Print Report

CEGL002160 Quercus macrocarpa - (Quercus ellipsoidalis) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Koeleria macrantha Wooded Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bur Oak - (Northern Pin Oak) / Little Bluestem - Prairie Junegrass Open Woodland

Colloquial Name: Northern Oak Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This oak savanna community is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the midwestern United States. Stands occur on well-drained, coarse-textured, sandy soils derived from glacial outwash or end moraine formations. Soils range from almost pure sand, to loamy sand, to sandy loam. The soils have low fertility, organic matter, and moisture retention capacity. The dominant trees of this community are Quercus macrocarpa and Quercus ellipsoidalis, which have a height of 5-15 m and an open canopy (5-60%). Cover in the tall-shrub and low-shrub layers varies from 0-40%. Short-shrub species include Amorpha canescens, Corylus americana, Rhus glabra, and Toxicodendron radicans. The herb layer is dominated by graminoids, with forbs more prominent in shaded areas. Species found in the herb layer include Ambrosia psilostachya, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Artemisia ludoviciana, Andropogon gerardii, Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex pensylvanica, Carex spp., Comandra umbellata, Sorghastrum nutans, Hesperostipa spartea, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Schizachyrium scoparium.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Quercus ellipsoidalis is not present in stands in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota (Sheyenne National Grasslands). Stands on sand-gravel are treated here, but they, as well as the hill type, may need to be separate associations, corresponding to similar distinctions among the prairies. In Minnesota, Minnesota DNR (2005b) states that the distinction between their northern and southern type is "set by convention; further study may determine that it should be repositioned or abandoned."

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: In the woody strata of this community, both cover and species richness are low. Species richness is high in the herb layer and graminoids are prominent. The dominant trees of this community are Quercus macrocarpa and Quercus ellipsoidalis, which have a height of 5-15 m and an open canopy (5-60%). Quercus ellipsoidalis is not present in stands in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. Cover in the tall-shrub and low-shrub layers varies from 0-40%. Short-shrub species include Amorpha canescens, Corylus americana, Rhus glabra, and Toxicodendron radicans. The herb layer is dominated by graminoids, with forbs more prominent in shaded areas. Species found in the herb layer include Ambrosia psilostachya, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Artemisia ludoviciana, Andropogon gerardii, Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex pensylvanica, Carex spp., Comandra umbellata, Sorghastrum nutans, Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea), Parthenocissus quinquefolia (= var. quinquefolia), and Schizachyrium scoparium (Faber-Langendoen and Tester 1993, MNNHP 1993).

Dynamics:  Fire was an important factor in maintaining this community. Periodic fires are important in preventing this community from succeeding to other, more closed communities. Fires greatly limit tree and shrub reproduction and can reduce cover by established shrubs (White 1986, Faber-Langendoen and Tester 1993). They rarely kill larger oak trees, however. The spread of shrubs can be controlled through fire, but shrubs usually need to be removed mechanically. Oak wilt and droughts also reduce tree cover (Grimm 1984, Faber-Langendoen and Tester 1993).
Environmental Description:  This community occurs on well-drained, coarse-textured sandy soils derived from glacial outwash or end moraine formations. Soils range from almost pure sand, to loamy sand, to sandy loam. The soils have low fertility, organic matter, and moisture-retention capacity. Factors which affect seasonal soil moisture are strongly related to variation in this type; slope, aspect, topographic position, elevation, depth to water table, and presence or absence of less permeable soil layers are among these factors (MNNHP 1993, Faber-Langendoen and Tester 1993).
Geographic Range: This oak savanna community is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the midwestern United States, particularly in central and western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MN, ND


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

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.4 White Oak - Bur Oak - Shagbark Hickory Forest, Woodland & Savanna Macrogroup M012 1.B.2.Na.4
Group 1.B.2.Na.4.a Bur Oak - Black Oak / Big Bluestem Savanna & Barrens Group G181 1.B.2.Na.4.a
Alliance A1492 Black Oak - Northern Pin Oak Wooded Grassland Alliance A1492 1.B.2.Na.4.a
Association CEGL002160 Bur Oak - (Northern Pin Oak) / Little Bluestem - Prairie Junegrass Open Woodland CEGL002160 1.B.2.Na.4.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus macrocarpa - (Quercus ellipsoidalis) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Koeleria macrantha Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
< Eastern Oak Area (Grimm 1984)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake, D. Faber-Langendoen, and D. M. Ambrose

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-03-94
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., and J. R. Tester. 1993. Oak mortality in sand savannas following drought in east-central Minnesota. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 120(3):248-256.
  • 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.).
  • Grimm, E. C. 1984. Fire and other factors controlling the Big Woods vegetation of Minnesota in the mid-nineteenth century. Ecological Monographs 54(3):291-311.
  • MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
  • Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003-2005a. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota. Three volumes: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (2003), The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province (2005c), The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces (2005b). Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
  • Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2005b. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
  • NDNHI [North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory]. 2018. Unpublished data. Vegetation classification of North Dakota. North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Bismarck.
  • White, A. S. 1986. Prescribed burning for oak savanna restoration in central Minnesota. Research Paper NC-266. USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN. 12 pp.