Print Report

A4075 Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These open woodlands of South Carolina and Georgia are dominated by Pinus palustris with a subcanopy stratum of Quercus incana, Quercus laevis, and Quercus margarettae, and an herbaceous stratum dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium and in some places Aristida beyrichiana.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Little Bluestem Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Little Bluestem Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance is confined to areas south of the range of Aristida stricta, including the wiregrass-free region of central South Carolina and the regions of South Carolina and Georgia where Aristida beyrichiana is dominant. The nominal Schizachyrium scoparium is used to indicate that this is outside the range of Aristida stricta. Dominant trees are Pinus palustris, Quercus incana, Quercus laevis, and Quercus margarettae. Shrubs include Gaylussacia dumosa, Hypericum hypericoides, Rhus copallinum, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vaccinium stamineum. Herbs include Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida purpurascens, Chrysopsis mariana, Dichanthelium aciculare, Dichanthelium ovale, Galactia volubilis, Hieracium gronovii, Ionactis linariifolius, Pityopsis graminifolia, Rhynchospora grayi, Scleria ciliata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sericocarpus tortifolius, Solidago odora var. odora, Stylisma patens, Symphyotrichum concolor, Tephrosia virginiana, Tragia urens, and Vernonia angustifolia.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is confined to areas south of the range of Aristida stricta, including the wiregrass-free region of central South Carolina and the regions of South Carolina and Georgia where Aristida beyrichiana is dominant.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Open woodlands dominated by Pinus palustris with a sparse subcanopy of Quercus incana, Quercus laevis, and Quercus margarettae. The herbaceous stratum is dominated by graminoids, especially Schizachyrium scoparium and Aristida beyrichiana.

Floristics: Dominant trees are Pinus palustris, Quercus incana, Quercus laevis, and Quercus margarettae. Shrubs include Gaylussacia dumosa, Hypericum hypericoides, Rhus copallinum, Vaccinium arboreum, and Vaccinium stamineum. Herbs include Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida purpurascens, Chrysopsis mariana, Dichanthelium aciculare, Dichanthelium ovale, Galactia volubilis, Hieracium gronovii, Ionactis linariifolius, Pityopsis graminifolia, Rhynchospora grayi, Scleria ciliata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sericocarpus tortifolius, Solidago odora var. odora, Stylisma patens, Symphyotrichum concolor, Tephrosia virginiana, Tragia urens, and Vernonia angustifolia.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  The soils in these habitats are well-drained to excessively drained, and have low levels of nutrients. These soils span from xeric to subxeric with high silt content. Generally they are deep coarse sands, but some soils in this alliance have higher silt content which leads to subxeric conditions and higher species richness.
Geographic Range: This alliance is confined to areas south of the range of Aristida stricta, including central South Carolina and the regions of South Carolina and Georgia where Aristida beyrichiana is dominant. Central South Carolina, west-central Georgia and all but southernmost Alabama are largely without wiregrass, and fit floristically in this alliance.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL?, GA, MS?, SC


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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F018 1.B.1
Division 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division D006 1.B.1.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.1.Na.1 Longleaf Pine / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Macrogroup M007 1.B.1.Na.1
Group 1.B.1.Na.1.c Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak Xeric Woodland Group G154 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Alliance A4075 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Little Bluestem Woodland Alliance A4075 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003593 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Atlantic Poison-oak / Little Bluestem - Hairy Lespedeza Woodland CEGL003593 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004487 Longleaf Pine / Post Oak / Running Oak / Pineywoods Dropseed Woodland CEGL004487 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004488 Longleaf Pine / Darlington Oak / Dwarf Huckleberry / Beyrich''s Three-awn - Oblongleaf Snakeherb Woodland CEGL004488 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004492 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak - Sand Post Oak / Gopher-apple / Southern Wiregrass Woodland CEGL004492 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL007127 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Woody-goldenrod / Arrowfeather Three-awn Woodland CEGL007127 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL007129 Longleaf Pine / Sand Post Oak / Atlantic Poison-oak / Little Bluestem Woodland CEGL007129 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL007842 Longleaf Pine / Blackjack Oak / Beyrich''s Three-awn - Goat''s-rue Woodland CEGL007842 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL007844 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Little Bluestem - Pineland Scaly-pink Woodland CEGL007844 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL008491 Longleaf Pine / Little Bluestem - Western Brackenfern Woodland CEGL008491 1.B.1.Na.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? IB6b. Southeastern Coastal Plain Xeric Sandhill (Allard 1990)
< Longleaf Pine-Scrub Oak: 71 (Eyre 1980)
= Sandhills (Edwards et al. 2013)
Concept Author(s): R. Peet, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C.W. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.
  • Edwards, L., J. Ambrose, and K. Kirkman. 2013. The natural communities of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA. 675 pp.
  • 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.
  • Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
  • Palmquist, K. A., R. K. Peet, and S. C. Carr. 2016. Xeric longleaf pine vegetation of the Atlantic and East Gulf Coast Coastal Plain: An evaluation and revision of associations within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. Proceedings of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. [in press]