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CEGL007096 Pinus echinata - Quercus alba - Quercus stellata / Vaccinium pallidum Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine - White Oak - Post Oak / Blue Ridge Blueberry Woodland
Colloquial Name: Outer Piedmont Shortleaf Pine - White Oak - Post Oak Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shortleaf pine - oak woodland is known from the lower (outer) Piedmont of South Carolina and possibly Georgia. This association is a woodland where Pinus echinata, Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, and Quercus marilandica occur in the canopy, typically sharing codominance in variable amounts. Pinus taeda will be present in variable amounts in the current landscape, but prior to the mid-twentieth century, it was presumably restricted to lower slopes and drains, and is not a typical component of this association. Other species make up less of the total canopy cover and may include Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Quercus coccinea, Quercus falcata, Quercus velutina, and Quercus montana (which is uncommon to rare). Shrub strata vary in composition and density, but Vaccinium pallidum and Vaccinium arboreum are typical. Other ericaceous species such as Gaylussacia baccata and Vaccinium stamineum may be present. The most frequent grass is Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium; Piptochaetium avenaceum may also be present, as well as the fern Pteridium aquilinum. Other herbs found in these woodlands may include Baptisia tinctoria, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Chamaecrista nictitans, Ceanothus americanus, Chrysopsis mariana, Clitoria mariana, Coreopsis major, Desmodium rotundifolium, Saccharum alopecuroides, Euphorbia corollata, Helianthus atrorubens, Helianthus microcephalus, Pityopsis aspera var. adenolepis, Polygala verticillata, Rudbeckia hirta, Mimosa microphylla, Silphium compositum, Sorghastrum nutans, Stylosanthes biflora, and Tephrosia virginiana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is apparently widespread in the Piedmont portions of the Sumter National Forest (Enoree and Long Cane Ranger Districts), in a variety of drier and moderately exposed sites. It is part of the matrix vegetation of ~Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest and Woodland (CES202.339)$$ in the Piedmont of South Carolina and possibly Georgia. It is related and analogous to ~Pinus echinata - Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica / Vaccinium pallidum Woodland (CEGL003765)$$, which is found in the lower elevations of the Southern Blue Ridge and related areas (including the adjacent upper Piedmont or foothills). There are floristic differences, including the absence of Pinus rigida, and the absence or very low cover and frequency of Quercus montana and Pinus virginiana. This type is not recognized in North Carolina because it is not clear whether mixed shortleaf pine - oak stands are natural or ruderal; that is, the shortleaf pine may have increased due to logging and other human activities in oak stands, and thus historically would have been a minor component of oak stands. It is not clear if there are "natural" mixed stands dominated by shortleaf pine - oak which occur at a scale worthy of recognition. (M. Schafale pers. comm. 2016).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy of stands of this association are dominated by some combination of Pinus echinata, Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, and Quercus marilandica, each typically contributing from 25 to 75% of the total canopy coverage. Other species typically make up less than 25% of the total canopy cover and may include Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Quercus coccinea, Quercus falcata, Quercus velutina, and Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) (which is uncommon to rare). Shrub strata vary in composition and density, but Vaccinium arboreum and Vaccinium pallidum are typical. Other ericaceous species such as Gaylussacia baccata and Vaccinium stamineum may be present, as well as Yucca filamentosa. The most frequent grass is Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium; Piptochaetium avenaceum may also be present, as well as the fern Pteridium aquilinum (Simon and Hayden 2014). Other herbs found in these woodlands may include Baptisia tinctoria, Chamaecrista fasciculata (= Cassia fasciculata), Chamaecrista nictitans (= Cassia nictitans), Ceanothus americanus, Chrysopsis mariana, Clitoria mariana, Coreopsis major, Desmodium rotundifolium, Saccharum alopecuroides, Euphorbia corollata, Helianthus atrorubens, Helianthus microcephalus, Pityopsis aspera var. adenolepis, Polygala verticillata, Rudbeckia hirta, Mimosa microphylla (= Schrankia microphylla), Silphium compositum, Sorghastrum nutans, Stylosanthes biflora, and Tephrosia virginiana.
Dynamics: Pinus echinata populations seem to have undergone rangewide declines in vigor and extent. Stands show the effects of continued lack of fire, which would inhibit the reproduction of Pinus echinata and cause the grass-dominated herbaceous layer to deteriorate. Many stands of Pinus echinata have suffered from infestations of the southern pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis), which reduces their vigor and leads to the death of the trees. In addition, littleleaf disease, which is the most serious disease of shortleaf pine in the southern United States, has caused reduced growth rates and mortality, usually within 6 years. The disease is caused by a complex of factors, including the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, low soil nitrogen, and poor internal soil drainage. Often, microscopic roundworms called nematodes and species of the fungal genus Pythium are associated with the disease. The greatest impact has been in the Piedmont area of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Environmental Description: This shortleaf pine - oak woodland is known from the lower (outer) Piedmont of South Carolina and possibly Georgia.
Geographic Range: This shortleaf pine - oak woodland is known from the Piedmont portions of the Sumter National Forest (Enoree and Long Cane Ranger Districts) of South Carolina and may extend into Georgia. This type is not recognized in North Carolina because it is not clear whether mixed shortleaf pine - oak stands in that state are natural or ruderal.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA?, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.964073
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?
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.a White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Water Oak Forest Group | G165 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A3294 Post Oak - Hickory species - Shortleaf Pine Piedmont Woodland Alliance | A3294 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL007096 Shortleaf Pine - White Oak - Post Oak / Blue Ridge Blueberry Woodland | CEGL007096 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IA6a. Dry Shortleaf Pine - Oak - Hickory 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.
- 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.
- Schafale, Mike P. Personal communication. Ecologist, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Simon, S., and L. Hayden. 2014. Ecological zones on the Sumter National Forest, Enoree and Long Cane Districts: 1st Approximation. Report to USDA Forest Service. 47 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.