Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The vegetation ranges from an open woodland to low shrub or herbaceous vegetation with some tree cover. It may have substantial tree cover but not a typical forest canopy. Trees are often small and stunted. Canopy cover is up to 75-80% at present, but likely was significantly less when fires periodically burned these areas. Quercus montana, Quercus stellata, Pinus echinata, and Pinus virginiana are the predominant trees, in varying proportions. Other trees may include Juniperus virginiana, Quercus marilandica, Quercus alba, and Carya glabra. The undergrowth may be dominated either by grasses or by short clonal shrubs such as Vaccinium pallidum or Gaylussacia baccata. Grassy areas are generally dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium, but may include Danthonia spicata, Piptochaetium avenaceum, Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon ternarius, Andropogon gyrans, and Sorghastrum nutans . A variety of forbs may also be present, including Tephrosia virginiana, Pityopsis graminifolia, Pteridium aquilinum, Parthenium integrifolium, Cunila origanoides, and Coreopsis verticillata. Species typical of rock outcrops, such as Hypericum gentianoides, Phemeranthus teretifolius, and Croton michauxii var. ellipticus (= Crotonopsis elliptica), may be present but only in small amounts. Other species that may be present include Vaccinium arboreum, Toxicodendron pubescens, Diospyros virginiana, Vitis rotundifolia, Gelsemium sempervirens, and Toxicodendron radicans. Species characteristic of less acidic soils, such as Cercis canadensis, Rhus aromatica, Fraxinus americana, Cheilanthes tomentosa, or Aquilegia canadensis, are absent or extremely scarce. Species such as Vaccinium arboreum, Chionanthus virginicus, and Carya spp. may be present but occur in smaller proportions than in basic glades.

Dynamics:  The open canopy in these communities appears to be maintained both by difficulty of tree establishment and by tree mortality. Death of established trees has been observed during droughts. Periodic fire probably had a significant effect on these communities, interacting with the dry conditions and difficulty of tree establishment to make them more open in the past.