Print Report
CEGL004095 Quercus virginiana - Pinus taeda / Ilex vomitoria / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Live Oak - Loblolly Pine / Yaupon / Longleaf Woodoats Forest
Colloquial Name: Dry Live Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a hammock or oak dome with a dominant or significant canopy component of Quercus virginiana found in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Pinus taeda and Quercus nigra also have significant coverage in the canopy. Carya tomentosa and Carya glabra are present. Cornus florida is prominent in the understory. Ilex vomitoria is a dominant shrub. Chasmanthium sessiliflorum is a ground-layer dominant. This association has some characteristics of oak-hickory forests. Some forbs include Elephantopus tomentosus and Galium uniflorum. The main shrub dominant is Ilex vomitoria.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This (Echaw Oak-Hickory) is a rather open stand dominated in the canopy by a few enormous, apparently very old, Quercus virginiana and Pinus taeda. Even considering the fast, early growth rates of these two species, it is hard to believe these trees are not old-growth. The understory is strongly dominated by Ilex vomitoria, albeit with a fair admixture of Chasmanthium sessiliflorum. The rather species-poor understory (at least compared to upland longleaf) is reminiscent of maritime forest, and indeed the stand has a maritime feel to it overall, although it is located near a river rather than along the coast (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). This type is somewhat similar to several of the maritime types, but none of the existing descriptions mentions Chasmanthium sessiliflorum as a ground-layer dominant. Furthermore, our observations of this association are not maritime forests per se, but dry ridge habitats in the vicinity of the Santee River (Glitzenstein and Streng 2004). More information is needed on the floristics and environment of this association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Quercus virginiana may be the single most important species in the overstory of this forest. Pinus taeda and Quercus nigra also have significant coverage in the canopy. The understory is relatively species-poor. Cornus florida is prominent in the understory. Ilex vomitoria is a dominant shrub. Chasmanthium sessiliflorum is a ground-layer dominant. Other canopy species include Quercus phellos, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), and Liquidambar styraciflua. Subcanopy species include Quercus nigra, Carya glabra, and Prunus serotina. Shrubs include Nyssa sylvatica, Crataegus marshallii, Rhus copallinum, Callicarpa americana, Baccharis halimifolia, Hypericum hypericoides, Ilex opaca, Ilex vomitoria, Quercus stellata, Vaccinium elliottii, Castanea pumila, Sabal minor, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera). Vines include Vitis rotundifolia, Gelsemium sempervirens, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Berchemia scandens, Trachelospermum difforme, and Lonicera sempervirens. Other herbs include Elephantopus tomentosus, Galium pilosum, Galium uniflorum, Solidago rugosa, Pityopsis graminifolia, Andropogon virginicus var. decipiens, Asplenium platyneuron, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (= Aster lateriflorus), Sericocarpus tortifolius (= Aster tortifolius), Rubus trivialis, Solidago odora?, Mitchella repens, Tillandsia usneoides, Smilax pumila, Hypoxis wrightii (= Hypoxis micrantha), and Galactia volubilis (= Galactia macreei). Graminoids include Dichanthelium boscii, Dichanthelium commutatum, Dichanthelium laxiflorum, Dichanthelium scoparium, Scleria oligantha, Chasmanthium laxum, and Carex tenax? (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data).
Dynamics: This vegetation presumably develops due to lack of fire necessary to perpetuate Pinus palustris vegetation. This type develops naturally in localized areas where fire spread is limited by factors such as proximity to drainages and other factors. Once established this vegetation does not carry fire well, and the hammock may spread outward gradually, even when the surrounding landscape is burned, especially with dormant-season fires.
Environmental Description: This vegetation occurs on dry ridge habitats in the vicinity of the Santee River in central South Carolina and possibly in adjacent areas of Georgia, being replaced by other associations to the south. Examples are found on topographically isolated or other fire-infrequent settings. As with live oak fringes surrounding certain depressional wetlands, it is conceivable that this stand represents a natural old-growth community that developed due to reduced fire frequency as a consequence of proximity to the Santee River. The sampled stand is located on probably the highest ridge before the Santee River floodplain (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data).
Geographic Range: This type is known from central coastal South Carolina and may range into adjacent areas of Georgia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA?, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.732636
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D006 | 1.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Na.2 Live Oak - Texas Live Oak - Darlington Oak Forest Macrogroup | M885 | 1.B.1.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.2.a Live Oak - Pignut Hickory - Cabbage Palmetto Coastal Forest Group | G798 | 1.B.1.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A3192 Live Oak - Cabbage Palmetto Coastal Evergreen Forest Alliance | A3192 | 1.B.1.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004095 Live Oak - Loblolly Pine / Yaupon / Longleaf Woodoats Forest | CEGL004095 | 1.B.1.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus virginiana - Pinus taeda / Ilex vomitoria / Chasmanthium sessiliflorum Forest [Provisional] (Glitzenstein and Streng 2004)
- Glitzenstein, J. S., and D. R. Streng. 2004. Evaluating the NatureServe preliminary plant community classification for Francis Marion National Forest. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL. Plus appendices and data.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.