Print Report
G012 Pinus echinata - Quercus falcata - Quercus stellata Forest & Woodland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group encompasses forests and woodlands of the interior plateaus, Appalachians, Piedmont, Ozark-Ouachita, and upper coastal plain regions, north of the primary range of Pinus palustris, in which Pinus echinata dominates the canopy or is a significant component of it.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak - Post Oak Forest & Woodland Group
Colloquial Name: South-Central Interior Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest & Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group encompasses forests and woodlands of the interior plateaus, Appalachians, Piedmont, Ozark-Ouachita, and upper coastal plain regions (north of the primary range of Pinus palustris in the coastal plains) in which Pinus echinata is the canopy dominant (or at least an important component). Examples can occur on a variety of topographic and landscape positions, including ridgetops, upper and midslopes, as well as lower elevations (generally below 700 m [2300 feet]) in the Southern Appalachians such as mountain valleys, as well as on rolling uplands in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain. Examples occur on a variety of acidic soils or bedrock types. Stands may be codominated by Quercus spp., Carya spp., and other hardwoods, with the varying proportion of pine versus hardwood depending on management (both commercial forestry and ecological management), particularly time since fire. Although examples of this group occur throughout this broad area, there is considerable local variation in their extent in the landscape and in their structure and composition. In more open stands (such as ones in naturally drier regions or ones which have experienced more recent/frequent fire), the understory is characterized by Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, and other prairie graminoid elements. In the lower elevations of the Southern Appalachians, and under current conditions, stands are dominated by Pinus echinata or Pinus virginiana. Pinus rigida may sometimes be present. Stands found outside of the coastal plains in which Pinus palustris is a component are also included here. Hardwoods are sometimes abundant, especially dry-site oaks such as Quercus falcata, Quercus montana, Quercus stellata, and Quercus coccinea, but also Carya glabra and other hickories. The shrub layer may be well-developed, with Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia baccata, or other acid-tolerant species being most characteristic. Herbs are usually sparse but may include Pityopsis graminifolia and Tephrosia virginiana. There is some regional variation in composition across the range of this group, with examples in the Ozark-Ouachita area and the upper coastal plain lacking Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, and Quercus montana. In the upper coastal plains, where fire is more frequent, stands of vegetation affiliated with this group may develop a relatively pure and open canopy of Pinus echinata with scattered overstory trees and an herbaceous-dominated understory, but such examples are rare on the modern landscape unless maintained by ecological management. More typical are examples in which Quercus spp., Carya spp., Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer spp., and Nyssa sylvatica have become prominent in the midstory and overstory and in which herbaceous patches are rare.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The cover of needle-leaved evergreen trees (Pinus echinata possibly with Pinus rigida and/or Pinus virginiana within their ranges) is variable, but typically is greater than 50%, with broad-leaved deciduous tree species Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, and/or Quercus montana (within its range) singly or in combination varying greatly depending on management, but typically greater than 25% cover. Shrub diagnostics vary but typically include Vaccinium spp. and Gaylussacia spp. in combination with the above overstory dominants. In more open stands, native warm-season grasses including Schizachyrium scoparium will be dominant rather than shrubs.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There is some regional variation in composition across the range of this group, with examples in the Ozark-Ouachita area and the Upper Coastal Plain lacking Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, and Quercus montana. Stands found outside of the coastal plains in which Pinus palustris is a component are also included here. These were formerly included in Montane & Piedmont Longleaf Pine Woodland Group (G164). Examples of this group mainly occur in three general areas: the Appalachians (broadly defined to include the Cumberlands and Piedmont); the East Gulf Coastal Plain north of the range of Pinus palustris; and the Ozark-Ouachita areas of Missouri and Arkansas. In addition, any shortleaf pine-dominated or -codominated vegetation of the Interior Low Plateau (ILP), including examples in southern Indiana and the Tennessee portion of Land Between the Lakes, would also be included. Frost (1998) treats the ILP region in a different fire-return-interval class than the core range of this group, although local variation may overwhelm the broad regional differences. If more detailed information becomes available to document important ecological differences between these areas, it would improve our understanding of the dynamics and compositional variability. Vegetation in the Upper Gulf Coastal Plain west of the Mississippi River is accommodated in a different group.
A group of dry to xeric sand barren shortleaf pine/scrub oak-dominated associations are also placed here (e.g., ~Quercus (incana, margarettae, arkansana) - (Pinus echinata) / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL007972)$$, ~Quercus arkansana - Quercus incana / Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii Woodland (CEGL003693)$$, and some other related types). These were formerly placed in Southern Coastal Plain Dry Pine - Oak Forest Group (G155), which has been subsumed here. The addition of these types broadens the ecological amplitude of the group, and some of these may be placed in a different alliance (the others being mainly biogeographic in their primary identity).
There is vegetation which lies south of about 32°30''N latitude (about the latitude of Jackson, Mississippi, and within the general range of Pinus palustris) that may not be adequately represented in the NVC and Ecological Systems classifications. This area (which includes the Homochitto National Forest) is different from both the shortleaf pine-oak vegetation to the north and the longleaf pine-dominated vegetation to the east in the non-loessal coastal plain. It could be called "East Gulf Coastal Plain Mixed Pine (Oak) Forest." In stands of this type, all three pine species (Pinus palustris, Pinus taeda, and Pinus echinata) co-occur with oaks (e.g., Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii) in a complex mosaic in gently to moderately rolling terrain. This is consistent with the ranges of Oak-Pine vegetation versus Longleaf-Loblolly-Slash Pines in Shantz and Zon (1924). More information is needed.
A group of dry to xeric sand barren shortleaf pine/scrub oak-dominated associations are also placed here (e.g., ~Quercus (incana, margarettae, arkansana) - (Pinus echinata) / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL007972)$$, ~Quercus arkansana - Quercus incana / Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii Woodland (CEGL003693)$$, and some other related types). These were formerly placed in Southern Coastal Plain Dry Pine - Oak Forest Group (G155), which has been subsumed here. The addition of these types broadens the ecological amplitude of the group, and some of these may be placed in a different alliance (the others being mainly biogeographic in their primary identity).
There is vegetation which lies south of about 32°30''N latitude (about the latitude of Jackson, Mississippi, and within the general range of Pinus palustris) that may not be adequately represented in the NVC and Ecological Systems classifications. This area (which includes the Homochitto National Forest) is different from both the shortleaf pine-oak vegetation to the north and the longleaf pine-dominated vegetation to the east in the non-loessal coastal plain. It could be called "East Gulf Coastal Plain Mixed Pine (Oak) Forest." In stands of this type, all three pine species (Pinus palustris, Pinus taeda, and Pinus echinata) co-occur with oaks (e.g., Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii) in a complex mosaic in gently to moderately rolling terrain. This is consistent with the ranges of Oak-Pine vegetation versus Longleaf-Loblolly-Slash Pines in Shantz and Zon (1924). More information is needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Examples are dominated by needle-leaved evergreen trees, or a combination of needle-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees. The density of stands may vary from open to closed, depending on moisture regime, climate and management, particularly time since last fire, and average fire frequency over a period of several decades. More open stands are more likely to have a graminoid-dominated ground layer; otherwise the low-shrub stratum may be dense, with herbs correspondingly lower in cover.
Floristics: Pinus echinata is the canopy dominant (or at least an important component); stands may be codominated by Quercus spp., Carya spp., and other hardwoods. In more open stands, the understory is characterized by Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, and other prairie graminoid elements. In the lower elevations of the Southern Appalachians, and under current conditions, stands are dominated by Pinus echinata or Pinus virginiana. Pinus rigida may sometimes be present. Some stands ("montane" or "Piedmont" longleaf) dominated by Pinus palustris are also included here. Hardwoods are sometimes abundant, especially dry-site oaks such as Quercus falcata, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), and Quercus coccinea, but also Carya glabra and other hickories. The shrub layer may be well-developed, with Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium stamineum, Gaylussacia baccata, or other acid-tolerant species most characteristic. Herbs are usually sparse but may include Pityopsis graminifolia and Tephrosia virginiana. There is some regional variation in composition across the range of this group, with examples in the Ozark-Ouachita area and the Upper Coastal Plain lacking Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, and Quercus montana. In the Upper Coastal Plain, where fire is more frequent, stands of vegetation affiliated with this group may develop a relatively pure and open canopy of Pinus echinata with scattered overstory trees and an herbaceous-dominated understory; such examples are rare on the current landscape. More typical are examples in which Quercus spp., Carya spp., Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer spp., and Nyssa sylvatica have become prominent in the midstory and overstory and in which herbaceous patches are rare.
Dynamics: Fire is clearly an important influence and may be the sole factor determining the occurrence of stands of this group rather than hardwood forests under natural conditions. Fires probably were frequent and of low intensity, or a mix of low and higher intensity. Within the range of Pinus virginiana, fire probably is important for determining the balance of the two pine species, the component of hardwoods, and the overall vegetation structure. Pinus echinata is fairly resilient to fire once mature, while Pinus virginiana individuals are fairly susceptible to fire but well-adapted to establishing in areas opened by intense fire. In the Upper Gulf Coastal Plain, the frequent presence of surface fire is important in order to support the reproduction of Pinus echinata, which is a shade-intolerant species and does not survive or grow well when fire-suppressed. Young shortleaf pines are generally slower growing and slower to dominate a site than Pinus taeda or many hardwood competitors, but they usually will endure competition longer. Dendroctonus frontalis (southern pine beetle) outbreaks are an important factor in examples of this group, at least under present conditions. These beetle outbreaks can kill all the pines without creating the conditions for the pines to regenerate. Effects of logging and past clearing as well as fire suppression make understanding of this group''s natural character and dynamics difficult. An extensive hardwood component may partly be the result of fire suppression. In natural pine forests, logging may allow pines to regenerate or may change the composition to weedy hardwoods. It might alter canopy composition as well as structure. In the Ozarks and Ouachitas, fire frequency is 3-4 years mean fire interval (range=1-12 years) (Masters et al. 1995). Annual fire was common historically. Replacement and mixed severity fires are infrequent, every 100 to 1000 years. Stand-replacement fires occurred mostly under extreme drought conditions during the growing season. Other disturbance types include ice storms, wind events, and insect infestations. Pinus echinata can maintain dominance on most sites after it overtops competing vegetation, but in general, hardwoods cannot be eliminated from pine sites. On very good sites (i.e., with high site index), however, it may not outgrow competing species such as sweetgum and red maple (Lawson 1990).
Environmental Description: Examples can occur on a variety of topographic and landscape positions, including ridgetops, upper and midslopes, as well as lower elevations (generally below 700 m [2300 feet]) in the Southern Appalachians such as mountain valleys, as well as on rolling uplands in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain. Examples occur on a variety of acidic soils or bedrock types. In the Ozark Highlands, this group was historically prominent only in the southeastern part, where sandstone-derived soils were common (USFS 1999), being limited in other areas by inadequate winter precipitation and non-conducive soils. In contrast, pine was "virtually ubiquitous in the historical forests of the Ouachitas" (USFS 1999). In nearly all cases (at least in the Ouachitas), Pinus echinata occurs with a variable mixture of hardwood species. The exact composition of the hardwoods is much more closely related to aspect and topographic factors than is the pine component (Dale and Ware 1999). The belted character of the Upper Gulf Coastal Plain region, in the form of inner lowlands and cuestas and other low-ridge landforms (Bowman 1911, Fenneman 1938), the associated diversity of soil types, and differences in settlement history appear to account for the importance of shortleaf pine in the Gulf Coast region when compared to the Atlantic Coastal Plain (White and Lloyd 1998). Cuestas and other hills create strong environmental gradients which, coupled with soil characteristics, promote a variety of mixed pine and pine-hardwood vegetation in this region; local differences in topography, parent material, and exposure influence site characteristics, resulting in numerous different plant communities. This group primarily occupies the dry and dry-mesic portion of regional moisture gradients. Wide variation in vegetation composition across this gradient is also strongly related to fire frequency and intensity (White and Lloyd 1998).
Geographic Range: Examples of this group mainly occur in three general areas: the Appalachians (broadly defined to include the Cumberlands and Piedmont) from Alabama to Virginia and Kentucky; the East Gulf Coastal Plain generally north of the range of Pinus palustris from Georgia to Mississippi; and the Ozark-Ouachita areas of Arkansas, adjacent Oklahoma, and southeastern Missouri. In addition, any shortleaf pine-dominated or -codominated vegetation of the Interior Low Plateau, including examples in southern Indiana, the Knobs Region of Kentucky, and the Tennessee portion of Land Between the Lakes, is included. Pinus echinata-dominated or -codominated vegetation in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas is accommodated in ~Western Gulf Coastal Plain Pine - Oak Forest & Woodland Group (G013)$$.
In the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain, this vegetation was the historical matrix in large areas of the region in Alabama and Mississippi, particularly between about 32°30''N latitude and about 35°N latitude. In southwestern Mississippi, this group is apparently dominant on the landscape west of 91°W longitude to the limits of the alluvial plain and northwest of a line running approximately from the intersection of 31°N latitude and 91°W longitude, northeastward to the city of Jackson, Mississippi, extending at least to about 34°N latitude. This is consistent with the ranges of oak-pine vegetation (generally equivalent to this group) versus longleaf-loblolly-slash pines in Shantz and Zon (1924).
In the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain, this vegetation was the historical matrix in large areas of the region in Alabama and Mississippi, particularly between about 32°30''N latitude and about 35°N latitude. In southwestern Mississippi, this group is apparently dominant on the landscape west of 91°W longitude to the limits of the alluvial plain and northwest of a line running approximately from the intersection of 31°N latitude and 91°W longitude, northeastward to the city of Jackson, Mississippi, extending at least to about 34°N latitude. This is consistent with the ranges of oak-pine vegetation (generally equivalent to this group) versus longleaf-loblolly-slash pines in Shantz and Zon (1924).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833279
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.b Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak - Post Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G012 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3270 Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak Upper Coastal Plain Woodland Alliance | A3270 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3271 Shortleaf Pine - Post Oak - Black Oak Ozark-Ouachita Woodland Alliance | A3271 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3272 Longleaf Pine - Shortleaf Pine - Chestnut Oak Interior Woodland Alliance | A3272 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: G164 merged into G012.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Shortleaf Pine - Oak: 76 (Eyre 1980)
- Barbour, M. G., and W. D. Billings, editors. 1988. North American terrestrial vegetation. Cambridge University Press, New York. 434 pp.
- Bowman, I. 1911. Forest physiography. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
- Chester, E. W., B. E. Wofford, R. Kral, H. R. DeSelm, and A. M. Evans. 1993. Atlas of Tennessee Vascular Plants, Volume 1: Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms: Monocots. Center for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University Miscellaneous Publication No. 9. Clarksville, TN.
- Clewell, A. F. 2013. Prior prevalence of shortleaf pine-oak-hickory woodlands in the Tallahassee Red Hills. Castanea 78(4):266-276.
- 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.
- Dale, E. E., Jr., and S. Ware. 1999. Analysis of oak-hickory-pine forests of Hot Springs National Park in the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas. Castanea 64(2):163-174.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- 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]
- Fenneman, N. M. 1938. Physiography of eastern United States. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 714 pp.
- Ferguson, E. R. 1958. Age of rough (ground cover) affects shortleaf pine establishment and survival. Journal of Forestry 56:422-423.
- Frost, C. C. 1998. Presettlement fire frequency regimes of the United States: A first approximation. Pages 70-81 in: T. L. Pruden and L. A. Brennan, editors. Fire in ecosystem management: Shifting the paradigm from suppression to prescription. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings, No. 20. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.
- Garren, K. H. 1943. Effects of fire on vegetation of the southeastern United States. Botanical Review 9:617-654.
- Harper, R. M. 1920b. Resources of southern Alabama: A statistical guide for investors and settlers, with an exposition of some of the general principles of economic geography. Geological Survey of Alabama. Special Report No. 11. University of Alabama. 151 pp.
- Harper, R. M. 1943. Forests of Alabama. Geological Survey of Alabama Monograph 10. University of Alabama. 230 pp.
- Harrod, J. C., and R. D. White. 1999. Age structure and radial growth in xeric pine-oak forests in western Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 126(2):139-146.
- Landers, J. L. 1989. Disturbance influences on pine traits in the southeastern United States. Pages 61-98 in: Proceedings 17th Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference. High intensity fire in wildlands: Management challenges and options. May 18-21, 1989. Tallahassee, Florida.
- Lawson, E. R. 1990. Pinus echinata Mill. Shortleaf pine. Pages 316-326 in: R. M. Burns and B. H. Honkala, technical coordinators. 1990. Silvics of North America: Volume 1. Conifers. USDA Forest Service. Agriculture Handbook 654. Washington, DC. 675 pp.
- MSNHP [Mississippi Natural Heritage Program]. 2006. Ecological communities of Mississippi. Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Jackson, MS. 9 pp.
- Masters, R. E., J. E. Skeen, and J. Whitehead. 1995. Preliminary fire history of McCurtain County Wilderness Area and implications for red-cockaded woodpecker management. In: D. I. Kulhavy, R. G. Hooper, and R. Costa, editors. Red-cockaded woodpecker management. Center for Applied Studies, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX.
- Mohr, C. T. 1901. Plant life of Alabama. Contributions to the U.S. National Herbarium No. 6. Washington, DC. 921 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- NatureServe. 2002. Notes on shortleaf pine ecosystems and restoration efforts in the Southern Appalachians. Report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Cherokee National Forest, Cleveland, TN. 39 pp.
- Nordman, Carl W. Personal communication. Regional Ecologist. NatureServe, Southeast Regional Office, Durham, NC.
- Schotz, Al. Personal communication. Community Ecologist. Alabama Natural Heritage Program. Montgomery, AL.
- Shantz, H. L., and R. Zon. 1924. The natural vegetation of the United States. Pages 1-29 in: O. E. Baker, compiler. Atlas of American Agriculture, Part 1, Section E. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. 29 pp. with map at 1:8,000,000. [Date on map given as 1923.]
- Skeen, J. N., P. D. Doerr, and D. H. Van Lear. 1993. Oak-hickory-pine forests. Pages 1-33 in: W. H. Martin, S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. Biodiversity of the Southeastern United States: Upland Terrestrial Communities. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 373 pp.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1999. Ozark-Ouachita Highlands assessment: Terrestrial vegetation and wildlife. Report 5 of 5. General Technical Report SRS-35. USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Asheville, NC. 201 pp.
- White, D. L., and F. T. Lloyd. 1998. An old-growth definition for dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forests. General Technical Report SRS-23. USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Asheville, NC. 42 pp.