 9:246-263.
  • Correll, D. S., and M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation. Renner, TX. (Second printing, 1979. University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson) 1881 pp.
  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
  • Egan, R. S. 1987. A fifth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 90:77-173.
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 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.
  • 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.
  • 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, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. 1999. Ecological classification system for the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX. 95 pp. plus appendices.
  • 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.