Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association is dominated by Quercus fusiformis and Quercus buckleyi and characterized by a mixture of other trees and shrubs, including Ulmus crassifolia, Fraxinus albicans (= Fraxinus texensis), Juniperus ashei, Quercus sinuata, Forestiera pubescens, Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Toxicodendron radicans, Ilex decidua, Cercis canadensis var. texensis, Rhus trilobata, Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Lonicera albiflora, Frangula caroliniana, Ungnadia speciosa, and Opuntia engelmannii. Shrubs are usually located only under large trees or in mottes. With increasing fire frequency, the density of Juniperus ashei may decline. Herbaceous cover is variable and patchy in distribution. It may be dense in areas with shallow soils but sparse to absent in areas where bedrock is exposed at the surface. Herbaceous species include Carex planostachys, Nassella leucotricha, Limnodea arkansana, Chaerophyllum tainturieri, Gaillardia pulchella, Erodium texanum, and Thelesperma filifolium.

Dynamics:  Canopy density depends on the disturbance history (especially fire) of the site. Because of the high cover of bare rock and rock outcrops, fires may have always been patchy. There is enough soil build-up in shallow depressions in the rock or breaks in the rock to support a patchy grass/forb cover between live oak clumps. With long-term fire suppression, Juniperus ashei can become a canopy dominant. Frequent fire will maintain an open woodland , with shrub cover under larger trees and high cover of grasses between the trees. High-intensity crownfires may occur in this community, especially once Juniperus ashei dominates the canopy. Following such a fire, the community may temporarily become a shrubland, dominated by resprouting Quercus fusiformis, Quercus buckleyi, and Quercus sinuata var. breviloba.