Physiognomy and Structure: Higher quality stands typically have a woodland physiognomy, but if fire has been absent for many years, stands may exhibit a more closed-canopy appearance, with the oaks and other hardwoods filling in the understory and ultimately entering the canopy.

Floristics: Stands typically contain Pinus palustris along with Pinus echinata and/or Pinus virginiana as well as Quercus alba, Quercus coccinea, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), and/or Quercus velutina. Other characteristic subcanopy trees are Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya pallida, Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, Sassafras albidum, and sometimes Cornus florida. Common shrubs include Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium pallidum, and Vaccinium stamineum. Characteristic grasses include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius, Danthonia sericea (= var. sericea), Danthonia spicata, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Common forbs include Coreopsis major, Clitoria mariana, Desmodium spp., Lespedeza spp., Pityopsis graminifolia var. latifolia, Solidago odora var. odora, and Tephrosia virginiana. A common fern is Pteridium aquilinum var. pseudocaudatum.

Dynamics:  Vegetation of this alliance had a natural fire regime which allowed for the reproduction of Pinus palustris and likely maintained a moderately herb-rich ground layer. Most existing stands have been degraded, and few data are available on well-burned stands (Varner et al. 2003b). It is unclear whether stands with forest structure are merely the result of fire suppression or whether they may also be natural, since these sites would likely have had much less frequent fires than most other longleaf pine communities. Steep slopes and rocky conditions may have allowed regeneration of Pinus palustris even with infrequent fire events. It is believed that in the historically more frequently burned landscape, pines, especially Pinus palustris and Pinus echinata, would have predominated in the canopy, with some oaks as well. Following fire exclusion, the oaks and less fire-tolerant pines (Pinus virginiana and Pinus taeda) increase in their importance.