Name:
Quercus shumardii - Quercus pagoda Forest Alliance
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This alliance includes mesic upland forests of the Coastal Plain, which occur over calcareous substrates as well as over loess deposits. The canopies of stands are typically dominated by some combination of Quercus shumardii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus michauxii, Fraxinus americana, Acer barbatum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ulmus spp., and Carya spp. Stands may also contain Magnolia acuminata, Magnolia grandiflora, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus falcata, Fagus grandifolia, Gleditsia triacanthos, Diospyros virginiana, Tilia americana, Morus rubra, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, and Pinus taeda. The somewhat rare Carya myristiciformis may be present within its range. As presently circumscribed, this alliance includes rich forests of lower slopes above cypress or bottomland hardwood forests, as well as oak or oak-hardwood forests adjacent to Keiffer Prairies or Jackson Prairies of Louisiana, as well as other poorly-known and unusual forests over limestones or other basic to circumneutral strata in the East Gulf Coastal Plain and Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain. The mesic calcareous forests associated with Jackson Prairies in Louisiana contain a dense canopy dominated by Quercus shumardii, Quercus pagoda, and Fraxinus americana, with Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia acuminata, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus phellos, Quercus michauxii, Acer barbatum, Quercus muehlenbergii, Platanus occidentalis, and Pinus taeda. The open to fairly dense subcanopy contains Ostrya virginiana, Cornus florida, Acer barbatum, Asimina triloba, Ulmus alata, Frangula caroliniana, Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, Cercis canadensis, Hamamelis virginiana, and Sideroxylon lanuginosum. The sparse shrub and woody vine layer includes Bignonia capreolata, Aesculus pavia var. pavia, Rhus aromatica, Cocculus carolinus, Berchemia scandens, and Arundinaria gigantea ssp. gigantea. The sparse herb layer includes Carex cherokeensis, Lithospermum tuberosum, Botrychium virginianum, Aristolochia serpentaria, Delphinium carolinianum, Dioscorea quaternata, Trillium ludovicianum, Podophyllum peltatum, Polygonatum biflorum, Passiflora lutea, Phryma leptostachya, Spigelia marilandica, Taenidia integerrima, Phlox divaricata, and Smilax herbacea. More information is needed on the composition and dynamics of this alliance outside of Louisiana. In Kentucky, vegetation of this alliance occurs in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain on lower toe slopes above cypress or bottomland hardwood forests. Typical canopy trees include Quercus phellos, Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus falcata, and Quercus stellata. These are often mixed with swamp species like Quercus palustris and upland forest species like Quercus alba. At these Kentucky sites, flooding occurs in winter, and groundwater probably remains high through most years, but upper soil horizons may become relatively dry in the summer.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18703.QUERCUSSHUMARDI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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