Print Report

A0899 Crataegus crus-galli - Crataegus viridis - Ilex decidua Prairie Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are upland shrublands dominated by Crataegus spp. (Crataegus crus-galli, Crataegus marshallii, Crataegus viridis) with Ilex decidua, found on relatively calcareous moist soils of mesic slopes.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Cockspur Hawthorn - Green Hawthorn - Possum-haw Prairie Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Hawthorn Prairie Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of upland shrublands dominated by Crataegus spp. (Crataegus crus-galli, Crataegus marshallii, Crataegus viridis) with Ilex decidua. Examples are primarily found on relatively calcareous moist soils of mesic slopes. The distribution of this alliance is primarily localized in east-central and eastern Oklahoma, and is tentatively assigned to Arkansas. More information is needed to more fully describe this alliance.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Upland shrublands dominated by Crataegus spp. (Crataegus crus-galli, Crataegus marshallii, Crataegus viridis) with Ilex decidua.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: In Oklahoma, this apparently represents the upland part of Hoagland''s Crataegus crus-galli - Ilex decidua - Crataegus viridis shrubland association. Crataegus viridis occurs with Crataegus crus-galli in the uplands (B. Hoagland pers. comm.). It needs to be determined if the Arkansas and Oklahoma types are the same. The two old alliances (A.899, upland) and (A.1883, temp flooded) are different from one another. There is apparently poorly documented related vegetation in Alabama and Mississippi reported by Mohr (1901) for the Black Belt. These may be historical only. There are also occurrences of Crataegus-dominated shrublands in the Jackson Prairie of Mississippi. These are not included here and need to be better documented.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This alliance includes shrublands dominated by Crataegus spp., including Crataegus crus-galli and Crataegus marshallii. Associated species in eastern Oklahoma include Ilex decidua and Crataegus viridis (Hoagland 1996). More information is needed to more fully describe this alliance.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands of this vegetation are primarily found on relatively calcareous moist soils of mesic slopes (Hoagland 1996).
Geographic Range: This alliance contains an association defined for east-central and eastern Oklahoma (Hoagland 1996). This alliance is tentatively assigned to Arkansas (Foti et al. 1994).

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR?, OK


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D023 2.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nb.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup M054 2.B.2.Nb.1
Group 2.B.2.Nb.1.b Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Little Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie Group G334 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Alliance A0899 Cockspur Hawthorn - Green Hawthorn - Possum-haw Prairie Shrubland Alliance A0899 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Association CEGL004532 Cockspur Hawthorn - Possum-haw - Green Hawthorn Shrubland CEGL004532 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Concept Lineage: This alliance accommodates one of two associations in the old alliance III.B.2.N.a. Crataegus (crus-galli, marshallii) Shrubland Alliance (A.899).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Crataegus crus-galli - Ilex decidua - Crataegus viridis shrubland association (Hoagland 1996)
= Crataegus crus-galli shrubland series (Hoagland 1996)
? T4B3aII2b. Crataegus spp. (marshallii, crus-galli) (Foti et al. 1994)
Concept Author(s): B. Hoagland and A.S. Weakley, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by Bruce Hoagland and Alan Weakley.

Version Date: 03-14-14
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Hoagland, B. W. 1996. Preliminary plant community classification for Oklahoma. Unpublished draft document. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman, OK. 22 pp.
  • Hoagland, Bruce W. Personal communication. Ecologist, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, University of Oklahoma, Norman.
  • Mohr, C. T. 1901. Plant life of Alabama. Contributions to the U.S. National Herbarium No. 6. Washington, DC. 921 pp.