Print Report

A3216 Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica Forest & Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance represents upland dry-site vegetation characterized by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica occurring in the Crosstimbers region of southern Kansas and central and northern Oklahoma.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Post Oak - Blackjack Oak Forest & Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Northern Crosstimbers Post Oak - Blackjack Oak Forest & Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance occurs in a variety of dry landscape settings in the Crosstimbers region of Oklahoma and Kansas. It is characterized by a canopy of Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica. Other canopy associates may include Quercus velutina, Carya texana, Carya cordiformis, Quercus prinoides, and Ulmus alata. It is found northwest of the range of Ulmus crassifolia and west of the range of Quercus falcata, Quercus alba, Quercus coccinea, Pinus echinata, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Gaylussacia spp. Woodland examples often have high cover of Schizachyrium scoparium and other grasses from adjacent prairies. Forest examples may have high cover of Juniperus virginiana in the understory. These forests and woodlands are found in a variety of landscape settings from level plains to rolling hills to rocky hilltops and ridges. Substrates are variable and may include sands to clay loams over alluvium, sandstone, limestone, dolomite, shale, and granite. Fire and grazing are thought to play a role in maintaining this vegetation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Characterized by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica north of the range of Ulmus crassifolia and west of the range of Quercus falcata, Quercus alba, Quercus coccinea, Pinus echinata, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Gaylussacia spp. Other canopy associates may be Quercus velutina, Carya texana, Carya cordiformis, Quercus prinoides, and Ulmus alata.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: More information is needed to flesh out detailed floristic, environment, and range of this alliance. Some of this will likely include describing new associations.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance includes both forests and woodlands and may vary from deciduous to mixed physiognomy. Woodland examples tend to have a grassy understory and forests tend to have a higher cover of shrubs. Vegetation often includes substantial Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana or Juniperus ashei, especially as a result of fire suppression.

Floristics: This alliance represents vegetation characterized by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica north of the range of Ulmus crassifolia and west of the range of Quercus falcata, Quercus alba, Quercus coccinea, Pinus echinata, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Gaylussacia spp. Other canopy associates may include Quercus velutina, Carya texana, Carya cordiformis, Quercus prinoides, and Ulmus alata. Woodland examples often have high cover of Schizachyrium scoparium and other grasses from adjacent prairies. Forest examples may have high cover of Juniperus virginiana in the understory.

Dynamics:  Fire, climate, native grazing and edaphic factors all likely played a role historically in maintaining an open structure in the woodland examples of this vegetation. Loss of these natural processes often results in a shift toward a more closed canopy, an increase in successional woody species such as Juniperus spp., and a decrease in native grass cover. Naturally forested examples also occur in areas where fire was naturally less frequent.
Environmental Description:  These forests and woodlands are found in a variety of dry landscape settings from level plains to rolling hills to rocky hilltops and ridges. Examples of variable substrates includes sands to clay loams over alluvium, sandstone, limestone, dolomite, shale, and granite.
Geographic Range: This vegetation occurs in the Crosstimbers region of Oklahoma and Kansas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, KS, OK, 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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F008 1.B.2
Division 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division D008 1.B.2.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Na.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup M016 1.B.2.Na.1
Group 1.B.2.Na.1.f Post Oak - Blackjack Oak Forest & Woodland Group G017 1.B.2.Na.1.f
Alliance A3216 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak Forest & Woodland Alliance A3216 1.B.2.Na.1.f
Association CEGL002074 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - (Black Hickory) Forest CEGL002074 1.B.2.Na.1.f
Association CEGL002147 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak / Little Bluestem Woodland CEGL002147 1.B.2.Na.1.f
Association CEGL002324 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - Black Hickory - (Shumard Oak, Black Oak) Forest CEGL002324 1.B.2.Na.1.f
Association CEGL004546 Post Oak - Winged Elm Forest CEGL004546 1.B.2.Na.1.f
Association CEGL004938 Blackjack Oak / Little Bluestem Woodland CEGL004938 1.B.2.Na.1.f
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Quercus marilandica woodland alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
> Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica (Hoagland 1998a)
>< Eastern Redcedar: 46 (Eyre 1980)
>< Post Oak - Blackjack Oak: 40 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): J. Teague, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: J. Teague

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Allred, B. W., and H. C. Mitchell. 1955. Major plant types of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas and their relation to climate and soils. Texas Journal of Science 7:7-19.
  • Bruner, W. E. 1931. The vegetation of Oklahoma. Ecological Monographs 1:99-188.
  • Buck, P. 1964. Relationships of the woody vegetation of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge to geological formations and soil types. Ecology 45:336-344.
  • Dooley, K. L., and S. L. Collins. 1984. Ordination and classification of western oak forests in Oklahoma. American Journal of Botany 7:1221-1227.
  • Dyksterhuis, E. J. 1948. The vegetation of the Western Cross Timbers. Ecological Monographs 18:325-376.
  • 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.
  • Hoagland, B. W. 1998a. Classification of Oklahoma vegetation types. Working draft. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 43 pp.
  • Johnson, F. L., and P. G. Risser. 1975a. A quantitative comparison between an oak forest and an oak savanna in central Oklahoma. The Southwestern Naturalist 20:75-84.