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A3326 Quercus velutina - Quercus alba North-Central Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This dry oak forest alliance is found throughout the central midwestern United States and southwestern Ontario, Canada. Examples occur on dry to dry-mesic sandy or rocky soils. The tree canopy is moderately closed, occasionally scrubby, and with typically 50-100% cover, with Quercus velutina as the dominant tree species, and Quercus alba and Carya spp. as common associates.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Oak - White Oak North-Central Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: North-Central Black Oak - White Oak Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This dry oak forest alliance is found throughout the central midwestern United States and southwestern Ontario, Canada. The tree canopy is moderately closed, occasionally scrubby, and with typically 60-100% cover. Quercus velutina is the dominant tree species with Quercus alba and Carya spp. as common associates. Typical shrubs and small trees include Cornus florida, Corylus americana, Ostrya virginiana, Sassafras albidum, Vaccinium spp., Viburnum acerifolium, and Hamamelis virginiana. Some common herbs (but this list is incomplete) include Amphicarpaea bracteata, Danthonia spicata, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Desmodium nudiflorum, and Prenanthes altissima. Stands can be found on mid to upper slopes and terraces where dry or dry-mesic conditions persist and where soils are more sandy and/or rocky. Many stands are found on coarser-textured soils. These forests require a combination of drought and fire to persist.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance describes the Quercus velutina-dominated forests that occur on sandy soils within the midwestern United States and southern Canada.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Dry-mesic stands dominated by Quercus alba and Quercus rubra are separated into a different alliance, ~Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Carya spp. North-Central Forest Alliance (A3323)$$. Applying this concept difference to stands on the ground may be difficult and the separation of these into two alliances may need to be reviewed. Similarly, these stands may overlap with some of the oak barren stands within the midwestern U.S. ~Quercus velutina - Quercus ellipsoidalis Wooded Grassland Alliance (A1492)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The tree canopy is moderately closed, occasionally scrubby, and with typically 60-100% cover.

Floristics: Quercus velutina is the dominant tree species with Quercus alba and Carya spp. as common associates. Typical shrubs and small trees include Cornus florida, Corylus americana, Ostrya virginiana, , Sassafras albidum, Vaccinium spp., Viburnum acerifolium, and Hamamelis virginiana. Some common herbs (but this list is incomplete) include Amphicarpaea bracteata, Danthonia spicata, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Desmodium nudiflorum, and Prenanthes altissima.

Dynamics:  These forests require a combination of drought and fire to persist.
Environmental Description:  Stands can be found on mid to upper slopes and terraces where dry or dry-mesic conditions persist and where soils are more sandy and/or rocky. Many stands are found on coarser-textured soils.
Geographic Range: This dry oak forest alliance is found throughout the central midwestern United States and southwestern Ontario, Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, ON, PA?, WI


Confidence Level: Moderate

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 A3326 Black Oak - White Oak North-Central Forest Alliance A3326 1.B.2.Na.4.b
Association CEGL002076 Black Oak - White Oak - (Pignut Hickory, Shagbark Hickory) Forest CEGL002076 1.B.2.Na.4.b
Association CEGL002078 Black Oak / Pennsylvania Sedge Forest CEGL002078 1.B.2.Na.4.b
Association CEGL005029 Black Oak - (Northern Pin Oak) - White Oak / Wavy Hairgrass Woodland CEGL005029 1.B.2.Na.4.b
Association CEGL005030 Black Oak - White Oak / (Lowbush Blueberry, Blue Ridge Blueberry) / Pennsylvania Sedge Forest CEGL005030 1.B.2.Na.4.b
Concept Lineage: This alliance pulls together the Midwestern associations from A.1911 and separates them from more southern and northeastern stands.

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)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.