Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Pinus echinata is the single most important species in this community, although the combined number of hardwood stems may be greater. Schibig and Chester (1988) report the average dbh of shortleaf pines in sample stands as 53 cm (21 inches); hardwood stems tend to be much smaller, although large individual oaks may also be present. Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) is the second most important species present, and may actually exceed shortleaf pine is terms of total density. Other woody species may also include Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, Quercus marilandica, Oxydendrum arboreum, Carya glabra, Nyssa sylvatica, and Cornus florida. The herbaceous flora is generally sparse. Schibig and Chester (1988) list 56 species observed in the understory of these stands but do not provide abundance data for these taxa.

Dynamics:  Like other shortleaf pine communities, this type was probably subject to historically frequent fires. Pinus echinata may have difficulty replacing itself in the absence of fire, particularly on sites other than the driest ones (Eyre 1980). Schibig and Chester (1988) note the importance of fire prior to 1960 in stands at Land Between the Lakes based on a number of fire scars. The importance of shortleaf pine is much greater in the canopy than in seedling or sapling strata suggesting that, in the absence of fire, shortleaf pine may be replaced by hardwoods.