Print Report

A2060 Quercus muehlenbergii - Acer saccharum - Fraxinus americana Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes dry to dry-mesic forests dominated by some combination of Quercus muehlenbergii with Acer saccharum and/or Fraxinus americana associated with high-base substrates (e.g., limestone or dolomite) in the Interior Low Plateau and Ozark-Ouachita regions of the United States, including the Ridge and Valley region and the Nashville Basin of Tennessee.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chinquapin Oak - Sugar Maple - White Ash Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: South-Central Interior Chinquapin Oak - Maple - Ash Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes a variety of dry to dry-mesic forests dominated by some combination of Quercus muehlenbergii with Acer saccharum and/or Fraxinus americana, with other hardwood species, including Carya spp., Fraxinus quadrangulata, Juglans nigra, Quercus alba, Quercus shumardii, and Tilia americana. The subcanopy may contain Juniperus virginiana, particularly in the absence of fire. Shrubs may include Forestiera ligustrina, Frangula caroliniana, and Symphoricarpos orbiculatus. The herbaceous layer may contain Arabis laevigata, Asclepias quadrifolia, Packera obovata, Phryma leptostachya, Saxifraga virginiensis, and Triosteum aurantiacum. The habitat of this alliance includes limestones, dolomites, and other base-rich substrates in the Interior Low Plateau and Ozark-Ouachita regions of the United States, including the Ridge and Valley region, lower Cumberland Plateau escarpment, Highland Rim escarpment, and Nashville Basin in Tennessee; the Highland Rim, Bluegrass and Dripping Springs escarpment in Kentucky; and the Cumberland Plateau in Alabama.

Diagnostic Characteristics: The range of Quercus muehlenbergii is somewhat limited, both geographically and in terms of its preferred base-rich substrate, so the combination of Quercus muehlenbergii, Acer saccharum, and Fraxinus americana is diagnostic. In contrast to the related woodland alliance, this alliance comprises associations with relatively closed canopies and understories, and a less diverse ground layer.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: There are two geographically distinct regional suballiances: one in the Ozark-Ouachita region, and one in the Interior Low Plateau and Ridge and Valley. ~Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis Forest (CEGL002070)$$ is very wide-ranging and may need to be re-evaluated as to its range and concept.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are generally closed to moderately open dry to dry-mesic forests. Canopy closure can vary somewhat with natural disturbances (fire, ice and wind storms), as well as management and inherent edaphic factors.

Floristics: Stands are dominated by some combination of Quercus muehlenbergii with Acer saccharum and/or Fraxinus americana, with other hardwood species, including Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Carya ovata, Cercis canadensis, Fraxinus quadrangulata, Juglans nigra, Ostrya virginiana, Quercus alba, Quercus imbricaria, Quercus shumardii, and Tilia americana. The subcanopy may contain Juniperus virginiana, particularly in the absence of fire. Shrubs may include Forestiera ligustrina, Frangula caroliniana, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, and Viburnum rufidulum. The herbaceous layer may contain Arabis laevigata, Asclepias quadrifolia, Packera obovata (= Senecio obovatus), Phryma leptostachya, Saxifraga virginiensis, and Triosteum aurantiacum.

Dynamics:  Canopy closure can vary somewhat with natural disturbances (fire, ice and wind storms) as well as management and inherent edaphic factors. Juniperus virginiana may become abundant in the subcanopy, particularly in the absence of fire.
Environmental Description:  The habitat of this alliance includes limestones, dolomites, and other base-rich substrates in the Interior Low Plateau and Ozark-Ouachita regions of the United States. This includes mesic and dry-mesic forests over limestones in the Nashville Basin of Tennessee. Many example occur on south-facing slopes.
Geographic Range: This alliance is primarily found in the Interior Low Plateau and Ozark-Ouachita regions of the United States, from Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri, east to Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Some associations are found in the Ridge and Valley region, with one ranging east into Virginia. It may range marginally northwest of the Ozarks into adjacent ecoregions, and similarly southeast into the adjacent Upper Gulf Coastal Plain.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, MO, MS, OK, TN, VA


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.e Chinquapin Oak - Shumard Oak - Blue Ash Forest & Woodland Group G601 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Alliance A2060 Chinquapin Oak - Sugar Maple - White Ash Forest Alliance A2060 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL002070 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Chinquapin Oak / Eastern Redbud Forest CEGL002070 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL003876 Shingle Oak - Shumard Oak - Chinquapin Oak / Common Hackberry / Heartleaf Nettle Forest CEGL003876 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL004795 Sugar Maple - Chinquapin Oak / American Smoketree Forest CEGL004795 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL007215 Northern Red Oak - Chinquapin Oak / American Witch-hazel / White-flower Leafcup Forest CEGL007215 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL007699 Chinquapin Oak - (Shumard Oak, Post Oak) / Eastern Redbud / Rusty Blackhaw Forest CEGL007699 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL007808 Chinquapin Oak - Shumard Oak - (Southern Shagbark Hickory, Shagbark Hickory) Forest CEGL007808 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL008442 Shumard Oak - Chinquapin Oak - (Southern Sugar Maple, Sugar Maple) / Hophornbeam Forest CEGL008442 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL008458 White Ash - Shagbark Hickory / Carolina Buckthorn / Hairy Sunflower Woodland CEGL008458 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Concept Lineage: This alliance is mostly consistent with proto-alliance A2060, except for the return of CEGL004741 to G020. A.1912 in part. Component associations come from A1912 (7/21) and A.239 (1/29).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< IA6j. Interior Calcareous Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
>< IA6k. Sugar Maple - Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
>< Permesotrophic Forest (Rawinski 1992)
>< White Oak - Black Oak - Northern Red Oak: 52 (Eyre 1980)
>< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
  • Andreu, M. G., and M. L. Tukman. 1995. Forest communities of the Tellico Lake Area, East Tennessee. M.F. project report, Duke University, School of the Environment. Durham, NC. 66 pp. plus appendices.
  • Bowen, B., M. Pyne, and D. Withers. 1995. An ecological survey of selected tracts in the Tennessee River Gorge: A report to the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. Tennessee Natural Heritage Program, Department of Environment and Conservation, Nashville. 100 pp.
  • Campbell, J. J. N. 1980a. Present and presettlement forest conditions in the Inner Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kentucky, Lexington. 109 pp. [Excerpts only]
  • Crites, G. D., and E. E. C. Clebsch. 1986. Woody vegetation in the inner Nashville Basin: An example from the Cheek Bend area of the central Duck River valley. ASB Bulletin 33:167-177.
  • Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
  • 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, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., and Midwest State Natural Heritage Program Ecologists. 1996. Terrestrial vegetation of the midwest United States. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the United States. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
  • Foti, T., M. Blaney, X. Li, and K. G. Smith. 1994. A classification system for the natural vegetation of Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:50-53.
  • Fountain, M. S., and J. M. Sweeney. 1985. Ecological assessment of the Roaring Branch Research Natural Area. Research Paper SO-213. USDA Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 15 pp.
  • Fralish, J. S. 1988b. Predicting potential stand composition from site characteristics in the Shawnee Hills Forest of Illinois. The American Midland Naturalist 120(1):79-101.
  • Fralish, J. S., F. B. Crooks, J. L. Chambers, and F. M. Harty. 1991. Comparison of presettlement, second-growth and old-growth forest on six site types in the Illinois Shawnee Hills. The American Midland Naturalist 125:294-309.
  • Golden, M. S. 1979. Forest vegetation of the lower Alabama Piedmont. Ecology 60:770-782.
  • Rawinski, T. J. 1992. A classification of Virginia''s indigenous biotic communities: Vegetated terrestrial, palustrine, and estuarine community classes. Unpublished document. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report No. 92-21. Richmond, VA. 25 pp.
  • Robertson, P. A., M. D. MacKenzie, and L. F. Elliott. 1984. Gradient analysis and classification of the woody vegetation for four sites in southern Illinois and adjacent Missouri. Vegetatio 58:87-104.
  • Wharton, C. H. 1978. The natural environments of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. 227 pp.