Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy is tall (100+ feet) and semi-closed under old-growth conditions. Younger stands typically exhibit a more closed-canopy condition. Dominant trees include Quercus alba and Nyssa sylvatica. Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Quercus nigra, and Quercus michauxii may also be present. Quercus falcata (= var. falcata) is found in somewhat drier examples. Scattered Pinus taeda are often present, the density of which is dependent upon past disturbance. Fagus grandifolia is also occasionally present within its range, although this community extends further west than does Fagus grandifolia. It may be especially common in some areas of southern Arkansas (D. Zollner pers. obs.) Magnolia grandiflora may be present in examples in eastern Texas, but is not found in southern Arkansas. The subcanopy usually includes Symplocos tinctoria, Fraxinus spp., Ilex opaca, and Cornus florida, and rarely with Sassafras albidum. Midstory stems and the understory are fairly sparse and may include Vaccinium virgatum, Acer rubrum, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Ostrya virginiana, Carpinus caroliniana, Hamamelis virginiana, Asimina triloba, Viburnum dentatum, and regenerating stems of species previously mentioned. Callicarpa americana (disturbed mounds) and Vaccinium arboreum also occur occasionally. Parthenocissus quinquefolia is the usual woody vine occasionally with Smilax bona-nox and Vitis rotundifolia. The flora of these mounds may appear to be a depauperate version of other mesic forests in the region. Dominant herbaceous species include Chasmanthium sessiliflorum with Arisaema triphyllum, Arundinaria gigantea, Asclepias perennis, Carex glaucodea, Eupatorium altissimum, Eupatorium semiserratum, Podophyllum peltatum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Viola x palmata, and Viola sororia. The herbaceous layer can be sparse due to low light levels and litter build-up. Mitchella repens is the common ground cover.

Dynamics:  This plant community is rarely flooded and drains quickly. The extent to which Pinus taeda was present historically is unknown. It is present in many existing examples, and many mounds have Pinus taeda stumps, suggesting that this tree was present in presettlement forests. However, some mounds which support almost monospecific stands of Pinus taeda are believed to be relatively natural. These mound forests would be subject to late summer and fall wildfires but probably not to winter, spring, or early summer fires due to mesic and wet conditions in surrounding floodplain forests. The herbaceous layer can be sparse due to low light levels and litter build-up. It is not exactly clear where these pine-dominated mounds should be accommodated in the classification given that floristically these areas will overlap with types already defined from upland settings.