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A3316 Crataegus crus-galli - Crataegus marshallii - Crataegus spathulata Coastal Plain Prairie Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance encompasses zones within or on the margins of coastal plain prairies dominated by Crataegus crus-galli, Crataegus marshallii, and/or Crataegus spathulata, with Cornus drummondii and the liana Berchemia scandens.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Cockspur Hawthorn - Parsley Hawthorn - Littlehip Hawthorn Coastal Plain Prairie Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Prairie Hawthorn Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance encompasses zones within or on the margins of coastal plain prairies dominated by Crataegus crus-galli, Crataegus marshallii, and/or Crataegus spathulata. Stands may also contain Cornus drummondii. One common liana is Berchemia scandens. Examples are found primarily or exclusively on uplands in relatively calcareous soils. In the West Gulf Coastal Plain, these shrublands develop on soils derived from marly clays and chalk of marine origin. These soils are typically silty clay loams, clays, and silt loams that are well-drained, slowly permeable, and alkaline (pH 7.5-8.0). Subsurface clay layers have calcareous concretions, weathered limestone aggregations, and shrink-swell properties. This community typically occupies 1-8 hectares within calcareous forests dominated by Pinus taeda or Quercus spp. This community occurs in a nearly level to gently rolling landscape, on ridgetops and on gentle slopes that often border small streams. Moisture regimes are typically dry to dry-mesic.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is distinguished by being found on the margins of coastal plain prairies in the southeastern United States, and by being dominated by Crataegus species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Occurrences of Crataegus-dominated shrublands in the Jackson Prairie of Mississippi are included here. This alliance also includes shrubby examples of the rare calcareous Cook Mountain Prairie in Louisiana, and similar vegetation on the Sam Houston National Forest in Texas occurring on calcareous soils derived from the Fleming Formation. The status of occurrences in Alabama and Mississippi reported by Mohr (1901) for the Black Belt is not fully understood; they may only be historical.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: In the Cook Mountain Calcareous Prairies, shrub vegetation consists of clumps or thickets of Crataegus spp.
Floristics: In the Cook Mountain Calcareous Prairies, shrub vegetation consists of clumps or thickets of Crataegus spp. (including Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus crus-galli, and Crataegus berberifolia). Other dominant vines and shrubs include Berchemia scandens, Cornus drummondii, Diospyros virginiana, Frangula caroliniana, Ilex decidua, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Prunus mexicana, Rubus spp., and Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. lanuginosum. The tall-shrub stratum (2-5 m high) ranges from 25-60% cover. Open examples include a sparse to patchy ground cover. Grasses include Andropogon glomeratus, Andropogon gerardii, Aristida spp., Panicum flexile, Paspalum floridanum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Setaria parviflora, Sorghastrum nutans, and Sporobolus spp. More information is needed on occurrences of Crataegus-dominated shrublands in the Jackson Prairie of Mississippi and the Sam Houston National Forest of Texas. The status of occurrences in Alabama and Mississippi reported by Mohr (1901) for the Black Belt is not fully understood; they may only be historical.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Examples are found primarily or exclusively on uplands in relatively calcareous soils. In the West Gulf Coastal Plain, these shrublands develop on soils derived from marly clays and chalk of marine origin. These soils are typically silty clay loams, clays, and silt loams that are well-drained, slowly permeable, and alkaline (pH 7.5-8.0). Subsurface clay layers have calcareous concretions, weathered limestone aggregations, and shrink-swell properties. This community typically occupies 1-8 hectares within calcareous forests dominated by Pinus taeda or Quercus spp. This community occurs in a nearly level to gently rolling landscape, on ridgetops and on gentle slopes that often border small streams. Moisture regimes are typically dry to dry-mesic.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is found in the West and East Gulf coastal plains and possibly the adjacent Interior Low Plateau from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and possibly Alabama.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, LA, MS, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899440
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nh Southeastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D102 | 2.B.2.Nh |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nh.2 Southeastern Coastal Plain Patch Prairie Macrogroup | M309 | 2.B.2.Nh.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a Little Bluestem - Switchgrass - Bushy Bluestem Patch Prairie Group | G175 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Alliance | A3316 Cockspur Hawthorn - Parsley Hawthorn - Littlehip Hawthorn Coastal Plain Prairie Shrubland Alliance | A3316 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Association | CEGL003879 Littlehip Hawthorn - Roughleaf Dogwood - Alabama Supplejack Shrubland | CEGL003879 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Association | CEGL003976 (Cockspur Hawthorn, Parsley Hawthorn) Jackson Prairie Shrubland | CEGL003976 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
Concept Lineage: This alliance includes two associations, one each from A.899 (1/2) and A.900 (1/1).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< ID4e. Cook Mountain Calcareous Prairie (Allard 1990)
> T4B3aII2b. Crataegus spp. (marshallii, crus-galli) (Foti et al. 1994)
> T4B3aII2b. Crataegus spp. (marshallii, crus-galli) (Foti et al. 1994)
- 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.
- Allen, C. 1993c. Ecological assessment of the forest vegetation of Keiffer Prairie Research Natural Area in the Kisatchie National Forest. Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service, Kisatchie National Forest, and Northeast Louisiana University, Alexandria. 60 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.
- Foti, T., M. Blaney, X. Li, and K. G. Smith. 1994. A classification system for the natural vegetation of Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:50-53.
- LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
- Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
- Mohr, C. T. 1901. Plant life of Alabama. Contributions to the U.S. National Herbarium No. 6. Washington, DC. 921 pp.
- Smith, L. M., N. M. Gilmore, R. P. Martin, and G. D. Lester. 1989. Keiffer calcareous prairie/forest complex: A research report and preliminary management plan. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge. 44 pp.