Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Stands are dominated by a combination of Fagus grandifolia and Quercus alba (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data, Turner et al. unpubl. data). Some stands may have slightly more Quercus alba than Fagus grandifolia and vice versa (R. Evans pers. obs.). Pinus taeda may occur in the canopy but not as a dominant. Although Fagus grandifolia and Quercus alba may be the only canopy species in some occurrences, canopy species in other occurrences may include Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus velutina, Quercus nigra, Quercus stellata, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Nyssa sylvatica, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Acer rubrum. Liriodendron tulipifera may be present in Arkansas and Louisiana examples, but is not a natural component of this type in Texas or Oklahoma. Magnolia grandiflora may also be present in examples of this type in Louisiana and Texas, but is absent in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Phoradendron leucarpum, Tillandsia usneoides, and Pleopeltis polypodioides (= Polypodium polypodioides) are common epiphytes on the canopy trees. The scattered to patchy tall-shrub stratum includes regenerating canopy species and Ilex opaca var. opaca, Carpinus caroliniana, Ostrya virginiana, Cornus florida, Styrax grandifolius, and Crataegus marshallii. The patchy short-shrub stratum includes Vaccinium virgatum (= Vaccinium amoenum), Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium elliottii, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Chionanthus virginicus, Crataegus marshallii, Frangula caroliniana (= Rhamnus caroliniana), Amelanchier arborea, Callicarpa americana, Ilex ambigua, Viburnum acerifolium, Viburnum dentatum, and Viburnum rufidulum. The sparse herbaceous layer includes Polystichum acrostichoides, Trillium spp., Prenanthes altissima, Spigelia marilandica, Galium circaezans, Desmodium nudiflorum, Uvularia perfoliata, Polygonatum biflorum, Arisaema triphyllum, Viola walteri, Mitchella repens, Tipularia discolor, Lilium michauxii, Smilax herbacea, and Podophyllum peltatum. Magnolia acuminata may be present in a few examples of this type, along the eastern and northern periphery of the region associated with especially moist lower slopes. Rare species that may occur in this community include Prenanthes barbata, Cypripedium kentuckiense, and Triphora trianthophora.

Dynamics:  This forest is not a pyrogenic community and experiences very infrequent fires due to its position on generally steep slopes and the lack of available fuel generated by the relatively inflammable deciduous leaf litter. Mesic examples on lower slopes probably burn even less frequently than dry/mesic sites on mid to upper slopes. This association occurs on portions of the landscape where periodic fires were rare to nonexistent, especially mesic steep slopes, and mid to lower slopes along rivers and small streams throughout much of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The main disturbance vectors in this broad-leaved deciduous forest are windthrow and the active erosion that occurs on the steep slopes. As downstream channelization and gully formation cause streams to erode headward, banks are undercut and erosion is catalyzed on the slopes. This active erosion may contribute to the sparse herbaceous layer. Windstorms, diseases and insects are other disturbances in this uneven-aged forest. Regeneration occurs primarily in canopy gaps (Martin and Smith 1991).