Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy is strongly dominated by Quercus stellata with lesser amounts of Pinus palustris, Quercus incana and Quercus marilandica present. Pinus palustris stems although not usually dominant, may be much taller than the hardwoods. The shrub layer is sparse but may include Sassafras albidum, Vaccinium arboreum, Asimina parviflora, Yucca louisianensis, Callicarpa americana, and Viburnum rufidulum. The herbaceous layer is sparse and is often partially suppressed by hardwood leaf litter. Patches of bare sand or areas dominated by lichens (Cladonia spp.) and/or Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii may also occur. Common herbaceous species on more xeric examples include Tragia urens, Tragia smallii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Opuntia stricta, Berlandiera pumila, Tradescantia reverchonii, Commelina erecta, Croton argyranthemus, Gymnopogon ambiguus, Eriogonum longifolium, Cnidoscolus texanus, Solidago odora, Tetragonotheca ludoviciana, and Aristolochia reticulata. Other herbaceous species typical of adjacent longleaf pine-dominated woodlands which may be present include Schizachyrium scoparium, Dichanthelium spp., Tephrosia virginiana, Desmodium spp., Stylosanthes biflora, Oligoneuron nitidum (= Solidago nitida), Pityopsis graminifolia, and Vernonia texana.

Dynamics:  These sites tend to burn less frequently than the surrounding slopes and uplands, in part due to the amount of hardwood leaves and bare soil patches present. Extremely droughty conditions combined with low fire frequency favor the growth of xeric hardwood species, which in turn perpetuate a lower fire frequency due to the paucity and low flammability of hardwood litter. The current structure and composition of these woodlands may be due, in part, to preferential historic removal of pines over hardwoods, and alteration of fire frequency, seasonality, and intensity. Leaf-cutter ant (Atta texana) activity is a frequent cause of large bare soil patches in this type; they may have major local influence on soil characteristics within active and abandoned mound sites (R. Evans pers. obs.).