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G154 Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis Xeric Woodland Group

Type Concept Sentence: These are open woodlands dominated by Pinus palustris, with Quercus laevis or, west of the Mississippi River, Quercus incana, and an herbaceous layer dominated by the native warm-season perennial grasses Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon spp., and Aristida spp., which occurs on dry deep sands in the southern coastal plains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak Xeric Woodland Group

Colloquial Name: Xeric Longleaf Pine Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group encompasses dry upland forest or woodland vegetation on deep, coarse sands and sandy loams on the southern coastal plains from North Carolina south to central Florida and west to eastern Texas. Generally, these are open woodlands dominated by Pinus palustris with an understory of Quercus laevis, though sites that are somewhat fire-suppressed or have experienced high-grading of the pine canopy can be dominated by Quercus laevis. Quercus incana and Quercus margarettae occur in the subcanopy throughout, though more commonly on somewhat silty sites. West of the Mississippi River Quercus laevis is absent with its role filled by Quercus incana. These habitats are consistently dry and have low nutrient availability with the consequence that Pinus palustris grows slower and reaches smaller stature than in other longleaf pine-dominated groups such as ~Dry-Mesic Loamy Longleaf Pine Woodland Group (G009)$$, ~Wet-Mesic Longleaf Pine Open Woodland Group (G190)$$ and ~Mesic Longleaf Pine Flatwoods - Spodosol Woodland Group (G596)$$. On the most xeric sites, often referred to as barrens, the grass layer is minimal and litter accumulation is slow with the consequence that the natural frequency of fire is less than in other habitats where Pinus palustris grows. All but the most xeric associations have a well-developed grass layer with Schizachyrium scoparium common throughout, often with one of the wiregrass forms of Aristida. The dominant Aristida shifts geographically with Aristida stricta important in the southern two-thirds of North Carolina and northern-most South Carolina and Aristida beyrichiana dominant in southern South Carolina and across much Georgia and Florida, though west of the Apalachicola it is confined to the lower regions of the coastal plain and finally drops out in eastern-most Mississippi. South of the Savanna River Gopherus polyphemus (gopher tortoise) is a keystone species in this habitat; many other animals are associated with the burrows it digs and lives in.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominated by Pinus palustris with Quercus laevis and, to a lesser extent, Quercus incana and Quercus margarettae. West of the Mississippi River, Quercus laevis is absent and its role is filled by a greater abundance of Quercus incana. This vegetation occurs on xeric sites with infertile deep coarse sands and loamy sands. On the most xeric sites, herbaceous species diversity can be very low.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are open woodlands dominated by Pinus palustris, with sparse subcanopy and tall-shrub strata dominated by Quercus laevis or, west of the Mississippi River, Quercus incana. The herbaceous layer is dominated by the native warm-season perennial grasses Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon spp., and Aristida spp.

Floristics: Generally, these are open woodlands dominated by Pinus palustris, with a subcanopy dominated by Quercus laevis, sometimes also with Quercus incana and Quercus margarettae. West of the Mississippi River Quercus incana replaces Quercus laevis as the dominant understory shrub species. Schizachyrium scoparium is an important grass throughout. Sites in North Carolina and northern South Carolina often have Aristida stricta as a dominant, and sites from southern South Carolina through much of Georgia and Florida often have Aristida beyrichiana as a dominant. West of the Apalachicola River, Aristida beyrichiana is constrained in distribution to the lowest coastal plain, dropping out in eastern-most Mississippi, though other Aristida species are important, such as Aristida purpurascens and Aristida condensata. Important shrubs include Gaylussacia dumosa, Licania michauxii, and Rhus copallinum. Serenoa repens may form shrubby thickets from southern Georgia across Florida and southern Alabama. Frequent herbaceous plants are sparse and include Chrysopsis gossypina, Chrysopsis gossypina ssp. hyssopifolia, Pityopsis spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Rhynchosia cytisoides, Rhynchospora grayi, Sorghastrum secundum, Stipulicida setacea, Stylisma pickeringii, and west of the Mississippi Stylisma pickeringii var. pattersonii.

Dynamics:  Wildland fire is a part of the natural dynamics of this vegetation. Historically, these fires have been started either by lightning or by humans. Today, remaining intact examples of this vegetation need to be professionally managed with prescribed fire in order to maintain their biological diversity. Hurricanes can also play a role in the dynamics, creating openings where tree regeneration can take place. Pinus palustris is a mast-producing tree, but in most years very little seed is produced. In certain mast years (which occur irregularly), trees throughout the range produce large amounts of seed. The seeds of Pinus palustris germinate best when they land on exposed sand, and not on litter. This is one reason that wildland fire is necessary for the regeneration of Pinus palustris.
Environmental Description:  Climate: Warm temperate, humid. There are a large number of lightning strikes in the southern coastal plain region, especially in Florida. Soil/substrate/hydrology: This group encompasses dry upland woodland vegetation on deep coarse sands.
Geographic Range: This vegetation occurs in the coastal plain from North Carolina south to Florida and west to eastern Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

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.1 Longleaf Pine / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Macrogroup M007 1.B.1.Na.1
Group 1.B.1.Na.1.c Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak Xeric Woodland Group G154 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Alliance A3122 Longleaf Pine / Bluejack Oak Woodland Alliance A3122 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Alliance A4074 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Alliance A4074 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Alliance A4075 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Little Bluestem Woodland Alliance A4075 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Alliance A4076 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak - Sand Live Oak Woodland Alliance A4076 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Alliance A4077 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Piedmont Three-awn Woodland Alliance A4077 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Longleaf Pine - Scrub Oak: 71 (Eyre 1980)
= Sandhill (FNAI 2010a)
= Sandhills and River Dunes (Edwards et al. 2013)
= Xeric Sand Barrens and Uplands (Peet 2006)
Concept Author(s): R.K. Peet (2006)

Author of Description: C.W. Nordman, B. Sorrie and R. Peet

Acknowledgements: B. Sorrie and R. Peet

Version Date: 05-12-15
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