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A3323 Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Carya spp. North-Central Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This dry-mesic oak forest alliance is found throughout the central Midwest region of the United States. Stands occur primarily on glaciated, rolling topography on dry-mesic soils. Quercus alba and Quercus rubra are the typical dominants, but Carya ovata can also be codominant.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Hickory species North-Central Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: North-Central White Oak - Hickory Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This dry-mesic oak forest alliance is widely distributed in the central Midwest region of the United States and possibly in southwest Ontario, Canada. Stands are 15-25 m tall, with a closed, deciduous canopy. The shrub and herbaceous strata are typically well-developed. Quercus alba usually dominates, either alone or in combination with Quercus rubra (especially on moister sites) and sometimes Quercus velutina and Quercus falcata (especially on drier sites). Carya species (particularly Carya tomentosa, Carya glabra, or Carya ovata) are typically common either in the canopy or subcanopy. Other associates include Fraxinus americana, Ulmus americana, Tilia americana, Acer saccharum, Acer rubrum, and more locally, Quercus macrocarpa and Quercus ellipsoidalis. Stands are found on gentle to moderately steep lower to upper slopes on uplands and on steep valley sides. The soils are moderately deep to deep and vary from silts to clays and loams. The parent material ranges from glaciated till to unglaciated soils over limestone, shale, sandstone and other bedrock types. Stands are fire-dependent, and in its absence, many stands are succeeding to types dominated by Acer saccharum, Tilia americana, Acer rubrum, and other mesic tree associates.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands are dominated by a combination of oak and hickory species, particularly Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, and Carya ovata.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Drier stands dominated by Quercus velutina are separated into a different alliance. Applying this concept difference to stands on the ground may be difficult and the separation of these into two alliances may need to be reviewed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands are 15-25 m tall, with a closed, deciduous canopy. The shrub and herbaceous strata are typically well-developed.
Floristics: Quercus alba usually dominates, either alone or in combination with Quercus rubra (especially on moister sites) and sometimes Quercus velutina and Quercus falcata (especially on drier sites). Carya species (particularly Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra or Carya ovata) are typically common either in the canopy or subcanopy. Other associates include Fraxinus americana, Ulmus americana, Tilia americana, Acer saccharum, Acer rubrum, and more locally, Quercus macrocarpa and Quercus ellipsoidalis.
Dynamics: Stands are fire-dependent, and in its absence, many stands are succeeding to types dominated by Acer saccharum, Tilia americana, Acer rubrum, and other mesic tree associates.
Environmental Description: Stands are found on gentle to moderately steep lower to upper slopes on uplands and on steep valley sides. The soils are moderately deep to deep and vary from silts to clays and loams. The parent material ranges from glaciated till to unglaciated soils over limestone, shale, sandstone and other bedrock types.
Geographic Range: This dry-mesic oak forest alliance is widely distributed in the central Midwest region of the United States and possibly in southwest Ontario, Canada. It ranges from western Ohio and possibly southwest Ontario, west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Missouri, eastern Nebraska and Kansas.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, ON, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899447
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.4 White Oak - Bur Oak - Shagbark Hickory Forest, Woodland & Savanna Macrogroup | M012 | 1.B.2.Na.4 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.4.b North-Central Oak - Hickory Forest & Woodland Group | G649 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
| Alliance | A3323 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Hickory species North-Central Forest Alliance | A3323 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
| Association | CEGL002011 White Oak - (Black Oak) - Shagbark Hickory / Hophornbeam Forest | CEGL002011 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
| Association | CEGL002068 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Shagbark Hickory Midwest Forest | CEGL002068 | 1.B.2.Na.4.b |
Concept Lineage: This alliance contains the primarily north-central, glaciated associations from A.239.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< White Oak - Black Oak - Northern Red Oak: 52 (Eyre 1980)
>< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
>< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
- 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.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., and Midwest State Natural Heritage Program Ecologists. 1996. Terrestrial vegetation of the midwest United States. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the United States. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Hoagland, B. W. 1997. Preliminary plant community classification for Oklahoma. Unpublished draft document, version 35629. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 47 pp.
- Monk, C. D., D. W. Imm, and R. L. Potter. 1990. Oak forests of eastern North America. Castanea 55(2):77-96.
- Robertson, P. A., M. D. MacKenzie, and L. F. Elliott. 1984. Gradient analysis and classification of the woody vegetation for four sites in southern Illinois and adjacent Missouri. Vegetatio 58:87-104.