Name:
Pinus palustris / Quercus spp. Woodland Alliance
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This alliance includes all Pinus palustris-dominated vegetation on dry to xeric sites in the southeastern United States. These types include `longleaf pine sandhills' of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains; other dry to xeric substrates of the East Gulf and West Gulf coastal plains; as well as `montane longleaf' on rocky substrates of the Piedmont, Cumberland Plateau, and Ridge and Valley. Longleaf pine sandhills include a variety of xeric to dry-mesic Pinus palustris communities, characterized by the presence of one or more scrub oaks, most characteristically including Quercus incana, Quercus laevis, Quercus margarettiae, Quercus myrtifolia, Quercus geminata, Quercus minima, Quercus arkansana, Quercus chapmanii, Quercus stellata, and Quercus marilandica, sometimes in combination with the more mesic oaks Quercus virginiana, Quercus falcata, Quercus pumila, and Quercus nigra. The more montane examples may contain Quercus prinus, Quercus coccinea, Quercus falcata, Pinus echinata, and Pinus virginiana. The structure of examples of these communities is highly variable, depending on fire frequency. Generally, appropriately fire-managed examples of these communities have an open canopy of Pinus palustris, with scattered tree-sized individuals of the Quercus spp.; the oaks are otherwise reduced to sprouts. Under lower fire frequency, these communities often develop a dense subcanopy, shrub layer, or even canopy of scrub oaks. In addition, fire suppression may promote ingrowth of other pines, particularly Pinus clausa, Pinus echinata, and/or Pinus taeda. Where a well-developed shrub stratum is present, common shrubs include Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium virgatum, Vaccinium tenellum, Gaylussacia dumosa (= var. dumosa), Gaylussacia frondosa (= var. frondosa), Gaylussacia nana (= Gaylussacia frondosa var. nana), Gaylussacia tomentosa (= Gaylussacia frondosa var. tomentosa), Ilex vomitoria, Rhus copallinum, Asimina parviflora, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera). Aristida stricta or Aristida beyrichiana are also dominant or at least present within their ranges in the herbaceous layer of many associations. Other characteristic grasses include Sporobolus junceus, Aristida purpurascens, Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon gyrans, and Andropogon ternarius. Soils of this alliance include sandy Entisols, plinthic and aquic Ultisols, Alfisols and occasionally Spodosols. Soils vary in texture from deep sands to well-drained loams with a strong clay component. Montane examples occur on rocky ridges comprised of various rock types including sandstone, quartzite, phyllite, mica schists, and gneiss.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18181.PINUSPALUSTRISQ
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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