Print Report
CEGL005057 Quercus stellata / (Danthonia spicata, Croton michauxii var. ellipticus) Flatwoods Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Post Oak / (Poverty Oatgrass, Willdenow''s Croton) Flatwoods Woodland
Colloquial Name: Post Oak Clay Barrens
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This clay barrens community is found in the central United States in southwestern Indiana and adjacent Kentucky. Stands occur in areas with a dense, relatively impervious, argillic layer of soil at or just below the surface. This clay layer apparently impedes water percolation and subsoil recharge, resulting in droughty conditions. Plant roots may also have a difficult time penetrating the layer. It also causes temporary ponding (vernal pools) that persist long enough to influence the species composition. The best examples of this type occur in flats, where Quercus stellata is the dominant tree, and the barrens area range in size from 0.25-2 ha. Although the barrens occupy the highest elevational point in the stand, the trapped water forms pools that may contain Eleocharis tenuis var. verrucosa, Carex annectens, Eleocharis wolfii, Ranunculus pusillus, and Isoetes melanopoda. In July, when the site is dry and the above species have faded away, Danthonia spicata and Schizachyrium scoparium dominate the ground layer. Small annuals, such as Diodia teres, Hypericum drummondii, Hypericum gentianoides, and Croton michauxii var. ellipticus, are abundant. Aristida ramosissima and Trichostema setaceum may also be abundant. A variety of other heliophytic species are present in the barrens, including Hypericum denticulatum, Krigia biflora, Liatris spicata, Dichanthelium depauperatum, Polygala sanguinea, and Oligoneuron rigidum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Concept of this type is taken from Indiana state type Clay Barrens (Homoya et al. 1985). But this type is very limited, perhaps only one stand, which occurs as a mosaic with ~Quercus stellata / Cinna arundinacea Flatwoods Forest (CEGL002405)$$. Therefore, it is possible that this type should be treated as part of Quercus stellata / Cinna arundinacea Flatwoods Forest (CEGL002405).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The best examples of this type occur in flats, where Quercus stellata is the dominant tree, and the barrens area range in size from 0.25-2 ha. Although the barrens occupy the highest elevational point in the stand, the trapped water forms pools that may contain Eleocharis tenuis var. verrucosa (= Eleocharis verrucosa), Carex annectens, Eleocharis wolfii, Ranunculus pusillus, and Isoetes melanopoda. In July, when the site is dry and the above species have faded away, Danthonia spicata and Schizachyrium scoparium dominate the ground layer. Small annuals, such as Diodia teres, Hypericum drummondii, Hypericum gentianoides, and Croton michauxii var. ellipticus (= Croton willdenowii), are abundant. Aristida ramosissima and Trichostema setaceum may also be abundant. Other species present in the barrens include Boltonia asteroides, Carex bushii, Coreopsis tripteris, Helianthus divaricatus, Helianthus mollis, Hypericum denticulatum, Hieracium gronovii, Krigia biflora, Lechea tenuifolia, Liatris spicata, Dichanthelium depauperatum (= Panicum depauperatum), Parthenium integrifolium, Poa wolfii, Polygala sanguinea, Orbexilum pedunculatum var. psoralioides (= Psoralea psoralioides), Solidago nemoralis, Oligoneuron rigidum (= Solidago rigida), and Trifolium reflexum (Aldrich and Homoya 1986, Homoya 1994).
Dynamics: Fire appears to play a role in this type. Early land survey records and scientific visits to these barrens make reference to burnt-over flats and barrens. Only a few trees contained fire scars in more recent visits. The suppression of fire may account for the decline of Trifolium reflexum at the site (Aldrich and Homoya 1986).
Environmental Description: Stands occur in areas with a dense, relatively impervious, argillic layer of soil at or just below the surface. This clay layer apparently impedes water percolation and subsoil recharge, resulting in droughty conditions. Plant roots may also have a difficult time penetrating the layer. It also causes temporary ponding (vernal pools) that persist long enough to influence the species composition (Aldrich and Homoya 1986, Homoya 1994).
Geographic Range: This community is reported only from Indiana, from one ecoregion province.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: IN, KY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689478
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M503 | 1.B.3.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.2.b Overcup Oak - Post Oak - Blackgum Flatwoods & Pond Forest Group | G654 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3431 Post Oak Interior Flatwoods Forest Alliance | A3431 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL005057 Post Oak / (Poverty Oatgrass, Willdenow''s Croton) Flatwoods Woodland | CEGL005057 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus stellata / (Danthonia spicata, Croton willdenowii) Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Clay Barrens (Homoya et al. 1985)
= Clay Barrens (Homoya et al. 1985)
- Aldrich, J. R., and M. A. Homoya. 1986. Natural barrens and post oak flatwoods in Posey and Spencer counties, Indiana. Unpublished report. Indiana Natural Heritage Program.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Homoya, M. A. 1994. Indiana barrens: Classification and description. Castanea 59(3):204-213.
- Homoya, M. A., D. B. Abrell, J. R. Aldrich, and T. W. Post. 1985. The natural regions of Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 94:245-268.
- Homoya, M. A., J. Aldrich, J. Bacone, L. Casebere, and T. Post. 1988. Indiana natural community classification. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indianapolis, IN. Unpublished manuscript.
- Menges, E. S., R. W. Dolan, and D. J. McGrath. 1987. Vegetation, environment, and fire in a post oak flatwoods/barrens association in southwestern Indiana. Report to The Nature Conservancy, Holcomb Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN. 38 p.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.