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A3115 Quercus alba - Quercus nigra - Sabal minor Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This Southern Coastal Plain forest is generally codominated by Quercus alba and has a mix of deciduous and semi-evergreen, or evergreen Quercus spp. such as Quercus nigra and Quercus hemisphaerica with deciduous, evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs typical of the warm temperate climatic zone, such as Ilex vomitoria, Persea borbonia, Prunus caroliniana, Sabal minor, Sabal palmetto, and Vaccinium elliottii, occurring over slightly calcareous or subcalcareous soils.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - Water Oak - Dwarf Palmetto Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: White Oak - Water Oak - Dwarf Palmetto Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes hardwood forests of the Southern Coastal Plain codominated by Quercus alba. Stands are intermediate in moisture status, falling between the most mesic Quercus alba forests in which Fagus grandifolia is usually codominant, and drier Quercus alba forests in which Quercus falcata or Quercus stellata are codominant. While limited amounts of Fagus grandifolia may be present in the most mesic occurrences, examples in which Fagus grandifolia is a dominant species would be accommodated in another alliance. Quercus nigra is given as a nominal for its value as an indicator species, not necessarily as a canopy codominant. Associated species include Carya tomentosa, Carya glabra, Carya ovalis, Carya pallida, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Pinus echinata, Pinus taeda, Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. More mesic stands may have Callicarpa americana, Euonymus americanus, Fagus grandifolia, Galium spp., Gelsemium sempervirens, Hamamelis virginiana, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia macrophylla, Morus rubra, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus pagoda, and Sanicula spp.; while drier examples will be more likely to have Acer rubrum, Chimaphila maculata, Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, Prunus serotina var. serotina, Quercus stellata, and Vaccinium stamineum. The herbaceous stratum usually is sparse, species may include Chimaphila maculata, Coreopsis major, Elephantopus spp., Hexastylis arifolia, Hieracium venosum, and Tephrosia virginiana. These forests are found in the Southern Coastal Plain of South Carolina, west to the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas. Forests in this alliance can occur on a variety of sites, including sandy swamp islands, coastal plain slopes, ridgetops, and other dry to dry-mesic fire-sheltered areas on acidic to circumneutral soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen forest codominated by Quercus alba and semi-evergreen or evergreen Quercus spp. are characteristic, such as Quercus nigra and Quercus hemisphaerica. Quercus nigra is given as a nominal for its value as an indicator species, not necessarily as a canopy codominant. Evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs typical of the warm temperate climatic zone are common, such as Ilex vomitoria, Persea borbonia, Prunus caroliniana, Sabal palmetto, Sabal minor, and Vaccinium elliottii.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: A southern warm temperate climatic zone split representing mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen forest, derived from the wider ranging old Quercus alba - (Quercus nigra) Forest Alliance (A.238). The most typical representatives of this alliance would be on naturally fire-sheltered sites, such as near creeks and along ravines.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen forest codominated by Quercus alba; semi-evergreen or evergreen Quercus spp. are characteristic, such as Quercus nigra and Quercus hemisphaerica. Evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs typical of the warm temperate climatic zone are common.

Floristics: These mesic and dry-mesic oak-hickory forests of the Southern Coastal Plain are typically codominated by Quercus alba, and typically contain Quercus nigra. These forests lack significant Quercus rubra and Carya ovata, which are absent from much of the Coastal Plains (however, Carya ovata is present in the West Gulf Coastal Plain and Quercus rubra comes south into the East Gulf Coastal Plain). While Fagus grandifolia may be present in mesic occurrences, it is not a codominant. Associated species include Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Carya ovalis, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Pinus taeda, Pinus echinata, Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. More mesic stands may have Callicarpa americana, Euonymus americanus, Galium spp., Gelsemium sempervirens, Fagus grandifolia, Hamamelis virginiana, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia macrophylla, Morus rubra, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus pagoda, and Sanicula spp.; while drier examples will be more likely to have Acer rubrum, Chimaphila maculata, Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, Prunus serotina var. serotina, Quercus stellata, and Vaccinium stamineum. The herbaceous stratum usually is sparse, and species that may occur include Chimaphila maculata, Coreopsis major, Elephantopus spp., Hexastylis arifolia, Hieracium venosum, and Tephrosia virginiana.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Forests in this alliance can occur on a variety of sites including sandy swamp islands, coastal plain slopes, ridgetops, and other dry to dry-mesic fire-sheltered areas on acidic to circumneutral calcareous or subcalcareous soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the southeastern United States from South Carolina to eastern Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL?, GA, LA, MS, SC, TX


Confidence Level: Low

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.3 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - White Oak Forest Macrogroup M008 1.B.1.Na.3
Group 1.B.1.Na.3.a American Beech - Southern Magnolia - Oak species Forest Group G007 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Alliance A3115 White Oak - Water Oak - Dwarf Palmetto Forest Alliance A3115 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004775 White Oak - Water Oak - Sand Hickory / Southern Magnolia Forest CEGL004775 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004936 White Oak / Cabbage Palmetto - Yaupon Forest CEGL004936 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007959 White Oak - Darlington Oak / Carolina Laurel Cherry - Redbay - Mapleleaf Viburnum Forest CEGL007959 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008575 White Oak / Chalk Maple - Hophornbeam / Eared Goldenrod Forest CEGL008575 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008581 White Oak - Water Oak / Hophornbeam / Dwarf Palmetto Forest CEGL008581 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Concept Lineage: There is a relationship between this new alliance and the old Quercus alba - (Quercus nigra) Forest Alliance (A.238). This new alliance is limited to the warm temperate zone, specifically the Southern Coastal Plain, not including subnations TN, NC, AR. This is within the group G007 range, as indicated by the third nominal species added, Sabal minor.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Dry Deciduous Hardwood Forests (Edwards et al. 2013)
>< IA8d. Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest (Allard 1990)
>< White Oak - Water Oak / Mitchella - Arisaema Loamy Mesic Stream Bottoms (Turner et al. 1999)
? White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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  • Edwards, L., J. Ambrose, and K. Kirkman. 2013. The natural communities of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA. 675 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.
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  • Whipple, S. A., L. H. Wellman, and B. J. Good. 1981. A classification of hardwood and swamp forests on the Savannah River Plant, SC. USDE Savannah River Plant National Environmental Research Park Program. SRO-NERP-6. 36 pp.