Name:
Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica Forest & Woodland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This group consists of short, stunted woodlands and forests in eastern, central and western Oklahoma, ranging north to southeastern Kansas, and south through central Texas to the Inner Coastal Plain. The physiognomy of this vegetation varies from open woodlands with scattered trees to dense forests with a dense and viney understory. Canopy height is short (<15 m). This vegetation is located where the forests of the eastern U.S. transition into grasslands of the central U.S. Patches of forests and woodlands are often interspersed with patches of tall- and midgrass prairie. The area consists of irregular plains and rugged scarps with primarily sandy to loamy soils that range from shallow to moderately deep. Rainfall can be moderate, but somewhat erratic, therefore moisture is often limiting during part of the growing season. Short, stunted <i>Quercus stellata</i> and/or <i>Quercus marilandica</i> characterize and dominate this group. Another common canopy tree is <i>Carya texana</i>. Other component species may include <i>Carya cordiformis, Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Quercus prinoides, Ulmus crassifolia, Ulmus alata, Quercus fusiformis, Quercus incana</i>, and <i>Quercus virginiana</i> within their respective ranges. The understory often contains species typical of the surrounding prairies, in particular <i>Schizachyrium scoparium</i>. Small trees or shrubs such as <i>Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Juniperus</i> spp., <i>Smilax</i> spp., and <i>Rhus</i> spp. may also be present. There is considerable variation in associated species in a broad transition from coastal plain to interior areas, and correspondingly from east to west. Drought, grazing, and fire are the primary natural processes that affect this group. With the disruption of these processes today, many examples of this vegetation trend more toward dense stunted forest than open woodland. Overgrazing and conversion to agriculture, along with fire suppression, have led to the invasion of some areas by problematic brush species such as <i>Juniperus virginiana</i> and <i>Juniperus ashei</i> and <i>Prosopis glandulosa</i> farther south in Texas and Oklahoma. It has also led to decreases in native grass cover allowing for annual grasses and forbs to invade.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39752-{08E1DA02-BA03-45A4-9DC7-4D45F42BBA62}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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