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ILLUSTRATED FLORA OF EAST TEXAS - Brit - Botanical Research ...

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122 INTRODUCTION/VEGETATION <strong>OF</strong> POST OAK SAVANNAH<br />

with the Wet Herbaceous Seeps/hillside bogs/hanging bogs of the Pineywoods, but in general<br />

they have fewer species than the floristically richer bogs further east (Bridges & Orzell<br />

1989b). In addition, “muck bogs,” limited in Texas to the Post Oak Savannah, differ from<br />

most other East Texas bogs in a number of characteristics (e.g., they can have deep peat<br />

deposits) and generally share fewer than 50% of their species with other bog types (e.g., hillside<br />

seepage bogs) further east (MacRoberts & MacRoberts 1998e, 2001).<br />

Many bog species (e.g., Sarracenia alata, Eriocaulon spp., Rhynchospora spp., Xyris spp.)<br />

reach their northwesternmost distribution in the state— and in the southeastern U.S.— in<br />

bogs at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area in Anderson County (Singhurst et al.<br />

2003b). As such, these bogs appear to “represent the western limit of the southeastern flora<br />

at this latitude (31º 58' N)” (Singhurst et al. 2003b).<br />

WATER OAK-POST OAK FLOODPLAIN FORESTS—Floodplain forests in the Post Oak Savannah (Fig. 71)<br />

tend to be dominated by various oak species, the particular forest composition depending on<br />

proximity to the Pineywoods—in general, there is higher species diversity to the east. In some<br />

areas, Quercus nigra (water oak) and Quercus stellata (post oak) “may be codominant in lowlying<br />

flatwoods, along drainages, and in floodplains, with elms, green ash, eastern red-cedar,<br />

and other species of adjacent mesic woods or floodplains” (Bezanson 2000). Vines, including<br />

Vitis spp. (grapes), Toxicodendron radicans (poison-ivy), and Berchemia scandens (rattan-vine),<br />

and a ground layer of Arundinaria gigantea (switchcane), sedges (various Cyperaceae), Elymus<br />

virginicus (Virginia wild rye), Chasmanthium species (wood-oats), and other grasses and<br />

numerous forest forbs are typical. In the eastern part of the region, southeastern species such<br />

as Quercus phellos (willow oak) may be present (Bezanson 2000).<br />

FIG. 71/FLOODPLAIN FOREST IN POST OAK SAVANNAH,LICK CREEK PARK,<br />

BRAZOS,CO.(PHOTO BY JIM MANHART).<br />

SUGARBERRY-ELM FLOODPLAIN FORESTS—<br />

Wooded slopes and floodplains of<br />

smaller streams draining the base-rich<br />

soils of the Blackland Prairies and adjacent<br />

Post Oak Savannahs are characterized<br />

by forests of Ulmus crassifolia<br />

(cedar elm), Celtis laevigata (sugarberry),<br />

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash),<br />

Ulmus americana (American elm), Acer<br />

negundo (boxelder), Carya illinoinensis<br />

(pecan), Sapindus saponaria (western<br />

soapberry), and other species (Bezanson<br />

2000). “Sugarberry, elms, green ash,<br />

and boxelder may be common in earlysuccessional<br />

woodlands in drainages<br />

and floodplains throughout eastern<br />

and central Texas. Vines are often<br />

abundant, including Virginia-creeper,<br />

rattan-vine, poison-ivy, and peppervine.<br />

Giant ragweed and other weedy<br />

forbs are often abundant. If relatively<br />

undisturbed, the understory should<br />

include long-leaf spikegrass, sedges,<br />

Virginia wild rye, white avens, ruellias…,<br />

and other forbs and grasses. River banks

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