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A3270 Pinus echinata - Quercus falcata Upper Coastal Plain Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This shortleaf pine - hardwood forest alliance is characterized by Pinus echinata, Quercus alba, and Quercus falcata, sometimes with Carya tomentosa, and is found in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain, ranging into the adjacent Interior Low Plateau and southern Piedmont.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak Upper Coastal Plain Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Upper Coastal Plain Shortleaf Pine - Oak Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance accommodates shortleaf pine - hardwood forests in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and related areas, ranging into the adjacent Interior Low Plateau and southern Piedmont. The open canopy is characterized by Pinus echinata and a mixture of hardwoods with intermediate moisture preferences, including Quercus alba and Quercus falcata, sometimes Carya tomentosa, and others. One of the most important characteristic features that distinguish this type from other shortleaf pine - hardwood forests of the region is the prevalence of Quercus alba and Carya tomentosa in the overstory. Although other tree species may also be encountered in stands of this type, they are generally lacking from the overstory or found only in limited abundance.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is partly defined on biogeographic criteria. It is difficult to find clear diagnostic floristics to differentiate shortleaf pine vegetation in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain region from that in other parts of the southeastern United States. In this region, Quercus falcata is more likely to be found in stands than Quercus montana, but the latter species is possible in the northern parts. Quercus montana is completely absent in the Ozark-Ouachita region, and Quercus falcata is present.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: An association from Crowley''s Ridge, ~Pinus echinata Crowley''s Ridge Forest (CEGL007919)$$, is placed here rather than in the related Ozarkian alliance. This is because the floristics of the vegetation of Crowley''s Ridge (Arkansas, Missouri) is more closely related to that of the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and Interior Low Plateau than it is to the other regions of Arkansas and Missouri (e.g., Ozarks, Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Plain).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The structure of stands may vary in canopy closure depending on site aspect and the fire regime.

Floristics: These forests are typically dominated by Pinus echinata and species of Quercus with other hardwoods. In some associations Pinus taeda may be a codominant evergreen canopy component. Typical hardwood associates include Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Diospyros virginiana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. Common understory associates include Acer rubrum, Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, Sassafras albidum, and Ulmus alata. Some common shrubs include Symplocos tinctoria, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium pallidum, and Vaccinium stamineum. One association in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas has Vaccinium elliottii, Aesculus pavia var. pavia, and Chasmanthium laxum. Some common herbaceous species include Coreopsis major, Piptochaetium avenaceum, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Scleria oligantha, Silphium compositum, Smilax glauca, and Tephrosia virginiana.

Dynamics:  The density of Quercus alba and Pinus echinata in stands of this alliance vary locally, this variation being presumably related to a combination of site factors and management history. In addition, the specific floristic composition may vary among stands, and a number of subcanopy, shrub, and herbaceous species may be present. As with the overstory, the density and composition of the lower strata vary greatly depending upon a number of factors. For example, many stands of this type found on the Tombigbee National Forest (Mississippi) are subject to more prescribed burning than other known stands. Consequently, they have a much more open aspect with sparse to absent shrubs above dense layers of legumes. Stands have suffered some damage from the southern pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis).
Environmental Description:  Forests in this alliance occur primarily on dry hilltops and upper slopes, as well as hillsides, ridges, flats, and low hills. Soils are generally acidic and derived from clays, but also including soils with silt and sand components in the coastal plain.
Geographic Range: This alliance is primarily found in the in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain, ranging into the adjacent Interior Low Plateau and southern Piedmont. One association from Crowley''s Ridge (Arkansas, Missouri) is also included here.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MO, MS, TN


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.b Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak - Post Oak Forest & Woodland Group G012 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Alliance A3270 Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak Upper Coastal Plain Woodland Alliance A3270 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004050 Shortleaf Pine - White Oak - Mockernut Hickory East Gulf Coastal Plain Forest CEGL004050 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004052 Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak East Gulf Coastal Plain Forest CEGL004052 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004053 Shortleaf Pine - Post Oak - (Blackjack Oak) Forest CEGL004053 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004054 Shortleaf Pine - Chestnut Oak Interior Low Plateau Forest CEGL004054 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004834 (Shortleaf Pine, Loblolly Pine) - Cherrybark Oak Forest CEGL004834 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Association CEGL007919 Shortleaf Pine Crowley''s Ridge Forest CEGL007919 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Association CEGL008493 Shortleaf Pine - Loblolly Pine - (White Oak, Post Oak) / Sourwood Forest CEGL008493 1.B.2.Na.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< IA6a. Dry Shortleaf Pine - Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
>< IA7a. Xeric Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by Karen Patterson and Alan Weakley.

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
  • Clewell, A. F. 2013. Prior prevalence of shortleaf pine-oak-hickory woodlands in the Tallahassee Red Hills. Castanea 78(4):266-276.
  • 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.