Print Report
A3127 Pinus palustris / Aristida spp. - Schizachyrium scoparium Southeastern Coastal Plain Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These are open, grassy woodlands of Pinus palustris with an herbaceous layer dominated by Aristida beyrichiana and Aristida stricta, and other grasses such as Andropogon spp., Aristida purpurascens, Sorghastrum nutans, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Schizachyrium tenerum, and found on fine-textured upland soils in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Three-awn species - Little Bluestem Southeastern Coastal Plain Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southeastern Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine / Wiregrass Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These are open woodlands of Pinus palustris sometimes with a component of other pines or hardwood trees such as Pinus echinata, Pinus taeda, or Quercus falcata. The tall-shrub stratum is very sparse, making these woodlands park-like with scenic views. The herbaceous layer is dominated by wiregrasses Aristida beyrichiana and Aristida stricta, and other grasses such as Andropogon spp. Aristida purpurascens, Sorghastrum nutans, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Schizachyrium tenerum. These woodlands are found in the Southeastern Coastal Plain on upland soils which have finer texture than the coarse sands, and can include fine sands, loamy sands, sandy loams, and loam soils.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Open woodlands of Pinus palustris sometimes with a component of other pines or hardwood trees; the tall-shrub stratum is very sparse. The herbaceous layer is dominated by wiregrasses Aristida beyrichiana and Aristida stricta, or by Schizachyrium scoparium.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There are many Pinus palustris-associated species whose ranges do not cross the Mississippi River (Sorrie and Weakley 2001).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Open needle-leaved evergreen woodland of Pinus palustris, with an herbaceous stratum dominated by graminoids such as Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida stricta, Aristida purpurascens, or by Schizachyrium scoparium.
Floristics: Members of this alliance are dominated by Pinus palustris but lack xerophytic scrub oaks and the extreme dry conditions that typically support these species. Other pines, particularly Pinus echinata, and Pinus taeda, may be present. While not dominant, they may form part of the canopy, increasing with lack of fire. Overall floristic composition is primarily composed of upland species typical of dry to dry-mesic conditions. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Aristida beyrichiana and Aristida stricta, as well as other grasses such as Andropogon spp., Aristida purpurascens, Sorghastrum nutans, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Schizachyrium tenerum. Some typical dry to dry-mesic herbaceous graminoid species include Andropogon ternarius, Andropogon gyrans var. gyrans, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Panicum virgatum. Aristida stricta or Aristida beyrichiana are dominant or at least present in the herbaceous layer of many associations within their respective ranges. Variation in floristic composition of this wide-ranging alliance is related to site conditions, fire-return interval, and local or regional floristic differences. The herbaceous layer typically becomes much less diverse over time with lack of fire.
Dynamics: Frequent fire was characteristic of the dynamics of these grassy pine woodlands in the past. Today prescribed fire is used to promote Pinus palustris, bunchgrasses, and the wildlife associated with these woodlands. The open woodland structure may be natural, or it may have been influenced and maintained by silvicultural techniques and prescribed fire designed to replicate this natural open Pinus palustris canopy condition. At many sites, both closed-canopy forest and open woodland communities may be present, grading into one another depending on aspect, surface geology, or fire and logging history.
Environmental Description: These woodlands are found on upland soils which have finer texture than the coarse sands, and can include fine sands, loamy sands, sandy loams, and loam soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found on the Southeastern Coastal Plain and Fall-line Sandhills, east of the Mississippi River. It ranges from North Carolina to the Florida peninsula, and east to southern Mississippi and easternmost Louisiana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899253
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: The associations in this alliance represent a set from the old alliance A.520 which occur east of the Mississippi River.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? IB6i. Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Longleaf Pine Forest (Allard 1990)
>< IB6l. East Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest (Allard 1990)
? Longleaf Pine - Mixed Hardwood Woodland (Moore pers. comm.)
>< Longleaf Pine - Scrub Oak: 71 (Eyre 1980)
>< Longleaf Pine: 70 (Eyre 1980)
= Mesic Upland Longleaf Pine Woodlands (Edwards et al. 2013)
? Southern Mesic Longleaf Pine Woodland (Peet and Allard 1993)
>< IB6l. East Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest (Allard 1990)
? Longleaf Pine - Mixed Hardwood Woodland (Moore pers. comm.)
>< Longleaf Pine - Scrub Oak: 71 (Eyre 1980)
>< Longleaf Pine: 70 (Eyre 1980)
= Mesic Upland Longleaf Pine Woodlands (Edwards et al. 2013)
? Southern Mesic Longleaf Pine Woodland (Peet and Allard 1993)
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