Print Report

A0372 Quercus hemisphaerica - Carya glabra - Magnolia grandiflora Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes coastal plain dry-mesic to dry sandy forests from Georgia through Florida to Mississippi, dominated or codominated by the evergreen oak Quercus hemisphaerica, with Carya glabra and a mixture of pines, as well as other broad-leaved evergreen and deciduous trees.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Darlington Oak - Pignut Hickory - Southern Magnolia Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Sand Laurel Oak - Hickory Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes coastal plain dry-mesic to dry sandy forests from Georgia through Florida to Mississippi, dominated or codominated by the evergreen oak Quercus hemisphaerica, with a mixed broad-leaved evergreen-deciduous composition. In addition to Quercus hemisphaerica, typical species include Carya glabra, Carya pallida, Magnolia grandiflora, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Pinus glabra, Pinus taeda, and Quercus virginiana. Other shrubs and vines may include Ilex opaca var. opaca, Ilex vomitoria, Persea borbonia, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vitis rotundifolia. In addition, Sabal palmetto may also be present. The epiphytes Pleopeltis polypodioides and Tillandsia usneoides may be present. Dominance by Quercus hemisphaerica indicates that fire has been excluded from these forests for a period of many years; Quercus hemisphaerica is probably more widespread than in presettlement times. In Florida, this vegetation is partly described as well-developed xeric forest dominated by Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus virginiana, and Magnolia grandiflora in the canopy, and Persea borbonia, Ilex opaca, and Carya glabra in the understory. This is primarily an alliance of inland, non-maritime environments, but at least one association is attributed to maritime sites on barrier islands.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: In many references (e.g., Sharitz 1975, Rayner and Batson 1976, Sandifer et al. 1980), the evergreen Quercus hemisphaerica of dry, sandy habitats has been mistakenly referred to as Quercus laurifolia, a (tardily) deciduous tree of floodplain forests (Weakley 2012). On St. Catherines and Ossabaw islands, Georgia, examples of this vegetation are called "Hickory Ridges" and often exist on dry soils adjacent to ~Quercus virginiana - (Pinus elliottii, Sabal palmetto) / Persea borbonia - Callicarpa americana Forest (CEGL007032)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are generally closed-canopy forests with a mixed broad-leaved evergreen-deciduous composition, dominated by evergreen or tardily deciduous hardwood trees (Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus nigra) with deciduous hardwood trees (Carya glabra, Carya pallida), and evergreen needle-leaved trees (e.g., Pinus taeda).

Floristics: Stands of this vegetation are dominated or codominated by the evergreen oak Quercus hemisphaerica, with a mixed broad-leaved evergreen-deciduous composition. In addition to Quercus hemisphaerica, typical species include Carya glabra, Carya pallida, Magnolia grandiflora, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Pinus glabra, Pinus taeda, and Quercus virginiana. Other shrubs and vines may include Ilex opaca var. opaca, Ilex vomitoria, Persea borbonia, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vitis rotundifolia. In addition, Sabal palmetto may also be present. The epiphytes Pleopeltis polypodioides and Tillandsia usneoides may be present. Dominance by Quercus hemisphaerica indicates that fire has been excluded from these forests for a period of many years; Quercus hemisphaerica is probably more widespread than in presettlement times. In Florida, this vegetation is partly described as well-developed xeric forest dominated by Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus virginiana, and Magnolia grandiflora in the canopy, and Persea borbonia, Ilex opaca, and Carya glabra in the understory.

One South Carolina association (CEGL007470) is found on dry-mesic to mesic soils with a substantial shell component. Its canopy contains both maritime and calciphilic species, with Carya glabra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia grandiflora, Quercus falcata, Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus virginiana, Sabal palmetto, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, and Ulmus rubra dominant or abundant. Subcanopy species include Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Cornus florida, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Nyssa sylvatica, and Persea palustris. Frequent shrubs include Aesculus pavia var. pavia , Callicarpa americana, Ilex vomitoria, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), and Sabal minor. Common herbs include Dichanthelium boscii, Mitchella repens, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Scleria triglomerata.

Dynamics:  Stands have a cooler and moister microclimate than surrounding upland areas and are to a degree fire-protected, though low-intensity surface fires enter them from surrounding sandhill communities upslope. Dominance by Quercus hemisphaerica indicates that fire has been excluded from these forests for a period of many years; Quercus hemisphaerica is probably more widespread than in presettlement times. Prior to the spread of laurel wilt, a disease caused by the non-native redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus), Persea borbonia would have been an important component in some examples of this community.
Environmental Description:  Sites for examples of this alliance include dry soils of barrier islands and similar environments, dry upper slopes, Pleistocene sand terraces, slopes associated with sinks, steepheads, and river and creek bluffs. These environments generally have longer fire-return times than adjacent pine-dominated areas. Examples of this vegetation are primarily natural ecotonal areas found in intermediate positions on upper slopes between upland communities characterized by Pinus palustris and lower slope communities dominated by mesic hardwood forests. Some stands may represent expansion into sandhills under conditions of reduced fire frequencies.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from South Carolina and Georgia through Florida to Mississippi. Its status in Alabama is unclear.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL?, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC


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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F018 1.B.1
Division 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division D006 1.B.1.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.1.Na.2 Live Oak - Texas Live Oak - Darlington Oak Forest Macrogroup M885 1.B.1.Na.2
Group 1.B.1.Na.2.a Live Oak - Pignut Hickory - Cabbage Palmetto Coastal Forest Group G798 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Alliance A0372 Darlington Oak - Pignut Hickory - Southern Magnolia Forest Alliance A0372 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Association CEGL003792 Darlington Oak - Pignut Hickory - Southern Magnolia / Scrub Palmetto Forest CEGL003792 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Association CEGL004506 Darlington Oak - Pignut Hickory - (Live Oak) Forest CEGL004506 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Association CEGL004633 Pignut Hickory - (Darlington Oak) / Saw Palmetto / Longleaf Woodoats Forest CEGL004633 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Association CEGL004788 Darlington Oak - Southern Magnolia - Sand Hickory / Farkleberry / Longleaf Woodoats Forest CEGL004788 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Association CEGL007023 Darlington Oak - Pignut Hickory / Sourwood / Gulf Sebastian-bush / Baltzell''s Sedge Forest CEGL007023 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Association CEGL007470 Darlington Oak - Carolina Basswood - Southern Magnolia / Red Buckeye - Yaupon Forest CEGL007470 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Association CEGL007850 Live Oak - Cherrybark Oak - Southern Magnolia - Pignut Hickory / American Holly Forest CEGL007850 1.B.1.Na.2.a
Concept Lineage: This alliance contains all of the associations from the old Quercus hemisphaerica - Carya glabra Forest Alliance (A.372; 5/5), plus one association (CEGL007850) from A.375 (1/2), and one each from A.223 (1/2) and A.526 (1/5).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Hammock Community (Sandifer et al. 1980)
< Mesic Hammock (Wolfe 1990)
? Upland Hardwood Forest (FNAI 1992a)
>< Xeric Hammock (FNAI 1992a)
? Xeric Hammock, Advanced Xeric Forest subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by A.S. Weakley.

Version Date: 09-26-14
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