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CEGL004037 Quercus phellos - Quercus (alba, stellata) - Carya carolinae-septentrionalis Hardpan Wet Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Willow Oak - (White Oak, Post Oak) - Southern Shagbark Hickory Hardpan Wet Forest
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Mixed Moisture Hardpan Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs sparsely throughout the Piedmont of North Carolina and possibly South Carolina. One occurrence is known in southern Virginia. It is found on upland flats with dense clay soils that inhibit internal drainage, and where water pools on the surface only to shallow depths and largely outside of the growing season. The vegetation is a forest with a mixture of wetland and upland species in all strata. Some combination of Quercus phellos, Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, and Carya carolinae-septentrionalis generally dominate. The subcanopy usually includes Juniperus virginiana and Nyssa sylvatica. Frequent shrub species include Ilex verticillata, Ilex decidua, Eubotrys racemosa, various upland Vaccinium spp., and Viburnum rafinesqueanum. Smilax rotundifolia is often prominent. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse, with various wetland Carex spp., Juncus effusus, and Danthonia spicata most constant and most abundant.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The vegetation is a mixture of upland and wetland species. Quercus phellos is the most constant wetland tree. Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, or Carya carolinae-septentrionalis are generally the predominant upland trees.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community is clearly intermediate conceptually between the xeric hardpans, ~Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica - Carya (carolinae-septentrionalis, glabra) / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL003714)$$ and ~Quercus stellata - (Quercus marilandica) / Gaylussacia frondosa Acidic Hardpan Woodland (CEGL004413)$$, and upland depression swamps, ~Quercus phellos / Carex (albolutescens, intumescens, joorii) / Climacium americanum Wet Forest (CEGL007403)$$. Small bands of mixed vegetation may occur as an ecotone between those associations, but this community occurs in larger patches, often in the absence of the other associations. Several CVS plots have been sampled in it, but the data are not yet analyzed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation is a closed forest of tall trees, with a mixture of upland and wetland species.
Floristics: The vegetation is a closed forest of tall trees, with a mixture of upland and wetland species. Quercus phellos is the most constant wetland tree. Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, or Carya carolinae-septentrionalis are generally the predominant upland trees. Other canopy species may include Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Carya ovata. The subcanopy usually includes Juniperus virginiana and Nyssa sylvatica, and various of the canopy species are common. The shrub layer is generally sparse. Frequent species include Ilex verticillata, Ilex decidua, Eubotrys racemosa, various upland Vaccinium spp., and Viburnum rafinesqueanum. In addition, Smilax rotundifolia is often prominent. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse, with various wetland Carex spp., Juncus effusus, and Danthonia spicata most constant and most abundant.
Dynamics: Natural regeneration appears to be in canopy gaps. The shallow rooting depth in these sites makes the community more susceptible to windthrow, allowing for larger canopy gaps. Stands disturbed by logging likely have increased Liquidambar and Acer abundance.
Environmental Description: This association occurs on upland flats with dense clay soils that inhibit internal drainage. The microtopography is such that water may pool on the surface during the winter but only in shallow puddles that dry before or early during the growing season. They appear either to have a fine-scale mosaic of effective wetness (at the scale of individual trees) or to have a variable moisture regime capable of supporting a mix of wetland and upland species. The geologic substrate varies, and the base status of the soils also appears to vary. The vegetation shows slight variation in response to soil base status in the lower strata but not in the canopy.
Geographic Range: This association occurs sparsely throughout the Piedmont of North Carolina and possibly South Carolina. One occurrence is known in southern Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, SC?, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.858830
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.a White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Water Oak Forest Group | G165 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A4434 Post Oak Hardpan Woodland Alliance | A4434 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL004037 Willow Oak - (White Oak, Post Oak) - Southern Shagbark Hickory Hardpan Wet Forest | CEGL004037 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Mixed Moisture Hardpan Forest (Schafale 2012)
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, Gary P. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.
- 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.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.