Print Report
A3315 Quercus marilandica - Quercus stellata Clay/Loess Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This vegetation includes open woodlands dominated by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica, with a diverse ground layer, found on clay soils derived from limestone in the Ridge and Valley of Georgia, winter-wet, summer-dry loessal soils on the Interior Low Plateau of Tennessee, and possibly undescribed associations of related areas in these and adjacent regions.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackjack Oak - Post Oak Clay/Loess Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Clay/Loess Oak Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This vegetation includes open woodlands found on clay soils derived from limestone in the Ridge and Valley of Georgia, winter-wet, summer-dry loessal soils on the Interior Low Plateau (Western Highland Rim) of Tennessee, and possibly undescribed associations of related areas in these and adjacent regions. The canopies of these examples are dominated by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica, with a diverse ground layer containing a wide variety of native forbs and grasses. Pinus echinata may be present in some examples. Among the dominant grasses, Schizachyrium scoparium is most abundant, with Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans; Panicum virgatum, Gymnopogon ambiguus, Sporobolus clandestinus, Carex spp. and Dichanthelium spp. may also be present. In the Tennessee examples (CEGL004756), scattered Quercus marilandica are characteristic. Among the dominant grasses, Schizachyrium scoparium is most abundant, with Andropogon gerardii, Carex complanata, Dichanthelium spp., and Sorghastrum nutans. Forbs are diverse. These barrens occur on winter-wet, summer-dry loessal soils on the surface of the Western Highland Rim of middle Tennessee. Soils are generally deep, with chert fragments; rock outcrops are absent. The Georgia and Alabama examples (CEGL003868) are mixed evergreen - deciduous open-canopy forests or woodlands with nearly even mixtures of Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda over Quercus marilandica and Quercus stellata in the sparse subcanopy. The shrub layer contains Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus marshallii, Diospyros virginiana, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vaccinium stamineum. The herbaceous layer is well-developed with grasses such as Andropogon gerardii, Gymnopogon ambiguus, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Sporobolus clandestinus present to dominant. A wide variety of forbs, many of these either disjunct or prairie species near their southeastern limit, are codominant in the herbaceous layer. This vegetation consists of prairie-like woodlands occurring over stiff calcareous clay soils derived from weathered shale and limestone of the Conasauga Group. It ranges along the Coosa River Valley in northwestern Georgia and into northeastern Alabama.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is defined based on the two associations assigned to it to cover woodlands associated with clay soils derived from limestone in the Ridge and Valley of Georgia and winter-wet, summer-dry loessal soils on the Interior Low Plateau (Western Highland Rim) of Tennessee. Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica are characteristic dominants in the overstory.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The concept of this alliance may need to be reviewed. There may be other undescribed associations that would be placed here, or associations currently in other groups that actually belong here. This concept is that of woodlands (i.e., the tree cover is thought to range from 25-60%), not "sparse woodlands" or "barrens" where tree cover is more typically 10-25%.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Better quality examples will exhibit an open overstory with a sparse subcanopy and understory, over a diverse ground layer containing a wide variety of native forbs and grasses.
Floristics: The canopies of these woodlands are dominated by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica, with a diverse ground layer containing a wide variety of native forbs and grasses. Pinus echinata may be present in some examples. Among the dominant grasses, Schizachyrium scoparium is most abundant, with Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans most characteristic; Carex spp., Dichanthelium spp. Gymnopogon ambiguus, Panicum virgatum, and Sporobolus clandestinus may also be present.
In the Tennessee (Western Highland Rim) examples (CEGL004756), scattered Quercus marilandica are characteristic. Among the dominant grasses, Schizachyrium scoparium is most abundant, with Andropogon gerardii, Carex complanata, Dichanthelium spp., and Sorghastrum nutans. Forbs include Eryngium yuccifolium, Eupatorium hyssopifolium, Eupatorium rotundifolium, Eupatorium serotinum, Eupatorium sessilifolium, Euphorbia corollata, Helianthus eggertii (a globally rare plant), Helianthus hirsutus, Hypericum virgatum (= Hypericum denticulatum var. acutifolium), Liatris aspera, Liatris spicata, Lobelia puberula, Lysimachia tonsa, Mimosa microphylla, Monarda fistulosa, Parthenium integrifolium, Gillenia stipulata (= Porteranthus stipulatus), Sericocarpus linifolius (= Aster solidagineus), Silphium asteriscus, Solidago odora, Symphyotrichum patens (= Aster patens), and Tephrosia virginiana.
The Georgia and Alabama examples (CEGL003868) have nearly even mixtures of Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda over Quercus marilandica and Quercus stellata. The shrub layer contains Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus marshallii, Diospyros virginiana, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vaccinium stamineum. A wide variety of forbs, many of these either disjunct or prairie species near their southeastern limit, are codominant in the herbaceous layer. Examples of such species include Helianthus mollis, Oligoneuron album, Oligoneuron rigidum, Silphium radula, Silphium terebinthinaceum, and Symphyotrichum pratense (= Aster sericeus var. microphyllus).
In the Tennessee (Western Highland Rim) examples (CEGL004756), scattered Quercus marilandica are characteristic. Among the dominant grasses, Schizachyrium scoparium is most abundant, with Andropogon gerardii, Carex complanata, Dichanthelium spp., and Sorghastrum nutans. Forbs include Eryngium yuccifolium, Eupatorium hyssopifolium, Eupatorium rotundifolium, Eupatorium serotinum, Eupatorium sessilifolium, Euphorbia corollata, Helianthus eggertii (a globally rare plant), Helianthus hirsutus, Hypericum virgatum (= Hypericum denticulatum var. acutifolium), Liatris aspera, Liatris spicata, Lobelia puberula, Lysimachia tonsa, Mimosa microphylla, Monarda fistulosa, Parthenium integrifolium, Gillenia stipulata (= Porteranthus stipulatus), Sericocarpus linifolius (= Aster solidagineus), Silphium asteriscus, Solidago odora, Symphyotrichum patens (= Aster patens), and Tephrosia virginiana.
The Georgia and Alabama examples (CEGL003868) have nearly even mixtures of Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda over Quercus marilandica and Quercus stellata. The shrub layer contains Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus marshallii, Diospyros virginiana, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vaccinium stamineum. A wide variety of forbs, many of these either disjunct or prairie species near their southeastern limit, are codominant in the herbaceous layer. Examples of such species include Helianthus mollis, Oligoneuron album, Oligoneuron rigidum, Silphium radula, Silphium terebinthinaceum, and Symphyotrichum pratense (= Aster sericeus var. microphyllus).
Dynamics: Fire and grazing as well as edaphic factors may have been important in maintaining this vegetation; in its absence, most sites appear to have developed greater canopy closure, with successional woody species such as Juniperus virginiana and/or shrubs such as Rhus copallinum dominating at the expense of herbs. Many examples are marginal, being found along roadsides or field edges. Increasingly extensive agricultural or silvicultural development may have eliminated many occurrences.
Environmental Description: Examples are found over clay and loessal substrates over limestone-derived soils in the Ridge and Valley of Georgia, on winter-wet, summer-dry loessal soils in the Interior Low Plateau (Western Highland Rim) of Tennessee, and possibly undescribed associations of related areas in these and adjacent regions.
Geographic Range: This alliance is restricted to the Ridge and Valley of Georgia and the Interior Low Plateau (Western Highland Rim) of Tennessee and possibly Kentucky, as far as is currently known. There may be undescribed associations in these and adjacent regions.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA, KY?, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899439
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.d South-Central Interior Oak Savanna & Barrens Group | G651 | 1.B.2.Na.1.d |
| Alliance | A3315 Blackjack Oak - Post Oak Clay/Loess Woodland Alliance | A3315 | 1.B.2.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL003868 Shortleaf Pine - (Blackjack Oak, Post Oak) / Prairie Rosinweed - Prairie Goldenrod Woodland | CEGL003868 | 1.B.2.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL004756 Blackjack Oak / Little Bluestem - (Ashy Sunflower, Starry Rosinweed, Tall Blazingstar) Woodland | CEGL004756 | 1.B.2.Na.1.d |
Concept Lineage: This new alliance only contains two associations, one from the old A.625, one from the old A.680. These are both large alliances, with their other associations in other groups. These form a complex relationship.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< IA6c. Dry Post Oak - Blackjack Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
- 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.
- 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.