Print Report
G159 Quercus alba - Quercus falcata - Quercus rubra Forest & Woodland Group
Type Concept Sentence: These dry-mesic hardwood forests cover much of the landscape west of the Appalachians between about 34°N and 38°N latitude, including the unglaciated part of the Interior Low Plateau, the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and Crowley''s Ridge, and the Ozarks and Ouachitas. Stands are dominated by Quercus species, including Quercus alba, Quercus coccinea, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, Quercus rubra, Quercus stellata, and/or Quercus velutina, with Carya species also typically prominent.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest & Woodland Group
Colloquial Name: South-Central Interior Oak Forest & Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group represents the dry-mesic hardwood forests that cover much of the landscape in a band of unglaciated terrain, between about 34°N latitude and 38°N latitude, extending west of the Appalachians, including the unglaciated part of the Interior Low Plateau, the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and Crowley''s Ridge, and extending into the Ozarks and Ouachitas of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. A number of different Quercus species (including Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus falcata, Quercus velutina or Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus coccinea) may dominate stands of this group, with Carya species also prominent, including Carya tomentosa, Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya pallida, and others. East of the Mississippi River, in some drier examples on more acidic substrates, Quercus montana is typical, reflecting relations with similar Appalachian forest groups further to the east. Quercus alba may also be present but not necessarily dominant, but will typically exhibit dominance in the submesic to dry-mesic examples, possibly with Quercus falcata and/or Quercus velutina. In addition, Quercus coccinea, Quercus marilandica, and/or Quercus stellata will also share dominance or be prominent in many of the drier examples. Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus pagoda, and/or Quercus shumardii may appear in examples with high base status. Under current conditions, the understories are typically shrub- and small tree-dominated, with the typical species varying with aspect, soil, and moisture relations. More open canopies and grass-dominated understories may have been more prevalent prior to the mid-twentieth century, when open grazing and surface fires were more common. In the Interior Low Plateaus, the range of this group is generally consistent with the "Western Mesophytic" Forest region of Braun (1950), Keever (1971), and Greller (1988). Examples are typically found along ridgetops and slopes of various aspects. The floristic expression of different associations included in this group varies considerably with aspect and soil type. The associations range along a moisture gradient from submesic to dry. The submesic to dry-mesic expressions tend to be found on mid slopes with northerly to easterly aspects, and the dry expressions on southerly to westerly aspects and on narrow ridges. Parent material can range from calcareous to acidic with very shallow, well- to excessively well-drained soils in the dry expressions and moderately well-drained soils in the submesic to dry-mesic ones. The canopy closure of this group ranges from closed to somewhat open in the dry examples. On Crowley''s Ridge, the vegetation is very distinctive from that of the adjacent alluvial plain, and the sites occur on distinct slopes that rise above the alluvial plain surface. Occurrences of this group generally comprise dry-mesic forests that occupy west-facing slopes and narrow, "finger" ridgetops in a highly dissected landscape. Historically, these examples may have been more open under conditions of more frequent fire. In the Ozarks and Ouachitas, soils are typically moderately to well-drained and more fertile than those associated with oak woodlands. Wind, drought, lightning, and occasional fires can influence vegetation of this group.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These are moderately tall, upland forests dominated by Quercus species, including Quercus alba, Quercus coccinea, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, Quercus rubra, Quercus stellata, and/or Quercus velutina, with Carya species also typically prominent, found in the Interior Low Plateaus, and extending into the Ozarks and Ouachitas.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Need to clarify range in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain (EPA 65, 74 in Alabama, Mississippi); also need to check the states of the associations and alliances.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are moderately tall, closed-canopy forests at present, but more open canopies and grass-dominated understories may have been more prevalent prior to the mid-twentieth century. These are upland forests in unglaciated landscapes.
Floristics: A number of different Quercus species (including Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina or Quercus coccinea, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus stellata in drier stands) may dominate stands of this group, with Carya species also prominent, including Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya pallida, and others. East of the Mississippi River, in some drier examples on more acidic substrates, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) is typical, reflecting relations with similar Appalachian forest groups further to the east. Quercus alba may also be present but not necessarily dominant, but will typically exhibit dominance in the submesic to dry-mesic examples, possibly with Quercus velutina or Quercus falcata. In addition, Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus coccinea will also share dominance or be prominent in many of the dry examples. Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus pagoda, and/or Quercus shumardii may appear in examples with high base status. Some other species which may be present include Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Acer saccharum (in more mesic examples), Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, Gleditsia triacanthos, Gymnocladus dioicus, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Kalmia latifolia, Ostrya virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Smilax spp., Styrax americanus, Ulmus americana, Ulmus serotina, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, other highbush Vaccinium species, Viburnum acerifolium, and Vitis aestivalis. Forbs of the Fabaceae (e.g., Desmodium) and Asteraceae (e.g., Helianthus) will be prominent in many examples. Under current conditions, the understories are typically shrub- and small tree-dominated, with the typical species varying with aspect, soil, and moisture relations. More open and grass-dominated understories may have been more prevalent prior to the mid-twentieth century, when open grazing and surface fires were more common.
Dynamics: Wind effects, drought, lightning, and occasional fires can influence the physiognomy and composition of stands of this group.
Environmental Description: Soil/substrate/hydrology: This is the matrix vegetation over much of its range, and occurs on dry-mesic to mesic, gentle to moderately steep slopes. Soils are typically moderately to well-drained and more fertile than those associated with oak woodlands. This group encompasses a variety of associations ranging along a moisture gradient from submesic to dry. The submesic to dry-mesic expressions tend to be found on mid slopes with northerly to easterly aspects; the dry expressions are found on southerly to westerly aspects and on broad ridges. Parent material can range from calcareous to acidic with very shallow, well- to excessively well-drained soils in the drier expressions and moderately well-drained soils in the submesic to dry-mesic ones. On Crowley''s Ridge, loess soil is a characteristic and diagnostic component of the environment.
Geographic Range: Vegetation of this group extends across a band of unglaciated terrain between about 34°N latitude and 38°N latitude, extending west of the Appalachians, including parts of the Interior Low Plateaus (including southern Indiana and a small part of southeastern Ohio), also including the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and Crowley''s Ridge, and extending into the Ozarks and Ouachitas of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833271
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M016 | 1.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.1.c White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G159 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3288 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Post Oak Ozark-Ouachita Forest Alliance | A3288 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3290 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - White Oak Ozark-Ouachita Woodland Alliance | A3290 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3291 Post Oak - Southern Red Oak - White Oak Interior Low Plateau Woodland Alliance | A3291 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Dry-mesic Loess/Glacial Till Forest (Nelson 2005)
- Braun, E. L. 1950. Deciduous forests of eastern North America. Hafner Press, New York. 596 pp.
- Clark, G. T. 1974. A preliminary ecological study of Crowley''s Ridge. Pages 213-241 in: Arkansas Department of Planning. Arkansas natural area plan. Arkansas Department of Planning. Little Rock. 248 pp.
- Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, K. Snow, J. Teague, and R. White. 2003-present. Ecological systems of the United States: A working classification of U.S. terrestrial systems. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Greller, A. M. 1988. Deciduous forest. Pages 288-316 in: M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings, editors. North American terrestrial vegetation. Cambridge University Press, New York.
- Keever, C. 1971. A study of the mixed mesophytic, western mesophytic, and oak chestnut regions of the eastern deciduous forest, including a review of the vegetation and sites recommended as potential natural landmarks. National Park Service. 340 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Nelson, P. 2005. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Third edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO. 550 pp.