Print Report
A3160 Pinus palustris / Serenoa repens / Aristida beyrichiana Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These are mesic (moist or saturated) woodlands and savannas dominated by Pinus palustris, with Serenoa repens as a typical shrub in many of the component associations, found in the southern Coastal Plain from South Carolina to eastern Louisiana, including northern Florida.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Saw Palmetto / Beyrich''s Three-awn Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southern Coastal Plain Mesic Longleaf Pine Flatwoods
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance accommodates mesic and wet-mesic (moist or saturated) Longleaf Pine woodlands and savannas found in the Southeastern Coastal Plain, from South Carolina to Mississippi and eastern Louisiana, including northern Florida. Related vegetation of other alliances is found to the north from southeastern Virginia into South Carolina, in the West Gulf Coastal Plain, and in southern Florida. Examples are dominated by Pinus palustris, with Ilex glabra and Serenoa repens as typical shrubs and Aristida beyrichiana (in contrast to Aristida stricta (sensu stricto) as a characteristic herb in many of the component associations. Pinus serotina may be present within its natural range (from southeastern Virginia south to panhandle Florida) but tends to be codominant only on the wettest, often organic soils. Pinus elliottii var. elliottii may be present or codominant within its natural range from South Carolina to eastern Louisiana. In parts of the range, Pinus taeda may also be present, and may represent a substantial component of the stand. In examples with longer fire return times, an understory of Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Morella cerifera is likely to develop. Typical shrubs may include Gaylussacia spp., Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Ilex vomitoria, Morella cerifera, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Serenoa repens, Symplocos tinctoria, and Vaccinium spp. Herbaceous diversity and cover are greater where the canopy and shrub layers are relatively open. Grasses usually make up the majority of total cover. Many soils contain a spodic horizon occasionally underlain by a clay hardpan, which additionally restricts drainage. Soils include Alfisols, Spodosols, and Ultisols. Sites vary in the presence or absence of a hardpan, in soil pH (range from 3.1-7.8), and in drainage.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The combination of Pinus palustris, Serenoa repens, and Aristida beyrichiana is diagnostic; the equivalent alliance to the north of this one (A3161; in the Coastal Plain from Virginia to South Carolina) is north of the range of Serenoa repens.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Related vegetation of other alliances (in this or other groups) is found to the north of this one from southeastern Virginia into South Carolina, in the west gulf coastal plains, and in southern Florida.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Across the range of this alliance, pine densities vary from low with widely spaced trees giving an open savanna-like aspect, to high with dense, nearly closed canopies. Nevertheless, even the densest stands have discontinuous canopies which allow considerable light to penetrate to the forest floor. Probably the most significant factor affecting community structure and composition is fire. In examples with longer fire return times, an understory of Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Morella cerifera is likely to develop. Understory composition is variable, and includes both shrub- and shrub/graminoid-dominated examples. Heavily shrubby examples may be indicative of lower fire frequencies than are more herbaceous-dominated examples. Appreciable herb layers typically exist only where the canopy and shrub layers are relatively open, and where there has been relatively frequent fire history. Grasses usually make up the majority of total cover.
Floristics: This alliance consists of wet pinelands found from South Carolina to eastern Louisiana, including northern Florida, typically dominated by Pinus palustris, with a geographically and edaphically determined admixture of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and/or Pinus serotina. Pinus serotina may be present or codominant from southeastern Virginia south to panhandle Florida, and Pinus elliottii var. elliottii may be present or codominant from South Carolina south to Florida, and west to eastern Louisiana. In parts of the range, Pinus taeda may also be present, and may represent a substantial component of the stand. Typical shrubs may include Gaylussacia spp., Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Ilex vomitoria, Morella cerifera, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Serenoa repens, Symplocos tinctoria, and Vaccinium spp. Herbaceous diversity and cover are greater where the canopy and shrub layers are relatively open. Grasses usually make up the majority of total cover. Graminoids typical in various associations of this alliance include Andropogon capillipes, Andropogon glaucopsis, Andropogon glomeratus, Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida palustris, Ctenium aromaticum, Dichanthelium spp., Fimbristylis puberula, Gymnopogon chapmanianus, Muhlenbergia expansa, Panicum spp., Schizachyrium spp., Scleria spp., Sorghastrum spp., Sporobolus curtissii, Sporobolus floridanus, and Sporobolus teretifolius. Forbs typical of this alliance include Carphephorus odoratissimus, Chaptalia tomentosa, Eupatorium spp., Helianthus spp., Lachnanthes caroliana, Lachnocaulon spp., Liatris spp., Lobelia spp., Pinguicula spp., Pityopsis spp., Polygala spp., Sabatia spp., and Solidago spp. In examples with longer fire return times, an understory of Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Morella cerifera is likely to develop.
Dynamics: Both Pinus elliottii and Pinus serotina may replace or co-dominate with Pinus palustris on wetter sites. Both species are less tolerant of frequent fire than is Pinus palustris. While Pinus elliottii can survive reasonably frequent fire, it has been estimated that natural fire frequencies are less than half that of Pinus palustris, while typical regimes for Pinus serotina may be less than one-third as frequent (Landers 1989). Thus, it is often believed that these species were confined historically to wetter flatwoods sites with lower burn frequencies than those typical of Pinus palustris-dominated communities. With fire suppression, alteration of fire regimes, and widespread logging of Pinus palustris, Pinus elliottii has invaded many flatwoods sites historically dominated almost exclusively by Pinus palustris. To a lesser extent this phenomenon may also have occurred with Pinus serotina. Across the range of this alliance, pine densities vary from low with widely spaced trees giving an open savanna-like aspect, to high with dense, nearly closed canopies. Nevertheless, even the densest stands have discontinuous canopies which allow considerable light to penetrate to the forest floor. Probably the most significant factor affecting community composition is fire.
Environmental Description: Stands of this alliance consist of wet pinelands (often termed "pine flatwoods," "wet pine flatwoods," and "pine savannas"), which are most typical of the Outer Coastal Plain or "coastal flatlands." Many soils contain a spodic horizon occasionally underlain by a clay hardpan, which additionally restricts drainage. Soils include Alfisols, Spodosols, and Ultisols. Sites vary in the presence or absence of a hardpan, in soil pH (range from 3.1-7.8), and in drainage.
Geographic Range: This vegetation ranges across the Southeastern Coastal Plain, from southern South Carolina to Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. This range includes the Florida panhandle and the northern portion of the Florida peninsula north of the Lake Wales Ridge.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899285
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This proposed new alliance includes members of five old alliances A.520 (6/25), A.574 (3/6), A.578 (5/33), A.581 (1/12), and A.692 (1/3).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.