Print Report
CEGL003646 Pinus palustris / Eryngium integrifolium - Rhynchospora spp. - (Ctenium aromaticum) Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Blueflower Eryngo - Beaksedge species - (Toothache Grass) Woodland
Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna (High Terraces Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a saturated longleaf pine woodland community of central to west-central Louisiana, presumably ranging into adjacent or related areas of Texas. The Pinus palustris canopy in frequently burned, relict stands is typically open. Shrubs are absent to patchy. The herbaceous layer in this woodland is well-developed and very species-rich. Dominants include Ctenium aromaticum (within its range, east of the Sabine River), Muhlenbergia expansa, Rhynchospora plumosa, Rhynchospora globularis, Rhynchospora glomerata, Rhynchospora spp., Panicum virgatum, Eriocaulon decangulare, Eryngium integrifolium, Rhexia lutea, and Eupatorium spp. Residual stands of this community are known from intermediate and high Pleistocene terraces. Soils are poorly drained to very poorly drained, acidic, silt loams and also perhaps fine sandy loams. Average fire-return time historically was believed to be 1-3 years, few remaining examples are subject to such frequencies. This community is geographically isolated from the larger belt of Pinus palustris flatwoods that occurs in southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas. For now, this community includes poorly studied variants which occur on the Fleming Formation in central Louisiana and Texas (''Westcentral Tertiary Flatwoods Variant'' of Smith 1995a); further study of these may reveal that they warrant recognition.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: At present, this community includes poorly studied variants which occur on the Fleming Formation in central Louisiana; further study of these may reveal that they warrant recognition. It is unclear if this association is found in Texas; Ctenium aromaticum is not known from Texas, and stands of this association in that state would lack this nominal.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The Pinus palustris canopy ranges from 10% (in fire-frequented, thinned plantations) to 100% (in fire-frequented, unthinned plantations) cover. The cover in fire-frequented relict stands averages 30%. Shrubs are absent to very patchy. The herbaceous layer in this woodland is extremely rich, although less so in unthinned plantations. The ground cover ranges from 50-80%. Dominants include Ctenium aromaticum, Muhlenbergia expansa, Schizachyrium scoparium, Rhynchospora plumosa, Rhynchospora globularis, Rhynchospora glomerata, Rhynchospora spp., Panicum virgatum, Eriocaulon decangulare, Eryngium integrifolium, Rhexia lutea, and Eupatorium spp. Other forb species include Polygala incarnata, Liatris pycnostachya, Chaptalia tomentosa, Coreopsis linifolia, Pogonia ophioglossoides, Rhexia alifanus, Lachnocaulon anceps, Spiranthes vernalis, and Xyris ambigua. Although more abundant in the inclusional seepage bogs, Drosera capillaris, Utricularia cornuta, Utricularia juncea, and Utricularia subulata may be scattered in open examples of this community. Unthinned plantations, however, have much fewer heliophytic species like Ctenium aromaticum, Sarracenia alata, and Xyris ambigua, but do contain Pycnanthemum albescens and Pycnanthemum tenuifolium. Lycopodiella caroliniana and Sphagnum spp. may be components of the open examples of this community (Correll and Johnston 1970, Martin and Smith 1991, 1993, R. Stewart pers. comm. 1995).
Dynamics: Plantation stands are managed silviculturally. Both relict and plantation occurrences are fire-frequented, with a fair to rich ground layer. Ground fires historically and currently occur in this community even during relatively high moisture conditions, and have return times of 1 to 3 years. The chief natural fire season in Louisiana is believed to be late March through June (Martin and Smith 1991, 1993). Growing-season fires in the Gulf have very different ecological effects than dormant-season fires in terms of forb and graminoid flowering and shrub mortality.
The time since the last fire event greatly affects the shrub cover, the herbaceous layer and the regeneration of Pinus palustris. Shrub covers greatly increase with fire suppression, and both the diversity and the cover of the herbaceous layer are dramatically decreased.
Fire-suppression will cause a tremendous decrease in the richness and the cover of the herbaceous layer. This community will succeed to a Pinus palustris / Morella cerifera - Morella caroliniensis - Persea palustris wetland forest in the absence of fire.
With the continuation of fire suppression, the Pinus palustris canopy will approach an even-aged structure. Eventually the canopy may become mixed as Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Acer rubrum, and Pinus taeda enter this stratum.
The time since the last fire event greatly affects the shrub cover, the herbaceous layer and the regeneration of Pinus palustris. Shrub covers greatly increase with fire suppression, and both the diversity and the cover of the herbaceous layer are dramatically decreased.
Fire-suppression will cause a tremendous decrease in the richness and the cover of the herbaceous layer. This community will succeed to a Pinus palustris / Morella cerifera - Morella caroliniensis - Persea palustris wetland forest in the absence of fire.
With the continuation of fire suppression, the Pinus palustris canopy will approach an even-aged structure. Eventually the canopy may become mixed as Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Acer rubrum, and Pinus taeda enter this stratum.
Environmental Description: This saturated longleaf pine woodland community occurs in central to west-central Louisiana, presumably ranging into adjacent Texas. Residual stands of this community are known from intermediate and high Pleistocene terraces. Soils are poorly drained to very poorly drained, acidic, silt loams and also perhaps fine sandy loams. Average fire-return time is one to three years. It is geographically isolated from the larger belt of Pinus palustris flatwoods that occurs in southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas (Correll and Johnston 1970, Bridges and Orzell 1989a, Martin and Smith 1991, 1993, R. Stewart pers. comm. 1995). Denser stands are drier than open stands due to the higher rate of water loss from evapotranspiration. Although saturated soils persist from December through June, the top few inches of soil are dry by August and remain so until November (R. Stewart pers. comm. 1995).
Geographic Range: This saturated longleaf pine woodland community is found in central to west-central Louisiana, possibly ranging into adjacent or related areas of Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: LA, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689119
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.1 Longleaf Pine / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Macrogroup | M007 | 1.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.1.f Longleaf Pine - Slash Pine - Pond Pine Open Woodland Group | G190 | 1.B.1.Na.1.f |
| Alliance | A3306 Longleaf Pine West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Open Woodland Alliance | A3306 | 1.B.1.Na.1.f |
| Association | CEGL003646 Longleaf Pine / Blueflower Eryngo - Beaksedge species - (Toothache Grass) Woodland | CEGL003646 | 1.B.1.Na.1.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IIB1i. West Gulf Coastal Plain Longleaf Pine Savanna (Allard 1990)
< IIF3b. Wetland Plantation (Hardwood or Conifer) (Allard 1990)
< Longleaf Pine / Schizachyrium - Drosera Fine-Sandy Wet Flatwoods (Turner et al. 1999)
< Longleaf Pine: 70 (Eyre 1980)
= Pine Flatwoods / Longleaf Pine Flatwood Savannah (Martin and Smith 1991)
? Western Wet Longleaf Pine Savannah -- High Terrace Variants (Smith 1995a)
= Wetland Longleaf Pine Savanna (Bridges and Orzell 1989a)
< IIF3b. Wetland Plantation (Hardwood or Conifer) (Allard 1990)
< Longleaf Pine / Schizachyrium - Drosera Fine-Sandy Wet Flatwoods (Turner et al. 1999)
< Longleaf Pine: 70 (Eyre 1980)
= Pine Flatwoods / Longleaf Pine Flatwood Savannah (Martin and Smith 1991)
? Western Wet Longleaf Pine Savannah -- High Terrace Variants (Smith 1995a)
= Wetland Longleaf Pine Savanna (Bridges and Orzell 1989a)
- 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.
- Bridges, E. L., and S. L. Orzell. 1989a. Longleaf pine communities of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Natural Areas Journal 9:246-263.
- Correll, D. S., and M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation. Renner, TX. (Second printing, 1979. University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson) 1881 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Smith, L. M. 1995a. Baseline information for the rare natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge. 24 pp. plus maps.
- Smith, Latimore M. Personal communication. Natural Heritage Program Ecologist. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Stewart, R. Personal communication. U.S. Forest Service Botanist. USDA Forest Service, Kisatchie National Forest, Vernon Ranger District. Pineville, LA.
- 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.