Natural Resources
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Ecological site F109XY015MO
Loamy Backslope Woodland
Last updated: 7/02/2024
Accessed: 09/13/2026
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Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
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Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 109X–Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain
The Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain is an area of rolling hills interspersed with interfluve divides and alluvial valleys. Elevation ranges from about 660 feet (200 meters) along the lower reaches of rivers, to about 980 feet (300 meters) on stable interfluve summits in southern Iowa. Relief is about 80 to 160 feet (25 to 50 meters) between major streams and adjacent interfluve summits. Most of the till plain drains south to the Missouri River via the Grand and Chariton River systems, but the northeastern portion drains southeast to the Mississippi River. Loess caps the pre-Illinoisan aged till on interfluves, whereas the till is exposed on side slopes. Mississippian aged limestone and Pennsylvanian aged sandstone and shale crop out on lower slopes in some areas.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Dry-Mesic Loess/Glacial Till Woodland.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (Missouri Department of Conservation, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mixed Oak Loess/Glacial Till Woodland.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum - Carya cordiformis / Lindera benzoin Forest (CEGL002058).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs primarily within the Trenton Woodland/Forest Scarped Hills Land Type Association of the Grand River Hills Subsection.Ecological site concept
NOTE: This is a “provisional” Ecological Site Description (ESD) that is under development. It contains basic ecological information that can be used for conservation planning, application and land management. As additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.
Loamy Backslope Woodlands are not extensive, occurring mainly in NW Livingston county, and NE Clark county along the bluffs of the Des Moines River. Soils are deep over limestone bedrock. The reference plant community is forest dominated by white and chinkapin oaks, with an open understory and a rich herbaceous ground flora.Associated sites
F109XY004MO Loamy Upland Drainageway Woodland
Loamy Upland Drainageway Woodlands, and other floodplain sites, are downslope.
R109XY002MO Loess Upland Prairie
Loess Upland Prairies are upslope in prairie areas, on summits and shoulders.
Similar sites
F109XY025MO Interbedded Sedimentary Exposed Backslope Woodland
Interbedded Sedimentary Exposed Backslope Woodlands are similar in composition, on exposed landscape positions, and effective rooting depths due to fractured nature of the bedrock.
F109XY013MO Interbedded Sedimentary Protected Backslope Forest
Interbedded Sedimentary Protected Backslope Forests are similar in composition on protected landscape positions and effective rooting depths due to fractured nature of the bedrock.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus alba
(2) Quercus muehlenbergiiShrub (1) Cercis canadensis
Herbaceous (1) Elymus virginicus
(2) Schizachyrium scopariumPhysiographic features
This site is on upland backslopes with slopes of 18 to 35 percent. The site receives runoff from upslope summit and shoulder sites, and generates runoff to adjacent, downslope ecological sites. This site does not flood.
The following figure (adapted from Abney, 2002) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, labeled “2” on the figure. The site is typically downslope from the Loess Upland Prairie ecological site. Upland Drainageway ecological sites are directly downslope (not shown on the diagram).
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 510 – 823 ft Slope 18 – 35 % Water table depth 24 – 72 in Aspect N, NE, E Climatic features
The Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain MLRA has a continental type of climate marked by strong seasonality. In winter, dry-cold air masses, unchallenged by any topographic barriers, periodically swing south from the northern plains and Canada. If they invade reasonably humid air, snowfall and rainfall result. In summer, moist, warm air masses, equally unchallenged by topographic barriers, swing north from the Gulf of Mexico and can produce abundant amounts of rain, either by fronts or by convectional processes. In some summers, high pressure stagnates over the region, creating extended droughty periods. Spring and fall are transitional seasons when abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation may occur due to successive, fast-moving fronts separating contrasting air masses.
This MLRA experiences small regional differences in climates that grade inconspicuously into each other. The basic gradient for most climatic characteristics is along a line from north to south. Both mean annual temperature and precipitation exhibit fairly minor gradients along this line. Mean January minimum temperature follows the north-to-south gradient. However, mean July maximum temperature shows hardly any geographic variation in the region. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only two to three degrees across the region.
Mean annual precipitation varies along the same gradient as temperature – lower annual precipitation in the north, higher in the south. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages four to five times greater than January precipitation.
During years when precipitation comes in a fairly normal manner, moisture is stored in the top layers of the soil during the winter and early spring, when evaporation and transpiration are low. During the summer months the loss of water by evaporation and transpiration is high, and if rainfall fails to occur at frequent intervals, drought will result. Drought directly influences ecological communities by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates. Drought indirectly affects ecological communities by increasing plant and animal susceptibility to the probability and severity of fire. Frequent fires encourage the development of grass/forb dominated communities and understories.
Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. For example, air drainage at nighttime may produce temperatures several degrees lower in valley bottoms than on side slopes. At critical times during the year, this phenomenon may produce later spring or earlier fall freezes in valley bottoms. Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier, supporting more grass dominated communities than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes that are cooler and moister that support more woody dominated communities. Finally, the cooler microclimate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open and warmer grassland or savanna area.
Source: University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 296 - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 150-170 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 190-200 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 40-40 in Frost-free period (actual range) 150-170 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 190-200 days Precipitation total (actual range) 40-40 in Frost-free period (average) 160 days Freeze-free period (average) 190 days Precipitation total (average) 40 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 8 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) TRENTON [USC00238444], Trenton, MO
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(2) KEOKUK LOCK DAM 19 [USC00134381], Keokuk, IA
">Influencing water features
This ecological site is not influenced by wetland or riparian water features. The water features of this upland ecological site include evapotranspiration, surface runoff, and drainage. Each water balance component fluctuates to varying extents from year-to-year. Precipitation and drainage are highly variable between years. Seasonal variability differs for each water component. Precipitation generally occurs as single day events. Evapotranspiration is lowest in the winter and peaks in the summer. The surface runoff pulse is greatly influenced by extreme events. Conversion to cropland or other high intensity land uses tends to increase runoff, but also decreases evapotranspiration. Depending on the situation, this might increase runoff discharge, and decrease baseflow in receiving streams.
Soil features
These soils are underlain with limestone bedrock at 40 to 60 inches (102 to 152 centimeters) deep. The soils were formed under woodland vegetation, and have thin, light-colored surface horizons. Parent material is slope alluvium and residuum weathered from limestone, overlying limestone bedrock. They have silt loam surface layers, with loamy or clayey subsoils that have low to moderate amounts of chert gravel and cobbles. They are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Bucklick.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Slope alluvium – dolomite
(2) Residuum – dolomite
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
(2) Silty clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Very slow to slow Soil depth 40 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 6 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)4.5 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)3 – 50 % Ecological dynamics
Information contained in this section was developed using historical data, professional experience, field reviews, and scientific studies. The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants, animals and ecological processes are described to help inform land management decisions. Plant communities will differ across the MLRA because of the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The Reference Plant Community is not necessarily the management goal. The species lists are representative and are not botanical descriptions of all species occurring, or potentially occurring, on this site. They are not intended to cover every situation or the full range of conditions, species, and responses for the site.
The soils of Loamy Backslope Woodlands limits the growth of trees and supports an abundance of native grasses and forbs in the understory. They may contain small glade complexes. While more productive than adjacent glades these sites have only a moderately tall (50 to 70 feet) white oak and chinkapin oak dominated semi-open overstory, with an occasional northern red oak. Shrubs were scattered within a dense matrix of native grasses and forbs. Characteristic plants in the ground flora can be used to gauge the restoration potential of a stand along with remnant open-grown old-age trees, and tree height growth. Protected slopes are generally more productive and have higher densities of white oak and northern red oak in the canopy.
Fire played an important role in the maintenance of these systems. It is likely that these ecological sites, along with adjacent glades and woodlands burned at least once every 5 years. The protected slopes site burned less frequently (estimated 10 to 25 years) and with lower intensity. These periodic fires kept woodlands open, removed the litter, and stimulated the growth and flowering of the grasses and forbs. They would have also further limited the growth and dominance of trees, especially eastern redcedar. During fire free intervals, woody species would have increased and the herbaceous understory diminished. But the return of fire would have re-opened the woodlands and stimulated the ground flora. In the long term absence of fire, woody species, especially hickory and eastern red cedar have encroached into these ecological sites. Most of these ecological sites today are dense, and shady with a greatly diminished ground flora. Removal of the younger understory by chainsaw and the application of prescribed fire have proven to be effective restoration methods.
Loamy Backslope Woodlands were also subjected to occasional disturbances from wind and ice, as well as grazing by native large herbivores, such as bison, elk, and deer. Wind and ice would have periodically opened the canopy up by knocking over trees or breaking substantial branches off canopy trees. Grazing by native herbivores would have effectively kept understory conditions more open, creating conditions more favorable to oak reproduction and sun-loving ground flora species.
Uncontrolled domestic grazing has also impacted these communities, further diminishing the diversity of native plants and introducing species that are tolerant of grazing, such as buckbrush, gooseberry, and Virginia creeper. It also promotes the invasion of Eastern red cedar. Grazed sites have a more open understory. In addition, soil compaction and soil erosion from grazing can be a problem and lower site productivity.
These ecological sites are moderately productive, especially when compared to loess covered units. Oak regeneration is typically problematic. Maintenance of the oak component will require disturbances that will encourage more sun adapted species and reduce shading effects.
Single tree selection timber harvests are common for this ecological site and often results in removal of the most productive trees (high grading) in the stand leading to poorer quality timber and a shift in species composition away from more valuable oak species. Better planned single tree selection or the creation of group openings can help regenerate and maintain more desirable oak species and increase vigor on the residual trees. Clearcutting also occurs and results in dense, even-aged stands dominated by oak. This may be beneficial for existing stands whose composition has been highly altered by past management practices. However, without some thinning of the dense stands and application of prescribed fire, the ground flora diversity can be shaded out and diversity of the stand may suffer.
A State and Transition Diagram follows. Detailed descriptions of each state, transition, plant community, and pathway follow the model. This model is based on available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretations. It is likely to change as knowledge increases.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 9. STM for this ecological site
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
States 1 and 5 (additional transitions)
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceThe historical reference state for this ecological site was old growth, oak woodland. The reference state was dominated by white oak and chinkapin oak. Maximum tree age was likely 150 to 200 years. Periodic disturbances from fire, wind or ice maintained the woodland structure and diverse ground flora species. Long disturbance-free periods allowed an increase in both the density of trees and the abundance of shade tolerant species. Two community phases are recognized in the reference state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency. Reference states are rare today. Many sites have been converted to grassland (State 4). Others have been subject to repeated, high-graded timber harvest coupled with uncontrolled domestic livestock grazing (State 5). Fire suppression has resulted in increased canopy density, which has affected the abundance and diversity of ground flora. Some former reference states have been managed as woodlands with fire (State 2) or without fire (State 3).
Dominant plant species
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white oak (Quercus alba), tree
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pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
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redbud (Cercis), shrub
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Virginia wildrye (Elymus submuticus), other herbaceous
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium), other herbaceous
Community 1.1
White Oak – Chinkapin Oak/Red Bud/Virginia Wildrye – Little BluestemForest overstory.The Forest Overstory Species list is based on commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).
Forest understory. The Forest Understory list is based commonly on occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).
Dominant plant species
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white oak (Quercus alba), tree
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pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
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redbud (Cercis), shrub
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Virginia wildrye (Elymus submuticus), other herbaceous
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium), other herbaceous
Community 1.2
White Oak – Chinkapin Oak/Eastern Redcedar – Red Bud/ Virginia WildryeDominant plant species
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white oak (Quercus alba), tree
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pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
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eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
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redbud (Cercis), shrub
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Virginia wildrye (Elymus submuticus), other herbaceous
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2No disturbance (10+ years)
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1Disturbance (fire, wind, ice) <10 years
State 2
Fire Excluded Managed WoodlandThese stands will slowly increase in more shade tolerant species and white oak will become less dominant. These woodlands tend to be rather dense, with a sparse understory and ground flora. Thinning can increase overall tree vigor and improve understory diversity. However, in the absence of fire, the diversity and cover of the ground flora is still diminished. Without periodic disturbance, stem density and fire intolerant species, like sassafras and hickory, increase in abundance. Prescribed fire along with a more open canopy can transition this state to a Fire Managed Woodland state (State 3).
Dominant plant species
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black oak (Quercus velutina), tree
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white oak (Quercus alba), tree
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pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
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red hickory (Carya ovalis), tree
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hazelnut (Corylus), shrub
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wildrye (Elymus), other herbaceous
Community 2.1
Black Oak – White Oak – Chinkapin Oak/Hickory – Hazelnut/ WildryeDominant plant species
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black oak (Quercus velutina), tree
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white oak (Quercus alba), tree
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pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
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red hickory (Carya ovalis), tree
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hazelnut (Corylus), shrub
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wildrye (Elymus), other herbaceous
State 3
Fire Managed WoodlandThe Fire Managed Woodland state results from managing woodland communities (States 2) with prescribed fire and canopy thinning,. This state can resemble the Reference State, but with younger maximum tree ages, more open canopies and lower ground flora diversity. Cessation of prescribed fire will allow transition to various managed woodland states.
If controlled grazing is introduced to this state, a silvopasture system can be created. Opening of the canopy may need to occur to allow sufficient light levels to exist for suitable grazing needs.Dominant plant species
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oak (Quercus), tree
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red hickory (Carya ovalis), tree
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fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), shrub
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hairy woodland brome (Bromus pubescens), other herbaceous
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium), other herbaceous
Community 3.1
Oak – Hickory/Aromatic Sumac/ Woodland Brome – Little BluestemDominant plant species
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oak (Quercus), tree
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red hickory (Carya ovalis), tree
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fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), shrub
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hairy woodland brome (Bromus pubescens), other herbaceous
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium), other herbaceous
State 4
GrasslandConversion of woodlands to planted, non-native cool season grassland species such as tall fescue is common for this region. Steep slopes, surface fragments, low organic matter contents and soil acidity make grasslands harder to maintain in a healthy, productive state on this ecological site.
Two community phases are recognized in the grassland state, with shifts between phases based on types of management. Poor management will result in a shift to Community 4.2 that shows an increase in oak sprouting and increases in broomsedge densities. If grazing and active pasture management is discontinued, the site will eventually transition to State 2 from this phase.Dominant plant species
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tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), other herbaceous
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red clover (Trifolium pratense), other herbaceous
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broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus), other herbaceous
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oak (Quercus), other herbaceous
Community 4.1
Tall Fescue-Red CloverThis phase is a well managed grassland, composed of non-native cool season grasses and legumes. Grazing and haying is occurring. The effects of long-term liming on soil pH, and calcium and magnesium content, is most evident in this phase. Studies show that these soils have higher pH and higher base status in soil horizons as much as two feet below the surface, relative to poorly managed grassland (phase 4.2) and to woodland communities (where liming is not practiced).
Dominant plant species
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tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), other herbaceous
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red clover (Trifolium pratense), other herbaceous
Community 4.2
Tall Fescue-Broomsedge/Oak SproutsThis phase is the result of poor grassland management. Over grazing and inadequate or no fertility application has allowed tall fescue, multi-flora rose, broomsedge, thistle and other weedy species to increase in cover and density reducing overall forage quality and site productivity. White clovers such as ladino and alsike will decrease or go away with no fertilization and overgrazing although Dutch white clover will leave last. Soil pH and bases such as calcium and magnesium are lower, relative to well-managed pastures (Phase 4.1).
Dominant plant species
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tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), other herbaceous
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broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus), other herbaceous
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oak (Quercus), other herbaceous
Pathway 4.1A
Community 4.1 to 4.2Overgrazing; no fertilization
Pathway 1.2A
Community 4.2 to 4.1Disturbance (fire, wind, ice) <10 years
State 5
High-Graded, Grazed WoodlandStates that were subjected to repeated, high-grading timber harvests and uncontrolled domestic grazing transitioned to a High-Graded, Grazed Woodland state. This state exhibits an over-abundance of hickory and other less desirable tree species, and weedy understory species such as buckbrush, gooseberry, poison ivy and Virginia creeper. The existing vegetation offers little nutritional value for cattle, and excessive cattle stocking damages tree boles, degrades understory species composition and results in soil compaction and accelerated erosion and runoff.
Two common transitions from this state are woody clearing and conversion to State 5, grassland or removing livestock, limited harvesting, and allowing long term succession to occur to some other woodland state.Dominant plant species
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black oak (Quercus velutina), tree
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pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
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red hickory (Carya ovalis), tree
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serviceberry (Amelanchier), shrub
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coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), shrub
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sedge (Abildgaardia), other herbaceous
Community 5.1
Black Oak – Chinkapin Oak – Hickory / Serviceberry – Buckbrush / SedgeDominant plant species
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black oak (Quercus velutina), tree
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pin oak (Quercus palustris), tree
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red hickory (Carya ovalis), tree
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serviceberry (Amelanchier), shrub
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coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), shrub
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sedge (Abildgaardia), other herbaceous
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Even-aged management
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Fire suppression; uneven-age management
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4Clearing; pasture planting
Transition T1D
State 1 to 5Poorly planned harvest; uncontrolled grazing
Restoration pathway R1B
State 2 to 1Forest stand improvement; extended rotations; prescribed fire
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3Prescribed fire; forest stand improvement
Restoration pathway R1A
State 3 to 1Prescribed fire; extended rotations
Restoration pathway T3A
State 3 to 2Even-age management; fire exclusion
Restoration pathway T4A
State 4 to 2Tree planting; long-term succession; no grazing
Restoration pathway T5B
State 5 to 3Forest management; no grazing; fire
Restoration pathway T5A
State 5 to 4Clearing; pasture planting
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height ft Canopy cover (%) Diameter in Basal area (square ft/acre) Treeblack oak QUVE Quercus velutina Native – 30-60 – 0 white oak QUAL Quercus alba Native – 30-50 – 0 post oak QUST Quercus stellata Native – 10-30 – 0 chinquapin oak QUMU Quercus muehlenbergii Native – 10-30 – 0 northern red oak QURU Quercus rubra Native – 5-20 – 0 shagbark hickory CAOV2 Carya ovata Native – 5-20 – 0 hophornbeam OSVI Ostrya virginiana Native – 0-10 – 0 flowering dogwood COFL2 Cornus florida Native – 0-10 – 0 sugar maple ACSA3 Acer saccharum Native – 0-10 – 0 Table 7. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium Native – 5–20 slender looseflower sedge CAGR8 Carex gracilescens Native – 5–20 oval-leaf sedge CACE Carex cephalophora Native – 5–20 eastern bottlebrush grass ELHY Elymus hystrix Native – 5–20 hairy wildrye ELVI Elymus villosus Native – 5–20 slender woodland sedge CADI5 Carex digitalis Native – 5–10 Virginia wildrye ELVI3 Elymus virginicus Native – 5–10 hairy woodland brome BRPU6 Bromus pubescens Native – 5–10 Forb/Herbwild blue phlox PHDI5 Phlox divaricata Native – 5–20 yellow pimpernel TAIN Taenidia integerrima Native – 5–20 Ozark milkvetch ASDI4 Astragalus distortus Native – 5–20 elmleaf goldenrod SOUL2 Solidago ulmifolia Native – 5–20 eastern beebalm MOBR2 Monarda bradburiana Native – 5–20 eastern purple coneflower ECPU Echinacea purpurea Native – 5–20 hairy sunflower HEHI2 Helianthus hirsutus Native – 5–20 Virginia snakeroot ARSE3 Aristolochia serpentaria Native – 5–20 Virginia springbeauty CLVI3 Claytonia virginica Native – 5–20 harbinger of spring ERBU Erigenia bulbosa Native – 5–20 mayapple POPE Podophyllum peltatum Native – 5–20 tall blazing star LIAS Liatris aspera Native – 5–20 Shrub/Subshrubfragrant sumac RHAR4 Rhus aromatica Native – 5–20 American hazelnut COAM3 Corylus americana Native – 5–20 eastern redbud CECA4 Cercis canadensis Native – 5–20 Vine/LianaVirginia creeper PAQU2 Parthenocissus quinquefolia Native – 10–20 summer grape VIAE Vitis aestivalis Native – 10–20 Table 8. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 2.1 forest overstory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height ft Canopy cover (%) Diameter in Basal area (square ft/acre) Treeeastern redcedar JUVI Juniperus virginiana Native – – – 0 sugar maple ACSA3 Acer saccharum Native – – – 0 chinquapin oak QUMU Quercus muehlenbergii Native – – – 0 Table 11. Community 2.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Shrub/SubshrubCarolina buckthorn FRCA13 Frangula caroliniana Native – – Table 12. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 4.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 15. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife (MDC 2006):
Oaks provide hard mast for wildlife; scattered shrubs provide soft mast; frequent bedrock outcrops provide reptile habitat and a patchier ground flora.
Sedges and native grasses provide green browse; native grasses on dry sites provide cover and nesting habitat and a diversity of forbs provides a diversity and abundance of insects.
Post-burn areas can provide temporary bare-ground – herbaceous cover habitat important for turkey poults and quail chicks.
Bird species associated with Loamy Limestone Woodlands include Indigo Bunting, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Bobwhite, Summer Tanager, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Whip-poor-will, Chuck-will’s widow, and Red-eyed Vireo.
Reptiles and amphibians associated with mature Loamy Limestone Woodlands include: ornate box turtle, northern fence lizard, five-lined skink, coal skink, broad-headed skink, six-lined racerunner, western slender glass lizard, prairie ring-necked snake, flat-headed snake, rough earth snake, red milk snake, western pygmy rattlesnake, and timber rattlesnake.Other information
Forestry
Management: Estimated site index values range from 55 to 60 for oak. Timber management opportunities are fair to good. These groups respond well to management. Create group openings of at least 2 acres. Large clearcuts should be minimized if possible to reduce impacts on wildlife and aesthetics. Uneven-aged management using single tree selection or small group selection cuttings of ½ to 1 acre are other options that can be used if clear cutting is not desired or warranted. Using prescribed fire as a management tool could have a negative impact on timber quality, may not be fitting, or should be used with caution on a particular site if timber management is the primary objective.
Limitations: No major equipment restrictions or limitations exist. Erosion is a hazard when slopes exceed 15 percent. On steep slopes greater than 35 percent, traction problems increase and equipment use is not recommended.Supporting information
Inventory data references
Potential Reference Sites: Loamy Backslope Woodland Plot ELBECA01 – Bucklick soil Located in Elam Bend CA, Gentry County, MO Latitude: 40.078982 Longitude: -94.014327 Plot BAATHS01 – Bucklick soil Located in Battle of Athens State Historic Site, Clark County, MO Latitude: 40.59182 Longitude: -91.709651
Other references
Abney, Mark A. 2002. Soil Survey of Livingston County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Anderson, R.C. 1990. The historic role of fire in North American grasslands. Pp. 8-18 in S.L. Collins and L.L. Wallace (eds.). Fire in North American tallgrass prairies. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
Frost, C., 1996. Pre-settlement Fire Frequency Regimes of the United States: A First Approximation. Pages 70-81, Proceedings of the 20nd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Ecosystem Management: Shifting the Paradigm from Suppression to Prescription. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.
Missouri Department of Conservation. 2006. Missouri Forest and Woodland Community Profiles. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2002. Woodland Suitability Groups. Missouri FOTG, Section II, Soil Interpretations and Reports. 30 pgs.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. Site Index Reports. Accessed May 2014. https://esi.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESI_Forestland/pgFSWelcome.aspx
NatureServe. 2010. Vegetation Associations of Missouri (revised). NatureServe, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Nigh, Timothy A. and Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296. 682 pgs.Contributors
Doug Wallace
Fred YoungApproval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 7/02/2024
Acknowledgments
Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support in the development of this ecological site. This site was originally approved on 07/28/2015 for publication.
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Contact for lead author Date 09/13/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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