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Ecological site F116AY030MO
Loamy Protected Backslope Forest
Last updated: 9/24/2020
Accessed: 08/16/2026
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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): 116A–Ozark Highland
The Ozark Highland constitutes the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Uplift. Elevation ranges from about 300 feet on the southeast edge of the Ozark escarpment, to about 1,600 feet in the west, adjacent to the Burlington Escarpment of the Springfield Plateau. The underlying bedrock is mainly horizontally bedded Ordovician-aged dolomites and sandstones that dip gently away from the uplift apex in southeast Missouri. Cambrian dolomites are exposed on deeply dissected hillslopes. In some places, Pennsylvanian and Mississipian sediments overlie the plateau. Relief varies, from the gently rolling central plateau areas to deeply dissected hillslopes associated with drainageways such as the Buffalo, Current, Eleven Point and White Rivers.
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 Forest.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a White Oak Forest.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Quercus alba / Cornus florida Unglaciated Forest (CEGL002066).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs primarily in the Inner Ozark Border 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. After additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.
The Loamy Protected Backslope Forests occupy the northerly and easterly aspects of steep, dissected slopes, and are mapped in complex with the Loamy Exposed Backslope Woodland ecological site. Loamy Backslope ecological sites occur primarily in the Ozark border counties near the boundary with MLRA 115B, where loess from the Missouri and Mississippi river valleys has been deposited. Soils are very deep, and are silt loam loess overlying gravelly residuum. The reference plant community is forest dominated by northern red oak, white oak, white ash and sugar maple with a well-developed understory and a rich herbaceous ground flora.Associated sites
F116AY004MO Fragipan Upland Woodland
Fragipan Upland Woodlands are upslope on summits where a fragipan is present in the subsoil.
F116AY008MO Loamy Upland Woodland
Loamy Upland Woodlands are upslope on summits and shoulders.
F116AY016MO Chert Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest
Chert Dolomite Protected Backslope Forests are upslope or adjacent, where loess is thinner and dolomite bedrock is within 40 inches.
F116AY037MO Gravelly/Loamy Upland Drainageway Forest
Gravelly/Loamy Upland Drainageway Forests are often downslope.
F116AY046MO Loamy Exposed Backslope Woodland
Loamy Exposed Backslope Woodlands are mapped in complex with this ecological site, on steep lower backslopes with southern to western exposures.
Similar sites
F116AY019MO Loamy Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest
Loamy Dolomite Protected Backslope Forests are similar in landscape position and species composition but generally less productive.
F116AY046MO Loamy Exposed Backslope Woodland
Loamy Exposed Backslope Woodlands are mapped in complex with this ecological site, on steep lower backslopes with southern to western exposures.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus alba
(2) Quercus rubraShrub (1) Asimina triloba
Herbaceous (1) Asarum canadense
(2) Uvularia grandifloraPhysiographic features
This site is on upland backslopes with slopes of 15 to 50 percent. It is on protected aspects (north, northeast, and east), which receive significantly less solar radiation than the exposed aspects. The site generates runoff to adjacent, downslope ecological sites. This site does not flood.
The following figure (adapted from Davis, 2002) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships with other ecological sites. It is within the area labeled “3”, on backslopes with northerly to easterly exposures. Loamy Exposed Backslope Woodland sites are on the corresponding southerly to westerly exposures. Footslopes and shoulders within the area are in the Loamy Upland Woodland ecological site. A variety of ecological sites occur in areas where the loess is thinner, such as the Chert Dolomite Backslope sites shown here. Upslope crests are commonly Fragipan Upland Woodland sites.
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Hillslope
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Slope 15 – 50 % Water table depth 20 – 60 in Aspect NW, N, NE, E Climatic features
The Ozark Highland 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.
The Ozark Highland experiences regional differences in climates, but these differences do not have obvious geographic boundaries. Regional climates grade inconspicuously into each other. The basic gradient for most climatic characteristics is along a line crossing the MLRA from northwest to southeast.
The average annual precipitation in almost all of this area is 38 to 45 inches. Snow falls nearly every winter, but the snow cover lasts for only a few days. The average annual temperature is about 53 to 60 degrees F. The lower temperatures occur at the higher elevations in the western part of the MLRA. Mean January minimum temperature follows a stronger north-to-south gradient. However, mean July maximum temperature shows hardly any geographic variation in the MLRA. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only two or three degrees across the area.
Mean annual precipitation varies along a northwest to southeast gradient. Seasonal climatic variations are more complex. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages three to four times greater than January precipitation. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in summer.
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 affects plant and animal life by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates.
Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. In regions of appreciable relief, 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. Deep sinkholes often have a microclimate significantly cooler, moister, and shadier than surrounding surfaces, a phenomenon that may result in a strikingly different ecology. Higher daytime temperatures of bare rock surfaces and higher reflectivity of these unvegetated surfaces may create distinctive environmental niches such as glades and cliffs.
Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes. Finally, the climate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open grassland or savanna areas.
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) 150-150 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 170-170 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 140-150 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 170-180 days Precipitation total (actual range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (average) 150 days Freeze-free period (average) 170 days Precipitation total (average) 50 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) VIENNA 2 WNW [USC00238620], Vienna, MO
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(2) FREEDOM [USC00233043], Linn, MO
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(3) MARBLE HILL [USC00235253], Marble Hill, MO
">Influencing water features
Water features associated with this upland ecological site are influenced by karst landscapes throughout the area (see diagram). Rainfall enters the groundwater system through the soil or by flowing into sinkholes and streams. Springs form where land drops low enough to meet underground water tables. Dissolution of carbonate rocks along fractures and faults has produced cave systems, sinkholes (closed and open), springs, and natural tunnels in the region. These sinkholes and losing streams can rapidly transfer water from upland recharge areas to spring outlets. The most common mechanism for groundwater recharge occurs by the relatively slow downward movement of water through soil and carbonate bedrock over a large area known as diffuse recharge, which maintains a high storage volume providing a consistent supply of water to springs. In addition to diffuse recharge, aquifers in karst terrain receive the relatively rapid transfer of water through sinkholes or losing streams connected by subsurface conduits. Surface water entering the aquifer in this fashion has very little contact with soil or rock and consequently the chemical nature of the water changes little in route. Discharge variability does not seem to be controlled by drainage area, but rather the conduit capacity of losing stream sections that can transport the entire volume of base-flow during dry periods in the year. High variability in base ?ow shows the impact of karst in the form of losing and gaining stream sections (Owen and Pavlowsky 2010).<br />
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The accompanying map depicts the distribution of these karst-related features in the state of Missouri. Relative cave density per USGS 7.5" quadrangle is depicted by shades of red, deeper red signifying a larger number of caves in the quadrangle. Stretches of losing streams are shown in yellow. Known springs are shown as blue dots. Image from Wikimedia Commons developed from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Land Survey.
Figure 9. Distribution of karst-related features in Missouri. Image from Wikimedia Commons developed from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Land Survey.
Soil features
These soils have no major rooting restriction. The soils were formed under woodland vegetation, and have thin, light-colored surface horizons. Parent material is loess over slope alluvium over residuum weathered from limestone and dolomite. The soils have silt loam surface horizons. Subsoils are silty clay loam in the upper part, and are very gravelly and cobbly silty clay loam, clay loam to clay in the underlying slope alluvium and residuum. These soils are not affected by seasonal wetness. Some soils have bedrock between 40 and 60 inches, but this does not significantly affect native vegetation. Soil series associated with this site include Bucklick, Gravois, Peridge, and Wrengart.
The accompanying picture of the Peridge series shows a thin, light-colored silt loam surface horizon over a reddish brown silty clay loam subsoil. Red very gravelly clay is typically below one meter in these soils, and appears at the very bottom of this picture. Scale is in centimeters. Picture courtesy of John Preston, NRCS.
Figure 10. Peridge series
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Loess
(2) Slope alluvium – limestone and dolomite
(3) Residuum – limestone and dolomite
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Very slow to moderately slow Soil depth 40 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)6 – 8 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)20 – 35 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 40 % 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 reference plant community is a forest dominated by an overstory of northern red oak, white oak, white ash and sugar maple. The canopy is tall (75 to 90 feet) and well developed (80 to 100 percent closure) and the understory well developed and with great structural diversity. In the most mesic landscape positions, shade tolerant and moisture loving species, such as basswood, coffeetree, and bitternut hickory would have been in greater abundance.
While fire-prone prairies, savannas and open woodlands surround this region, Loamy Protected Backslope Forests historically occurred in the most protected landscape positions on lower, steep slopes in the deeper valleys furthest from the prairie uplands.
While the upland prairies and savannas may have had a fire frequency of 1 to 3 years, Loamy Protected Backslope Forests would have burned less frequently (estimated 10 to 25 years) and with lower intensity. Periodic fires would have removed some of the shade tolerant understory, but it would have quickly recovered.
Loamy Protected Backslope Forests would have also been subjected to occasional disturbances from wind and ice, as well as grazing by native large herbivores, such as bison, elk, and white-tailed deer. Wind and ice would have periodically opened the canopy up by knocking over trees or breaking substantial branches off canopy trees. Such canopy disturbances allowed more light to reach the ground and favored reproduction of the dominant oak species. Grazing by native herbivores would have kept understory conditions more open, creating conditions more favorable to oak reproduction.
Today, these communities have been cleared and converted to pasture, or have undergone repeated timber harvest and domestic grazing. Most existing occurrences have a younger (50 to 80 years) canopy layer whose composition has been altered by timber harvesting practices. An increase in hickory over historic conditions is common. In addition, in the absence of fire, the canopy, sub-canopy and woody understory layers are better developed. The absence of periodic fire has allowed more shade-tolerant tree species, such as sugar maple, white ash, or hickory to increase in abundance.
Uncontrolled domestic grazing has diminished the diversity and cover of woodland ground flora species, and has introduced weedy species such as gooseberry, coralberry, poison ivy and Virginia creeper created a more open understory and increased soil compaction and soil erosion.
Loamy Protected Backslope Forests are some of the more productive timber sites in the region. Carefully planned single tree selection or the creation of small group openings can help regenerate more desirable oak species and increase vigor on the residual trees. Clear-cutting does occur and results in dense, even-aged stands of primarily oak. This may be most beneficial for existing stands whose composition has been highly altered by past management practices. However, without some thinning of the dense stands, the ground flora diversity can be shaded out and productivity of the stand may suffer. Oak regeneration is typically problematic. Sugar maple, red elm, hophornbeam, hickory, grape, pawpaw and northern spicebush are often dominant competitors in the understory.
Maintenance of the oak component will require disturbances that will impair the cool, moist, shaded conditions, so trade-offs will have to be made carefully. Prescribed fire can play a beneficial but limited role in the management of this ecological site. The higher productivity of these sites makes it more challenging than on other forest sites in the region. Protected aspect forests did evolve with some fire, but their composition often reflects more closed, forested conditions, with fewer woodland ground flora species that can respond to fire. Consequently, while having protected aspects in a burn unit is acceptable, targeting them solely for woodland restoration is not advisable.
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 11. State and transition diagram 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
SWAPAEHSWAPAEHSWAPAEHStates 1 and 5 (additional transitions)
SWAPAEHSWAPAEHState 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceThe reference state was dominated by white oak and northern red oak. Periodic disturbances from wind or ice maintained the dominance of oaks by opening up the canopy and allowing more light for oak reproduction. In the absence of disturbance, more shade tolerant species such as sugar maple and bitternut hickory, white ash and others increase in importance and add structural diversity to the system. Two community phases are recognized in this state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency.
The reference state is uncommon today. Some sites have been converted to grassland (State 4). Others have been subject to repeated, high-graded timber harvest coupled with domestic livestock grazing (State 5). Lack of disturbances has resulted in increased canopy density, which has affected the abundance and diversity of ground flora. Many reference sites have been managed for timber harvest, resulting in either even-age (State 2) or uneven-age (State 3) forests.Community 1.1
White Oak – Northern Red Oak/Pawpaw/Wildginger – Largeflower BellwortTwo community phases are recognized in this state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency.
Forest overstory.Forest Overstory Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Forest understory. Forest Understory Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Community 1.2
White Oak – Northern Red Oak – Basswood/Pawpaw – Northern Spicebush/Wildginger – Largeflower BellwortTwo community phases are recognized in this state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency.
Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2This pathway is the result of a disturbance-free interval >10 years.
Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1This pathway is the result of a fire disturbance (<10-year) cycle being re-established.
State 2
Even-Age Managed ForestThese forests tend to have an under developed understory and ground flora. Thinning can increase overall tree vigor and improve understory diversity. Continual timber management, depending on the practices used, will either maintain this state, or convert the site to uneven-age (State 3) forests.
Community 2.1
White Oak – Northern Red Oak /Flowering Dogwood/Wild Blue PhloxState 3
Uneven-Age Managed ForestUneven-Age Managed forests can resemble the reference state. The biggest difference is tree age, most being only 50 to 90 years old. Composition is also likely altered from the reference state depending on tree selection during harvest. In addition, without a regular 15 to 20 year harvest re-entry into these stands, they will slowly increase in more shade tolerant species such as sugar maple and white oak will become less dominant.
Community 3.1
Sugar Maple – White Oak – Basswood/ Pawpaw – Flowering Dogwood/ MayappleState 4
GrasslandConversion of forests to planted, non-native pasture species such as tall fescue has been common in this MLRA. Steep slopes, abundant surface fragments, low organic matter contents and soil acidity make non-native pastures challenging to maintain in a healthy, productive state on this ecological site. If grazing and active pasture management is discontinued, the site will eventually transition, over time, to State 2 (Even-Age).
Community 4.1
Tall Fescue - Red CloverCommunity 4.2
Tall fescue - Broomsedge/Oak SproutsPathway P1.1A
Community 4.1 to 4.2This pathway is the result of over grazing and lack of proper grassland management.
Pathway P1.2A
Community 4.2 to 4.1This pathway is the result of brush management, grassland re-seeding and proper grassland management.
State 5
High-Graded/Grazed ForestForested sites subjected to repeated, high-graded timber harvests and uncontrolled domestic grazing transition to this state. This state exhibits an over-abundance of hickory and other less desirable tree species, and weedy understory species such as coralberry, gooseberry, poison ivy and Virginia creeper. The vegetation offers little nutritional value for cattle, and excessive stocking damages tree boles, degrades understory species composition and results in soil compaction and accelerated erosion and runoff. Exclusion of livestock from sites in this state coupled with uneven-age management techniques will cause a transition to State 3 (Uneven-Age).
Community 5.1
Northern Red Oak – Hickory – Slippery Elm/ Hophornbeam/Coralberry/SedgeTransition T1A
State 1 to 2This transition typically results from even-age forest management practices, such as clear-cut, seed tree or shelterwood harvests and fire suppression.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3This transition typically results from uneven-age timber management practices, such as single tree or group selection harvests and fire suppression.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4This transition is the result of clearing and conversion to non-native cool season grassland.
Transition T1D
State 1 to 5This transition is the result of high-grade logging and uncontrolled domestic livestock grazing.
Restoration pathway R1B
State 2 to 1This restoration pathway generally requires uneven-age timber management practices, such as single tree or group selection harvest, with extended rotations that allow mature trees to exceed ages of about 120 years.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3This transition typically results from uneven-age timber management practices, such as single tree or group selection harvest.
Transition T4A
State 2 to 4This transition is the result of clearing and conversion to non-native cool season grassland.
Restoration pathway R1A
State 3 to 1This restoration transition is the result of extended rotations and minimal disturbance.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 2Restoration pathway T5B
State 5 to 3This transition typically results from uneven-age forest management practices, such as clear-cut, seed tree or shelterwood harvest; fire suppression, tree planting and cessation of grazing.
Restoration pathway T5A
State 5 to 4This transition is the result of clearing and conversion to non-native cool season grassland.
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) Treewhite oak QUAL Quercus alba Native – – – 0 post oak QUST Quercus stellata Native – – – 0 sugar maple ACSA3 Acer saccharum Native – – – 0 black oak QUVE Quercus velutina Native – – – 0 pignut hickory CAGL8 Carya glabra Native – – – 0 northern red oak QURU Quercus rubra Native – – – 0 shagbark hickory CAOV2 Carya ovata Native – – – 0 black walnut JUNI Juglans nigra Native – – – 0 white ash FRAM2 Fraxinus americana Native – – – 0 chinquapin oak QUMU Quercus muehlenbergii Native – – – 0 Table 7. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)white bear sedge CAAL11 Carex albursina Native – – James' sedge CAJA2 Carex jamesii Native – – eastern woodland sedge CABL Carex blanda Native – – Hitchcock's sedge CAHI8 Carex hitchcockiana Native – – richwoods sedge CAOL2 Carex oligocarpa Native – – white bear sedge CAAL11 Carex albursina Native – – Virginia wildrye ELVI3 Elymus virginicus Native – – Bosc's panicgrass DIBO2 Dichanthelium boscii Native – – slimleaf panicgrass DILI2 Dichanthelium linearifolium Native – – cypress panicgrass DIDI6 Dichanthelium dichotomum Native – – Forb/Herbbulblet bladderfern CYBU3 Cystopteris bulbifera Native – – eastern greenviolet HYCO6 Hybanthus concolor Native – – Canadian woodnettle LACA3 Laportea canadensis Native – – harbinger of spring ERBU Erigenia bulbosa Native – – whiteflower leafcup POCA11 Polymnia canadensis Native – – roundleaf ragwort PAOB6 Packera obovata Native – – cutleaf toothwort CACO26 Cardamine concatenata Native – – bloodroot SACA13 Sanguinaria canadensis Native – – white fawnlily ERAL9 Erythronium albidum Native – – eastern false rue anemone ENBI Enemion biternatum Native – – blue cohosh CATH2 Caulophyllum thalictroides Native – – largeflower bellwort UVGR Uvularia grandiflora Native – – American ginseng PAQU Panax quinquefolius Native – – toadshade TRSE2 Trillium sessile Native – – bloody butcher TRRE5 Trillium recurvatum Native – – wood wakerobin TRVI4 Trillium viride Native – – showy orchid GASP5 Galearis spectabilis Native – – white baneberry ACPA Actaea pachypoda Native – – Canadian wildginger ASCA Asarum canadense Native – – green dragon ARDR3 Arisaema dracontium Native – – yellow fumewort COFL3 Corydalis flavula Native – – hepatica HENO2 Hepatica nobilis Native – – dwarf larkspur DETR Delphinium tricorne Native – – early meadow-rue THDI Thalictrum dioicum Native – – Wood's bunchflower VEWO3 Veratrum woodii Native – – dutchman's breeches DICU Dicentra cucullaria Native – – eastern waterleaf HYVI Hydrophyllum virginianum Native – – great waterleaf HYAP Hydrophyllum appendiculatum Native – – Greek valerian PORE2 Polemonium reptans Native – – zigzag goldenrod SOFL2 Solidago flexicaulis Native – – Jack in the pulpit ARTR Arisaema triphyllum Native – – smooth Solomon's seal POBI2 Polygonatum biflorum Native – – goldenseal HYCA Hydrastis canadensis Native – – Fern/fern allyChristmas fern POAC4 Polystichum acrostichoides Native – – northern maidenhair ADPE Adiantum pedatum Native – – lowland bladderfern CYPR4 Cystopteris protrusa Native – – glade fern DIPY Diplazium pycnocarpon Native – – broad beechfern PHHE11 Phegopteris hexagonoptera Native – – Shrub/Subshrubfragrant sumac RHAR4 Rhus aromatica Native – – American spikenard ARRA Aralia racemosa Native – – northern spicebush LIBE3 Lindera benzoin Native – – TreeAmerican bladdernut STTR Staphylea trifolia Native – – pawpaw ASTR Asimina triloba Native – – slippery elm ULRU Ulmus rubra Native – – American hornbeam CACA18 Carpinus caroliniana Native – – flowering dogwood COFL2 Cornus florida Native – – 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 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 4.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife (MDC 2006):
Wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and eastern gray squirrel depend on hard and soft mast food sources and are typical upland game species of this type.
Birds associated with this ecological site include Worm-eating warbler, Whip-poor-will, Great Crested Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush (near streams), and Broad-winged Hawk.
Reptile and amphibian species associated with mature forests include: ringed salamander, spotted salamander, marbled salamander, central newt, long-tailed salamander, dark-sided salamander, southern red-backed salamander, three-toed box turtle, western worm snake, western earth snake, and American toad.Other information
Forestry (NRCS 2002, 2014):
Management: Field measured site index values range from 53 to 69 for oak. Timber management opportunities are excellent. 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. Uneven-aged management will slowly cause an increase in more shade tolerant species such as sugar maple. 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. Subsoils may contain low to moderate amounts of gravel. 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 Protected Backslope Forest Plot MERASP04 – Bucklick soil Located in Meramec State Park, Crawford County, MO Latitude: 38.195734 Longitude: -91.11549323 Plot CURICA01 – Gravois soil Located in Current River CA, Reynolds County, MO Latitude: 37.176184 Longitude: -91.039651 Plot CLCRCA01 – Gravois soil Located Clubb Creek CA, Bollinger County, MO Latitude: 37.15077 Longitude: -90.037883 Plot WASHSP02 – Bucklick soil Located Washington State Park, Washington County, MO Latitude: 38.082464 Longitude: -90.706845
Other references
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.
Batek, M.J., A.J. Rebertus, W.A. Schroeder, T.L. Haithcoat, E. Compas, and R.P. Guyette. 1999. Reconstruction of early nineteenth-century vegetation and fire regimes in the Missouri Ozarks. Journal of Biogeography 26:397-412.
Davis, Keith O. 2002. Soil Survey of Osage County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Fletcher, P.W. and R.E. McDermott. 1957. Influence of Geologic Parent Material and Climate on Distribution of Shortleaf Pine in Missouri. University of Missouri, Research Bulletin 625. 43p.
Harlan, J.D., T.A. Nigh and W.A. Schroeder. 2001. The Missouri original General Land Office survey notes project. University of Missouri, Columbia.
Ladd, D. 1991. Reexamination of the role of fire in Missouri oak woodlands. Pp. 67-80 in G.V. Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 257 p.
Missouri Department of Conservation. 2010. Missouri Forest and Woodland Community Profiles. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
NatureServe, 2010. Vegetation Associations of Missouri (revised). NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA U.S. NatureServe, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri. 550p.
Nigh, Timothy A., and Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri. 212p.
Schoolcraft, H.R. 1821. Journal of a tour into the interior of Missouri and Arkansas from Potosi, or Mine a Burton, in Missouri territory, in a southwest direction, toward the Rocky Mountains: performed in the years 1818 and 1819. Richard Phillips and Company, London.
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
Fred Young
Doug WallaceApproval
Nels Barrett, 9/24/2020
Acknowledgments
Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support during this project.
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 08/16/2026 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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