Name:
A.578
Reference:
EcoArt 2002
Description:
This alliance consists of wet pinelands (often termed `pine flatwoods,' `wet pine flatwoods,' and `pine savannas') of the Outer Coastal Plain or `coastal flatlands' typically dominated by ~Pinus palustris$, with or without the presence of the other nominals. ~Pinus elliottii var. elliottii$ and ~Pinus serotina$ are more restricted geographically and edaphically than is ~Pinus palustris$. ~Pinus serotina$ may be present within its natural range (from southeastern Virginia south to panhandle Florida) but tends to be codominant only on the wettest, often organic soils. ~Pinus elliottii var. elliottii$ may be present or codominant within its natural range from South Carolina to eastern Louisiana, as well as in limited areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain (which are outside the natural range of ~Pinus elliottii var. elliottii$. Both ~Pinus elliottii$ and ~Pinus serotina$ may replace ~Pinus palustris$ on wetter sites. Both species are less tolerant of frequent fire than is ~Pinus palustris$. While ~Pinus elliottii$ can survive reasonably frequent fire, it has been estimated that natural fire frequencies are less than half that of longleaf pine, while typical regimes for ~Pinus serotina$ may be less than one-third as frequent. Thus, it is often believed that these species were confined historically to wetter flatwoods sites with lower burn frequencies than those typical of ~Pinus palustris$-dominated communities. With fire suppression, alteration of fire regimes, and widespread logging of ~Pinus palustris, Pinus elliottii$ has invaded many flatwoods sites historically dominated almost exclusivelly by ~Pinus palustris$. To a lesser extent this phenomenon may also have occurred with ~Pinus serotina$. As presently defined, this alliance includes both naturally mixed ~Pinus palustris - Pinus elliottii$ stands, as well as those originally dominated by ~Pinus palustris$ into which ~Pinus elliottii$ has invaded, as well as silviculturally managed stands outside of the natural range of ~Pinus elliottii var. elliottii$ in Louisiana and Texas. Across the range of this alliance, pine densities vary from low with widely spaced trees giving an open savanna-like aspect, to high with dense, nearly closed canopies. Nevertheless, even the densest stands have discontinuous canopies which allow considerable light to penetrate to the forest floor. Probably the most significant factor affecting community composition is fire. In fire suppressed examples, an understory of ~Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua$, and ~Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera)$ is likely to develop. Understory composition is variable, and includes both shrub- and shrub/graminoid-dominated systems. Heavily shrubby examples may be indicative of lower fire frequencies than are more herbaceous-dominated examples. Typical shrubs may include ~Gaylussacia$ spp., ~Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Ilex vomitoria, Morella cerifera, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Serenoa repens, Symplocos tinctoria$, and ~Vaccinium$ spp. Appreciable herb layers typically exist only where the canopy and shrub layers are relatively open, and where there has been relatively frequent fire history. ^Grasses usually make up the majority of total cover. Graminoids typical in various associations of this alliance include ~Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida palustris, Aristida stricta, Ctenium aromaticum, Muhlenbergia expansa, Sporobolus curtissii, Sporobolus floridanus, Sporobolus pinetorum, Sporobolus silveanus, Sporobolus teretifolius, Andropogon capillipes, Andropogon glaucopsis, Andropogon glomeratus, Rhynchospora$ spp., ~Dichanthelium$ spp., ~Fimbristylis puberula, Gymnopogon chapmanianus, Panicum$ spp., ~Schizachyrium$ spp., ~Scleria$ spp., and ~Sorghastrum$ spp. Forbs typical of this alliance include ~Carphephorus odoratissimus, Chaptalia tomentosa, Eupatorium$ spp., ~Helianthus$ spp., ~Lachnanthes caroliana, Lachnocaulon$ spp., ~Liatris$ spp., ~Lobelia$ spp., ~Pinguicula$ spp., ~Pityopsis$ spp., ~Polygala$ spp., ~Sabatia$ spp., and ~Solidago$ spp. This alliance also includes silviculturally managed stands from the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Louisiana and Texas. Shrubs in these examples include ~Callicarpa americana, Ilex coriacea, Morella cerifera, Morella caroliniensis (= Myrica heterophylla), Vaccinium elliottii$, and ~Viburnum nudum var. nudum$. Graminoids may include ~Schizachyrium scoparium, Muhlenbergia expansa, Ctenium aromaticum$, and ~Carex$ spp.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.2222.A578
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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