Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

• Pinus echinata - Quercus (prinus, falcata) / Oxydendrum arboreum / Vaccinium pallidum Forest (CEGL007493)Related Concepts:• IA7a. Xeric Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990) BClassification Comments: Defined from the Chattooga Basin Project (S. Simon pers. comm.). It is unclear if this is a uniqueassociation, or if it would be better considered as a subtype of Pinus echinata - Quercus (prinus, falcata) / Oxydendrum arboreum /Vaccinium pallidum Forest (CEGL007493).CONSERVATION RANKING & RARE SPECIESGRank: G2G3 (1997-8-15): No informationHigh-ranked species: No informationELEMENT DISTRIBUTIONRange: This community occurs in the Blue Ridge/Piedmont transition of South Carolina and Georgia.Subnations: GA, SCTNC Ecoregions: 51:CUSFS Ecoregions: M221Dc:CCC, M221Dd:CCCFederal Lands: USFS (Chattahoochee, Sumter)ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Allard 1990, NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern U.S. unpubl. data, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Simon pers. comm.,Southeastern Ecology Working Group n.d.SHORTLEAF PINE - WHITE OAK / HILLSIDE BLUEBERRY / ARROWLEAF HEARTLEAF - STRIPED WINTERGREENFORESTELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Pinus echinata - Quercus alba / Vaccinium pallidum / Hexastylis arifolia - Chimaphila maculata ForestDatabase Code: CEGL008427Formation: Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest (I.C.3.N.a)Alliance: Pinus echinata - Quercus (alba, falcata, stellata, velutina) Forest Alliance (A.394)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This association includes forests dominated by a mixture of Pinus echinata and mesophytic and dry-mesophytic oaks(e.g., Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina) occurring in the Piedmont of the southeastern United States, ranging north andwest through the Southern Ridge and Valley, Cumberland Plateau, low Southern Blue Ridge, and upper Piedmont. These forestsoccur on low to middle slope positions, on protected to intermediately exposed sites. The mixed evergreen - deciduous canopy isdominated by Pinus echinata and Quercus alba, sometimes with high coverage by other Quercus spp. (Quercus velutina, Quercuscoccinea, Quercus falcata, Quercus rubra). Xerophytic Quercus spp. such as Quercus prinus, Quercus stellata, as well as otherspecies of pines may be present, but are typically not abundant. A well-developed subcanopy is typical, with species such as Acerrubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Carya glabra, Cornus florida, and Oxydendrum arboreum. The shrub stratum is sparse to patchy with lowshrubs (Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium arboreum, Chimaphila maculata), and vines (Vitis rotundifolia). Theherb stratum is patchy to absent. Hexastylis arifolia is a typical herb. Stands without fire management may experience invasion byAcer rubrum. Piptochaetium avenaceum may be an important grass in more open stands.Environment: These forests occur on low to middle slope positions, on protected to intermediately exposed sites.Vegetation: The mixed evergreen - deciduous canopy of stands is dominated by Pinus echinata and Quercus alba, sometimes withhigh coverage by other Quercus spp. (Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, Quercus falcata, Quercus rubra). Xerophytic Quercusspp. such as Quercus prinus, Quercus stellata, as well as other species of pines may be present, but are typically not abundant. Awell-developed subcanopy is typical, with species such as Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Carya glabra, Cornus florida, andOxydendrum arboreum. The shrub stratum is sparse to patchy with low shrubs (Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum,Vaccinium arboreum, Chimaphila maculata), and vines (Vitis rotundifolia). The herb stratum is patchy to absent. Hexastylis arifoliais a typical herb. Stands without fire management may experience invasion by Acer rubrum. Piptochaetium avenaceum may be animportant grass in more open stands. A dense forest from the Talladega National Forest, Talladega Ranger District, included here, isdominated by Quercus coccinea, Pinus echinata; other canopy components include Quercus velutina, Quercus alba, Quercus falcata,Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus taeda, Carya glabra, and Liquidambar styraciflua. The patchy shrub layer includes Vacciniumarboreum, Vaccinium pallidum, Viburnum acerifolium, and Acer rubrum. The sparse herbaceous layer is characterized byPiptochaetium avenaceum, which may be an important grass in more open stands.Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:• Pinus echinata - Quercus (prinus, falcata) / Oxydendrum arboreum / Vaccinium pallidum Forest (CEGL007493)Vegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe52