Print Report
CEGL007921 Quercus phellos - Quercus similis - Ulmus crassifolia Wet Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Willow Oak - Bottomland Post Oak - Cedar Elm Wet Forest
Colloquial Name: Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Oak - Elm Flatwoods Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association comprises forests and woodlands of Pleistocene terraces dominated by Quercus phellos, Quercus similis, and Ulmus crassifolia, in the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain and Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain and possibly adjacent ecoregions. These forests/woodlands occur on flat Pleistocene terraces, topographically higher than adjacent floodplains which contain forests dominated by Quercus lyrata and Carya aquatica, among others. They are found on acidic to mildly alkaline soils, commonly on Portland, Tensas, and Hebert silt loams. Characteristic canopy species include the nominal species, plus Quercus stellata and Quercus falcata, with Quercus alba in mesic rather than wet areas. Vernal pools may be dominated solely by Quercus phellos, or even by wetter species such as Quercus lyrata and Carya aquatica. Understory species include Crataegus spp., Ilex decidua, and Viburnum dentatum and with Sabal minor in some sites. The terraces are typically above current floodplains and often have impermeable layers in the subsoil. This leads to seasonal extremes in moisture, from very wet in the wet season (November-April) and extremely dry in the dry season (July-October), a moisture regime termed hydroxeric or xerohydric. Because of the seasonal dryness, fire is an important process. Frequent fire leads to a woodland condition, and with open canopy, a diverse ground layer may develop, with grasses and forbs such as Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Silphium laciniatum, Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea, and Liatris pycnostachya becoming common.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Characteristic canopy species include the nominal species, plus Quercus stellata and Quercus falcata, with Quercus alba in mesic rather than wet areas. Pinus taeda shares dominance with the nominal hardwoods in a few portions of the typically hardwood-dominated Mississippi River Alluvial Plain (e.g., Monroe County, Arkansas, and adjacent areas). Vernal pools may be dominated only by Quercus phellos, or with wetter species such as Quercus lyrata and Carya aquatica. Understory species include Crataegus spp., Ilex decidua, and Viburnum dentatum with Sabal minor in drier sites. Frequent fire leads to a woodland condition, and with open canopy, a diverse ground layer may develop, including grasses such as Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and forbs including Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea (= Baptisia leucophaea), Liatris pycnostachya, and Silphium laciniatum becoming common.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests/woodlands occur on flat Pleistocene terraces, topographically higher than adjacent floodplains on very acidic to mildly alkaline soils, commonly on Portland, Tensas, and Hebert silt loams.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in the lower Mississippi River Alluvial Plain and ranges into the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain, and possibly into adjacent ecoregions.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, LA, MS, OK?, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687886
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nb Southeastern North American Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D062 | 1.B.3.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nb.2 Swamp Tupelo - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Bald-cypress Basin Swamp & Flatwoods Macrogroup | M033 | 1.B.3.Nb.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.2.b Laurel Oak - Willow Oak - Loblolly Pine Wet Flatwoods Group | G130 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A4190 Loblolly Pine - Laurel Oak - Willow Oak West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Forest Alliance | A4190 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL007921 Willow Oak - Bottomland Post Oak - Cedar Elm Wet Forest | CEGL007921 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.