Print Report
CEGL007528 Pinus taeda - (Pinus echinata) - Quercus falcata - Carya texana / Vaccinium arboreum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Loblolly Pine - (Shortleaf Pine) - Southern Red Oak - Black Hickory / Farkleberry Forest
Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Dry Loblolly Pine - Hardwood Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry-mesic to dry mixed Pinus taeda-hardwood forest is found in the West Gulf Coastal Plain and Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain. The overstory is collectively dominated by hardwoods, although Pinus taeda may be the single most important and largest diameter species in most examples. The canopy tends to be closed with individual pine stems somewhat emergent over existing hardwoods. The single most important and diagnostic hardwood is Quercus falcata, although other species may also be important. Species associated with mesic conditions in the region are typically lacking or present in very low levels of abundance only, as are species typical of much drier environments of the region.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community is a natural unmanaged type; it commonly occurs downslope of upland Pinus palustris-dominated woodlands, and mixed Pinus echinata - Quercus forests. It often grades down to ~Pinus taeda - Quercus alba - (Fagus grandifolia) / Smilax pumila - Mitchella repens Forest (CEGL007525)$$, which is more mesic, occurring on mid to lower slopes and is more topographically isolated from fire. This latter type burns less frequently, thus having much more Fagus grandifolia and Ilex opaca, and less Quercus falcata and Quercus stellata.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The overstory of stands of this type may contain Pinus echinata. Liquidambar styraciflua and Quercus falcata are constant components. Other associated hardwoods include Quercus stellata, Quercus nigra, Quercus marilandica, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), and Carya texana. Quercus alba and Quercus velutina are uncommon in Texas examples. The subcanopy is sometimes dominated by Cornus florida, although regenerating Pinus taeda may be locally dominant as well. The patchy short-shrub stratum includes canopy and subcanopy species, plus Vaccinium arboreum, Chionanthus virginicus, Sassafras albidum, Callicarpa americana, Vaccinium stamineum, and Rhus aromatica. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse. Species include Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Scleria triglomerata, Melica mutica, and Scutellaria elliptica. Quercus alba is rare. The midstory includes Callicarpa americana, Ulmus alata, Ilex vomitoria, Forestiera ligustrina, Chionanthus virginicus, Cornus florida, Sassafras albidum, and Nyssa sylvatica. The most frequent understory may include Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax glauca, Dichanthelium commutatum, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Toxicodendron radicans, Smilax tamnoides (= Smilax hispida), Galium uniflorum, Viburnum dentatum, Elephantopus tomentosus, Phryma leptostachya, Vitis rotundifolia, Sanicula canadensis, Morus rubra, Vitis aestivalis, Dichanthelium laxiflorum, Carex albicans var. australis (= Carex physorhyncha), Gelsemium sempervirens, and Smilax rotundifolia. The exotics Lonicera japonica, Ligustrum sinense, and Microstegium vimineum may occur in this community.
Dynamics: This community is protected from the frequent fires of the typically adjacent Pinus palustris communities, but does experience enough smoldering surface fires in drought years to exclude fire-sensitive species such as Fagus grandifolia, Magnolia grandiflora, and Ilex opaca. Insect and pathogen outbreaks are other disturbance vectors in this community (Martin and Smith 1991, 1993).
This community is a natural unmanaged type or follows seedtree or shelterwood regeneration. Pinus taeda is a rather short-lived species (80-130 years), so in the absence of disturbance this community may be seral to a Quercus-dominated forest. However, the actual length of this disturbance-free period may be unrealistically long, as Pinus taeda is a fast colonizer and natural mortality in the canopy may be frequent enough to allow this species to persist via regeneration in canopy gaps.
This community is a natural unmanaged type or follows seedtree or shelterwood regeneration. Pinus taeda is a rather short-lived species (80-130 years), so in the absence of disturbance this community may be seral to a Quercus-dominated forest. However, the actual length of this disturbance-free period may be unrealistically long, as Pinus taeda is a fast colonizer and natural mortality in the canopy may be frequent enough to allow this species to persist via regeneration in canopy gaps.
Environmental Description: Plot locations ascribed to this type in eastern Texas are found on the Yegua and Willis geological formations, mapped as Huntsburg and Gunter soils. These locations have predominately sandy surface textures with surface pH ranges from 5.4-5.9 (Turner et al. unpubl. data). This forest is known from the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Louisiana and Texas, and likely ranges into the Coastal Plain of Arkansas.
Hydrology ranges from dry-mesic to dry. Soils are acidic and include silt loams, sandy loams, and silty clays. This forest occurs on upper slopes and ridges, particularly on low Pleistocene terraces, often on Cadeville very fine sandy loam and Glenmora silt loam. Cadeville soils are moderately well-drained, very slowly permeable fine, mixed thermic Albaquic Hapludalfs occurring on side slopes and ridgetops in terrace uplands; slopes range from 2-12%. Glenmora soils are moderately well-drained, slowly permeable fine-silty, siliceous, thermic Glossaquic Paleudalf with slopes ranging from 1-3%, occurring on broad ridgetops and gentle side slopes in terrace uplands. Cadeville and Glenmora soils are typically found near each other (Kilpatrick et al. 1986, Martin and Smith 1991, 1993).
Hydrology ranges from dry-mesic to dry. Soils are acidic and include silt loams, sandy loams, and silty clays. This forest occurs on upper slopes and ridges, particularly on low Pleistocene terraces, often on Cadeville very fine sandy loam and Glenmora silt loam. Cadeville soils are moderately well-drained, very slowly permeable fine, mixed thermic Albaquic Hapludalfs occurring on side slopes and ridgetops in terrace uplands; slopes range from 2-12%. Glenmora soils are moderately well-drained, slowly permeable fine-silty, siliceous, thermic Glossaquic Paleudalf with slopes ranging from 1-3%, occurring on broad ridgetops and gentle side slopes in terrace uplands. Cadeville and Glenmora soils are typically found near each other (Kilpatrick et al. 1986, Martin and Smith 1991, 1993).
Geographic Range: This type is known from west of the Mississippi River of eastern Texas and western Louisiana, and may be present in Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, LA, OK?, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688089
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M016 | 1.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.1.g Loblolly Pine - Shortleaf Pine - Oak species Forest & Woodland Group | G013 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
| Alliance | A3129 Shortleaf Pine - Loblolly Pine - Post Oak Forest Alliance | A3129 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
| Association | CEGL007528 Loblolly Pine - (Shortleaf Pine) - Southern Red Oak - Black Hickory / Farkleberry Forest | CEGL007528 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IA6e. Loblolly Pine - Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
? Loblolly Pine - Hardwood (13) (USFS 1988)
< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
< Loblolly Pine-Oak Series (Diamond 1993)
< T1B3aIII5b. Pinus taeda-Quercus (phellos, nigra, stellata) (Foti et al. 1994)
? Loblolly Pine - Hardwood (13) (USFS 1988)
< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
< Loblolly Pine-Oak Series (Diamond 1993)
< T1B3aIII5b. Pinus taeda-Quercus (phellos, nigra, stellata) (Foti et al. 1994)
- 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.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Dickson, J. G., R. N. Conner, and J. H. Williamson. 1993. Breeding bird community changes in a developing pine plantation. Bird Populations 1:28-35.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Foti, T., M. Blaney, X. Li, and K. G. Smith. 1994. A classification system for the natural vegetation of Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:50-53.
- Foti, T., compiler. 1994b. Natural vegetation classification system of Arkansas, draft five. Unpublished document. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock. 8 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.
- Kilpatrick, W. W., C. Henry, Jr., J. Ragus, A. Ardoin, P. Mason, and E. Williams. 1986. Soil survey of Grant Parish, Louisiana. USDA Soil Conservation Service and Forest Service, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, and Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation Committee. 141 pp. plus maps.
- 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.
- Martin, W. H., S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. 1993a. Biodiversity of the southeastern United States: Lowland terrestrial communities. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 502 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- 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.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1988. Silvicultural examination and prescription field book. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.