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CEGL007815 Pinus echinata / Schizachyrium scoparium - Solidago ulmifolia - Monarda russeliana - Echinacea pallida Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine / Little Bluestem - Elmleaf Goldenrod - Red-purple Beebalm - Pale Purple Coneflower Woodland
Colloquial Name: Ouachita Shortleaf Pine Savanna
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This upland subxeric woodland community was a matrix forest type in the Ouachita Mountains and, historically, north into parts of the Ozarks. This community occurs on a variety of sandstone and mixed sandstone/shale-derived substrates in the northern and western Ouachita Mountains and on chert/novaculite-derived substrates in the central Ouachitas. On the sharper ridges of the central Ouachitas (novaculite uplift), these woodlands are reduced in extent and bounded by submesic pine - oak forest on lower slopes and xeric oak woodlands on the ridgelines. This is a fire-maintained community where woody succession and canopy closure can be rapid with fire suppression. Virtually extirpated, these woodlands have been restored in part by thinning and prescribed burning. This woodland community has an open canopy dominated by Pinus echinata and a dense, diverse herbaceous layer. Scattered oaks (Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, Quercus velutina, Quercus marilandica) may appear in the canopy or subcanopy. These are expansive, open woodlands on gentle slopes, saddles and flatter ridgelines in eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, and southern Missouri. The dense herbaceous stratum is dominated by both graminoid and forb species. Dominant graminoids include Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia spicata, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Scleria triglomerata, and Dichanthelium spp. Other graminoid species include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon virginicus, Chasmanthium latifolium, Gymnopogon ambiguus, Muhlenbergia schreberi, Panicum virgatum, Paspalum sp., Sorghastrum nutans, Sporobolus compositus, and Tridens flavus. Dominant forb species include Solidago ulmifolia, Clitoria mariana, Lespedeza repens, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Symphyotrichum anomalum, Symphyotrichum patens, Erechtites hieraciifolius, Helianthus hirsutus, and Monarda russeliana. Many other forb species are known from these woodlands. Some of the more typical ones include Acalypha virginica, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Baptisia nuttalliana, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Coreopsis tinctoria, Conyza canadensis, Cunila origanoides, Dalea candida, Desmodium ciliare, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea, Euphorbia corollata, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, Hieracium gronovii, Lespedeza spp., Liatris squarrosa, Phlox spp., Polygala alba, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Rudbeckia hirta, Solidago hispida, Solidago odora, Solidago radula, Stylosanthes biflora, and Tephrosia virginiana. Shrubs are sparse, especially in more frequently burned locations. Shrub density is related to fire frequency, and many shrubs are coppices, sprouting from stumps. Some common shrubs and vines include Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea, Carya tomentosa, Carya texana, Ceanothus spp., Crataegus crus-galli, Mimosa microphylla, Prunus serotina, Quercus stellata, Rhus copallinum, Rhus glabra, Rubus spp., Toxicodendron radicans, Ulmus alata, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium pallidum, Viburnum rufidulum, and Vitis rotundifolia, but many others can occur. The type location is in Scott County, Arkansas.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: These open Pinus echinata woodlands were more common historically. Currently few mature, high-quality examples of this community exist, and they are dependent on management with prescribed fire. This community has been restored around areas of remnant woodlands that provide habitat for colonies of Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Masters and Wilson 1994). Examples are known from Buffalo Creek (Scott County, Arkansas), Camp Robinson (Pulaski County, Arkansas), McCurtain County Wilderness (McCurtain County, Oklahoma), and Pushmataha Wildlife Management Area (Pushmataha County, Oklahoma). See also Sparks et al. (1998). See related forest association ~Pinus echinata - Quercus alba - Quercus rubra / Vaccinium arboreum / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum Forest (CEGL007489)$$. Some extremely fire-suppressed examples of this community may be better classified as CEGL007489. The relationship of this type to ~Pinus echinata - Quercus alba / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002394)$$ needs to be explored and documented. ~Pinus echinata - Quercus alba - Quercus falcata Forest (CEGL004444)$$ is a southern Ouachita and Coastal Plain type.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland community has an open canopy dominated by Pinus echinata and a dense, diverse herbaceous layer. Scattered oaks (Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, Quercus velutina, Quercus marilandica) may appear in the canopy or subcanopy. These are expansive open woodlands on gentle slopes, saddles and flatter ridgelines in eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, and southern Missouri. The dense herbaceous stratum is dominated by both graminoid and forb species. Dominant graminoids include Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia spicata, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Scleria triglomerata, and Dichanthelium spp. Other graminoid species include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon virginicus, Chasmanthium latifolium, Gymnopogon ambiguus, Muhlenbergia schreberi, Panicum virgatum, Paspalum sp., Sorghastrum nutans, Sporobolus compositus (= Sporobolus asper), and Tridens flavus. Dominant forb species include Solidago ulmifolia, Clitoria mariana, Lespedeza repens, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Symphyotrichum anomalum (= Aster anomalus), Symphyotrichum patens (= Aster patens), Erechtites hieraciifolius, Helianthus hirsutus, and Monarda russeliana. Many other forb species are known from these woodlands. Some of the more typical ones include Acalypha virginica, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Baptisia nuttalliana, Chamaecrista fasciculata (= Cassia fasciculata), Coreopsis tinctoria, Conyza canadensis, Cunila origanoides, Dalea candida, Desmodium ciliare, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea, Euphorbia corollata, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (= Gnaphalium obtusifolium), Hieracium gronovii, Lespedeza spp., Liatris squarrosa, Phlox spp., Polygala alba, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Rudbeckia hirta, Solidago hispida, Solidago odora, Solidago radula, Stylosanthes biflora, and Tephrosia virginiana. Shrubs are sparse, especially in more frequently burned locations. Shrub density is related to fire frequency, and many shrubs are coppices, sprouting from stumps. Some common shrubs and vines include Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya texana, Ceanothus spp., Crataegus crus-galli, Mimosa microphylla, Prunus serotina, Quercus stellata, Rhus copallinum, Rhus glabra, Rubus spp., Toxicodendron radicans, Ulmus alata, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium pallidum, Viburnum rufidulum, and Vitis rotundifolia, but many others can occur (D. Zollner pers. comm. 1998).
Dynamics: This is a fire-maintained community where woody succession and canopy closure can be rapid with fire suppression (Sparks et al. 1998).
Environmental Description: This community occurs on a variety of sandstone and mixed sandstone/shale-derived substrates in the northern and western Ouachita Mountains and on chert/novaculite-derived substrates in the central Ouachitas. On the sharper ridges of the central Ouachitas (novaculite uplift), these woodlands are reduced in extent and bounded by submesic pine - oak forest on lower slopes and xeric oak woodlands on the ridgelines (D. Zollner pers. comm. 1998).
Geographic Range: This upland subxeric woodland community was a matrix forest type in the Ouachita Mountains and, historically, north into parts of the Ozarks.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, MO, OK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689963
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2
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.b Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak - Post Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G012 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3271 Shortleaf Pine - Post Oak - Black Oak Ozark-Ouachita Woodland Alliance | A3271 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL007815 Shortleaf Pine / Little Bluestem - Elmleaf Goldenrod - Red-purple Beebalm - Pale Purple Coneflower Woodland | CEGL007815 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus echinata / Schizachyrium scoparium - Solidago ulmifolia - Monarda russeliana - Echinacea pallida Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Blair, W. F., and T. H. Hubbell. 1938. The biotic districts of Oklahoma. The American Midland Naturalist 20:425-454.
- 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.).
- Hoagland, B. 2000. The vegetation of Oklahoma: A classification for landscape mapping and conservation planning. The Southwestern Naturalist 45(4):385-420.
- Masters, R. E., and C. W. Wilson. 1994. Effects of midstory vegetation removal and fires on the breeding birds and plant community compositions in red-cockaded woodpecker clusters. Final Report to USDA Forest Service.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- Rice, E. L. 1963. Vegetation of Beavers Bend State Park, Oklahoma. Geological Survey Guide Book 9:39-45.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Sparks, J. C., R. E. Masters, D. M. Engle, M. W. Palmer, and G. A. Bukenhofer. 1998. Effects of late growing-season and late dormant-season prescribed fire on herbaceous vegetation in restored pine-grassland communities. Journal of Vegetation Science 9:133-142.
- Zollner, Douglas. Personal communication. Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock.