Print Report
CEGL008577 Magnolia grandiflora / Prunus caroliniana - Carpinus caroliniana / Arundinaria gigantea Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Southern Magnolia / Carolina Laurel Cherry - American Hornbeam / Giant Cane Forest
Colloquial Name: Texas Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Magnolia Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a mostly evergreen-dominated hardwood forest found along the periphery of the West Gulf Coastal Plain of eastern Texas. It is only known from a very limited area near the western distributional limits of several tree species including Fagus grandifolia on unusually rich soils. The canopy is dominated by Magnolia grandiflora, with lesser amounts of Quercus nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Quercus pagoda present. Midstory trees are prevalent, with Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana and Ostrya virginiana being most important, and possibly indicative of the rich, high pH soils. A relatively sparse shrub stratum is present, but no species in this stratum are diagnostic of this type. A sparse herbaceous stratum is also present amidst dense hardwood leaf litter.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is based on a single unusual plot on the Sam Houston National Forest, where the full extent of this vegetation is currently unknown.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy is dominated by Magnolia grandiflora, Quercus nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Quercus pagoda. Other woody species found predominately in the subcanopy include Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Ilex opaca, Cercis canadensis, Morus rubra, and Nyssa sylvatica. The midstory is strongly dominated by Prunus caroliniana, with Halesia diptera, Ilex vomitoria, Callicarpa americana, and Sabal minor also present. Arundinaria gigantea dominates the understory. Other understory species include Carex abscondita, Oplismenus hirtellus, Carex amphibola, Carex cherokeensis, Mitchella repens, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, and other species (Turner et al. unpubl. data).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community has been documented from an areas mapped as Bernaldo soils on Quaternary alluvium in the Coastal Plain of eastern Texas. Soil pH tested extremely high (8.1) with equally high levels of calcium and magnesium present in soil samples. Texturally, these soils were 61% clay. (Turner et al. unpubl. data).
Geographic Range: This community is known only from eastern Texas. There is a small chance this type may range into western Louisiana, but this is unlikely given the unusual environment it is found in Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: LA?, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688666
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1?
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.3 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - White Oak Forest Macrogroup | M008 | 1.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.3.a American Beech - Southern Magnolia - Oak species Forest Group | G007 | 1.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A0369 American Beech - Southern Magnolia Forest Alliance | A0369 | 1.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL008577 Southern Magnolia / Carolina Laurel Cherry - American Hornbeam / Giant Cane Forest | CEGL008577 | 1.B.1.Na.3.a |
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.
- 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.