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Ecological site F116AY053MO
Low-Base Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodland
Last updated: 9/24/2020
Accessed: 05/19/2026
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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.
Click to explore map
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 Sandstone Woodland.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mixed Oak Woodland, or a Pine Oak Woodland in the historic pine range.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Quercus alba - Quercus stellata - Quercus velutina / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002150).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site is widespread across the central portion of the Ozark Highlands Section.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 Low-base Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodlands occupy the southerly and westerly aspects of steep, dissected slopes, and are mapped in complex with the Low-base Sandstone Protected Backslope Woodland ecological site. The Low-base Sandstone ecological sites are associated primarily with the sandstone member of the Ordovician-aged Roubidoux formation. Soils are typically moderately deep over sandstone bedrock, acidic, and low in bases such as calcium, with an abundance of sandstone fragments. The reference plant community is woodland with an overstory dominated by post oak, black oak, scarlet oak, and white oak, with shortleaf pine in the historic shortleaf pine range, and a ground flora of native grasses and forbs.Associated sites
F116AY023MO Low-Base Sandstone Upland Woodland
Low-base Sandstone Upland Woodlands are upslope.
F116AY037MO Gravelly/Loamy Upland Drainageway Forest
Gravelly/Loamy Upland Drainageway Forests are often downslope.
F116AY045MO Low-Base Sandstone Protected Backslope Woodland
Low-base Sandstone Protected Backslope Woodlands are mapped in complex with this ecological site, on steep lower backslopes with northern to eastern exposures.
R116AY027MO Shallow Sandstone Upland Glade/Woodland
Shallow Sandstone Upland Glade/Woodlands are adjacent or downslope.
Similar sites
F116AY045MO Low-Base Sandstone Protected Backslope Woodland
Low-base Sandstone Protected Backslope Woodlands are mapped in complex with this ecological site, on steep lower backslopes with northern to eastern exposures.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus stellata
(2) Quercus velutinaShrub (1) Vaccinium
(2) Rhus aromaticaHerbaceous (1) Danthonia spicata
(2) Schizachyrium scopariumPhysiographic features
This site is on upland backslopes with slopes of 15 to 60 percent. It is on exposed aspects (south, southwest, and west), which receive significantly more solar radiation than the protected aspects. 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 Skaer and Cook, 2005) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships with other ecological sites. It is within the area labeled “4” on the figure, on lower backslopes with southerly to westerly exposures. Low-base Sandstone Protected Backslope Woodland sites are on the corresponding northerly to easterly exposures. Low-base Sandstone Upland Woodland sites are typically upslope, as shown in the figure.
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 – 60 % Water table depth 60 in Aspect W, SE, S, SW 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) 150-180 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 170-200 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 150-180 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 170-210 days Precipitation total (actual range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (average) 160 days Freeze-free period (average) 190 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) DORA 1N [USC00232302], Dora, MO
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(2) FREEDOM [USC00233043], Linn, MO
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(3) ROLLA UNI OF MISSOURI [USC00237263], Rolla, MO
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(4) HARRISON BOONE CO AP [USW00013971], Harrison, AR
">Influencing 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. Evapotranspiration remains the most constant. 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. Water stored as ice and snow decreases drainage and surface runoff rates throughout the winter and increases these fluxes in the spring. The surface runoff pulse is greatly influenced by extreme events. Conversion to cropland or other high intensities land uses tends to increase runoff, but also decreases evapotranspiration. Depending on the situation, this might increase groundwater discharge, and decrease baseflow in receiving streams.
Soil features
These soils are underlain with sandstone bedrock at 20 to over 60 inches deep. They have acidic subsoils that are low in bases. Soils having low concentrations of calcium and containing few calcium bearing minerals along with increased levels of aluminum may also be vulnerable to base depletion by timber harvesting, plant uptake, and leaching. The soils were formed under woodland vegetation, and have thin, light-colored surface horizons. Parent material is slope alluvium and residuum weathered from sandstone, overlying sandstone bedrock. They have sandy loam or loam surface layers, with high amounts of sandstone gravel and cobbles. Subsoils are loamy and are skeletal, with high amounts of sandstone fragments. These soils are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Bender, Coulstone, and Lily.
The accompanying picture of the Bender series shows a thin, light-colored surface horizon over a brown loamy subsoil with abundant sandstone fragments. Sandstone bedrock is at 36 inches in this picture. Scale is in inches. Picture courtesy of John Preston, NRCS.
Figure 9. Bender series
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Slope alluvium – sandstone
(2) Residuum – sandstone
Surface texture (1) Very gravelly fine sandy loam
(2) Extremely cobbly sandy loam
(3) Very cobbly loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to somewhat excessively drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 20 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 5 – 40 % Surface fragment cover >3" 3 – 50 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3.5 – 5.5 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)3.5 – 5.5 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)20 – 50 % 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.
Historically, Low-Base Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodlands were dominated by drought and fire-tolerant trees such as black oak, post oak and shortleaf pine. Species composition and structure of the reference plant community varied for this ecological site based on its relative location to the Ozark Highlands historic native shortleaf pine range. See the map adapted from Fletcher and McDermott (1957). Fragmentary evidence from old records indicates that the original timber stands in the Ozark Highlands contained a large volume of shortleaf pine on small, scattered areas, (green area on map) but a relatively small volume of shortleaf pine on extensive areas (cross-hatching on map). Because of this situation, this ecological site is classified into two community phases. When the ecological site occurs outside of the historic shortleaf pine range, the community phase expressed is a well-developed Oak Woodland dominated by an overstory of black oak and post oak. Within the historic native pine range, the community phase is characterized as Oak-Pine Woodland, with shortleaf pine as a common overstory species. Extreme soil chertiness, low soil bases and complicated landscape complexes are unifying soil features of these rather divergent community phases. Woodlands are distinguished from forests by their relatively open understory and the presence of sun-loving ground flora species.
Fire played an important role in the maintenance of these community phases. Their association with high, flat landscape positions likely supported a high fire frequency of every 3 to 5 years on the edge of the central plateau to over 10 years on ridges in the river breaks. These periodic fires would have kept woodlands open, removed the litter, and stimulated the growth and flowering of the native grasses and forbs. During fire free intervals, woody species would have increased and the herbaceous understory diminished. But historically, the return of fire would have opened the woodlands up again and stimulated an increase in the ground flora. Grazing by large native herbivores also influenced the understory, such as bison, elk, and white-tailed deer keeping it more open and structurally diverse. The droughty landscape position of Low-Base Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodlands limited the growth of trees and supported an abundance of native grasses and forbs in the understory. These woodlands ranged from open park-like woodlands on the highest, most exposed landscape positions to more closed woodlands in more dissected topography.
The Oak Woodland phase of Low-Base Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodland is a woodland with a moderately developed canopy (55 to 70 feet tall and 60 to 80 percent canopy closure) dominated by post oak along with black oak, scarlet oak, and white oak. Increased light from the more open canopy causes a diversity of ground flora species to flourish. Within the historical native pine range this ecological site contained drought and fire-tolerant shortleaf pine, with occasional to frequent black oak and post oak. These oak-pine woodlands ranged from open park-like woodlands to more closed woodlands. Canopy closure likely varied from 40 to 80 percent and tree height from 70 to 100 feet. Native prairie grasses dominated the open understory, along with a diverse mix of native legume, aster, sunflower and other forbs. Most of this oak-pine community was cleared by extensive logging around 1890 to 1920. Consequently, persistent sprouting of oak species, especially black and scarlet oak, replaced the shortleaf pine.
Today, dense, even age stands of oak have replaced much of this community. Most occurrences today exhibit canopy closure of 80 to 100 percent with a greatly diminished ground flora. In the long term absence of fire, woody species, especially scarlet oak, hickory, and black oak have increased in these woodlands. Once established, these woody plants can quickly fill the woodland system.
Uncontrolled domestic grazing is also impacting these communities, further diminishing the diversity of native plants and introducing invasive species that are tolerant of grazing, such as corlaberry, gooseberry, Virginia creeper. Grazed sites also have a more open understory. In addition, soil compaction and soil loss from grazing can lower site productivity.
These ecological sites are marginally productive. Some areas have been cleared for non-native pasture, but many areas have been repeatedly logged and high graded. Maintenance of the oak component will require disturbances that encourage more sun adapted species and reduce shading effects. 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. Removal of the younger understory and the application of prescribed fire have proven to be effective management applications. Despite the widespread removal of shortleaf pine from this ecological type, there are many areas with some pine present on this ecological site. Where present, selective cutting and prescribed fire can help recruit shortleaf pine, restore the more open structure, and increase the diversity of ground flora species.
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 10. Range map with cross-hatching showing the historic distribution of shortleaf pine in the Midwest. Green shading show areas where shortleaf pine was a dominate overstory species.
Figure 11. State and Transition Model 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, 5, 6 and 8 (additional transitions)
SWAPAEHSWAPAEHStates 2, 7, 6 and 9 (additional transitions)
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 6 submodel, plant communities
State 7 submodel, plant communities
State 8 submodel, plant communities
State 9 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceThe reference state for this ecological site was old growth oak or oak-pine woodland. The reference state was dominated by black oak, post oak and scarlet oak or with shortleaf pine as a common overstory component within the Ozark historic pine range. 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 geographic location. The reference state for this ecological site can fluctuate between phases 1. Within the native pine range phase 1.2 was dominant.Community 1.1
Post Oak – Black Oak/Blueberry – Fragrant Sumac/Poverty Oatgrass – Little BluestemPeriodic disturbances from fire, wind or ice maintained the woodland structure and diverse ground flora species.
Forest overstory.The 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. The 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
Black Oak – Shortleaf Pine/ Blueberry – Fragrant Sumac/ Little Bluestem
Figure 12. Exposed standstone backlsope reference state, phase 1.2 at Montauk State Park, Dent County, Missouri; photo credit - Dennis Meinert, MDNR
Two community phases are recognized in the reference state, with shifts between phases based on geographic location. Within the native shortleaf pine range phase 1.2 was dominant.
Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2Within native pine range
State 2
Even-Age Managed Oak WoodlandWhere all of the shortleaf pine was removed, this system became dominated by oaks. This state starts with a sequence of early seral mixed oak woodlands, which mature over time. 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. Prescribed fire without extensive timber harvest will, over time, cause a transition to Fire Managed Oak Woodland (State 4).
Community 2.1
Black Oak – Post Oak / Hickory/Poverty OatgrassState 3
Uneven-Age Managed Oak WoodlandWhere shortleaf pine was removed from the system, but uneven-age management was applied, this system became dominated by oaks. Composition is likely altered from the reference state depending on tree selection during harvest. Scarlet oak is often more abundant than historically. In addition, without a regular 15 to 20 year harvest re-entry into these stands, they will slowly increase in more shade tolerant species and oak species will become less dominant. Without periodic disturbance, stem density and fire intolerant species, like hickory, increase in abundance.
Community 3.1
Black Oak – Scarlet Oak /Hickory/Poverty OatgrassState 4
Fire Managed Oak WoodlandWhere pine was removed from the system, the Fire Managed Oak Woodland State will result from managing woodland communities from States 2 or 3 with prescribed fire. This state can resemble phase 1.1 of the reference state, but with younger maximum tree ages and lower ground flora diversity.
Community 4.1
Black Oak – Post Oak/BlueberryState 5
Fire Managed Oak-Pine WoodlandWhere some shortleaf pine remained after initial harvest, this state may occur. The Fire Managed Oak-Pine Woodland state results from managing State 6 with selective thinning and prescribed fire. A more open structure with abundant ground flora can be restored. It will take time to recover older maximum tree ages and ground flora diversity and cover to resemble the reference state (phase 1.2).
Community 5.1
Oak-Shortleaf Pine/Little BluestemState 6
Managed Oak-Pine WoodlandWhere some shortleaf pine remained after initial harvest, the Managed Oak-Pine Woodland State may occur. While shortleaf pine lets more light to the ground than oak, these even-aged woodlands tend to be rather dense, with a depauperate understory and ground flora due to an increase in oak and hickory density. 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. A return to the phase 1.2 of the reference state will require prescribed fire along with no harvest or long rotations to restore uneven-age structure and pine densities and increase maximum tree age.
Community 6.1
Oak – Shortleaf Pine/Hickory/ Blueberry/ SunflowerState 7
GrasslandConversion of woodlands to non-native cool season grassland species such as tall fescue has been common. Low available water, abundant surface fragments, low organic matter contents and soil acidity make non-native grasslands difficult to maintain in a healthy, productive state on this ecological site. Occasionally, these pastures will have scattered patches of tall, mature shortleaf pine. If grazing and pasture management is discontinued, oak sprouts will occur and the site will eventually transition to State 2. Forest stand improvement and tree planting practices can hasten this process.
Community 7.1
Tall Fescue-BroomsedgeState 8
High-Graded/Grazed WoodlandEcological sites subjected to repeated, high-grading 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. This state can be transitioned to a grassland state through clearing and grassland planting or to a shortleaf pine plantation through clearing, tree planting and fire control.
Community 8.1
Hickory – Oak/CoralberryState 9
Pine PlantationMany areas were planted to plantations of shortleaf pine from the 1940s to the early 1960s. They are now mature plantations that are usually a mono-culture of a dense shortleaf pine overstory with a brush understory of oak and hickory and a dense carpet of pine needles on the ground. They lack the diversity and structure. Restoration to phase 1.2 of the reference state is a long-term prospect, requiring extensive thinning, long-term prescribed fire, and perhaps planting of native ground flora species.
Community 9.1
Shortleaf PineTransition T1A
State 1 to 2Pines absent; fire suppression; even-age management
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Pines absent; fire suppression; uneven-age management
Transition T1C
State 1 to 5Within native pine range - prescribed fire; managed harvests
Transition T1D
State 1 to 6Within native pine range; fire suppression; managed harvests
Transition T1F
State 1 to 8Poorly planned harvest (high grading); uncontrolled grazing; fire suppression
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4Thinning; prescribed fire; managed harvests
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1Restoration to community phase 1.1A. Prescribed fire; uneven-age management; extended rotations
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4Thinning; prescribed fire; managed harvests
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 1Forest stand improvement; extended rotations; prescribed fire
Transition T4A
State 4 to 2Fire suppression; managed harvests
Restoration pathway T4B
State 4 to 3Pines absent; fire suppression; uneven-age management
Restoration pathway R5A
State 5 to 1Within shortleaf pine range - Prescribed fire; uneven-age management; extended rotations
Transition T5A
State 5 to 6Retain shortleaf pine; uneven-age management; extended rotations
Restoration pathway R6A
State 6 to 1Restoration activities to community phase 1.2A: Prescribed fire; uneven-age management; extended rotations; retain shortleaf pine
Restoration pathway T6A
State 6 to 5Prescribed fire; uneven-age management; extended rotations; retain shortleaf pine
Transition T6B
State 6 to 9Clearing and conversion to shortleaf pine plantation
Restoration pathway T7A
State 7 to 2Tree planting; long-term succession (+50-60 years)
Transition T8A
State 8 to 7Clearing ; pasture planting; prescribed grazing
Transition T8C
State 8 to 9Clearing and conversion to shortleaf pine plantation
Restoration pathway T9A
State 9 to 6Thinning; allow oak sprouting; fire suppression
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) Treeshortleaf pine PIEC2 Pinus echinata Native – – – 0 mockernut hickory CATO6 Carya tomentosa Native – – – 0 post oak QUST Quercus stellata Native – – – 0 blackjack oak QUMA3 Quercus marilandica Native – – – 0 black oak QUVE Quercus velutina Native – – – 0 black hickory CATE9 Carya texana Native – – – 0 red maple ACRU Acer rubrum Native – – – 0 white oak QUAL Quercus alba Native – – – 0 scarlet oak QUCO2 Quercus coccinea Native – – – 0 shagbark hickory CAOV2 Carya ovata Native – – – 0 Table 7. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)Muhlenberg's sedge CAMU4 Carex muehlenbergii Native – – eastern star sedge CARA8 Carex radiata Native – – Virginia wildrye ELVI3 Elymus virginicus Native – – hairy woodland brome BRPU6 Bromus pubescens Native – – Indiangrass SONU2 Sorghastrum nutans Native – – variable panicgrass DICO2 Dichanthelium commutatum Native – – black edge sedge CANI3 Carex nigromarginata Native – – big bluestem ANGE Andropogon gerardii Native – – Muhlenberg's sedge CAMU4 Carex muehlenbergii Native – – poverty oatgrass DASP2 Danthonia spicata Native – – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium Native – – fuzzy wuzzy sedge CAHI6 Carex hirsutella Native – – Forb/Herbprostrate ticktrefoil DERO3 Desmodium rotundifolium Native – – eastern beebalm MOBR2 Monarda bradburiana Native – – hairy goldenrod SOHI Solidago hispida Native – – manyray aster SYAN2 Symphyotrichum anomalum Native – – birdfoot violet VIPE Viola pedata Native – – common dittany CUOR Cunila origanoides Native – – nakedflower ticktrefoil DENU4 Desmodium nudiflorum Native – – prostrate ticktrefoil DERO3 Desmodium rotundifolium Native – – smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil DEMA2 Desmodium marilandicum Native – – western rough goldenrod SORA Solidago radula Native – – Virginia tephrosia TEVI Tephrosia virginiana Native – – pointedleaf ticktrefoil DEGL5 Desmodium glutinosum Native – – hairy lespedeza LEHI2 Lespedeza hirta Native – – late purple aster SYPA11 Symphyotrichum patens Native – – arrowleaf violet VISA2 Viola sagittata Native – – American hogpeanut AMBR2 Amphicarpaea bracteata Native – – stiff tickseed COPA10 Coreopsis palmata Native – – trailing lespedeza LEPR Lespedeza procumbens Native – – slender lespedeza LEVI7 Lespedeza virginica Native – – Virginia spiderwort TRVI Tradescantia virginiana Native – – eastern purple coneflower ECPU Echinacea purpurea Native – – hairy sunflower HEHI2 Helianthus hirsutus Native – – sidebeak pencilflower STBI2 Stylosanthes biflora Native – – Shrub/SubshrubAmerican hazelnut COAM3 Corylus americana Native – – Blue Ridge blueberry VAPA4 Vaccinium pallidum Native – – deerberry VAST Vaccinium stamineum Native – – St. Andrew's cross HYHY Hypericum hypericoides Native – – fragrant sumac RHAR4 Rhus aromatica Native – – leadplant AMCA6 Amorpha canescens Native – – Treefarkleberry VAAR Vaccinium arboreum Native – – common serviceberry AMAR3 Amelanchier arborea Native – – sassafras SAAL5 Sassafras albidum Native – – rusty blackhaw VIRU Viburnum rufidulum 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 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 6.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 7.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 15. Community 8.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 16. Community 9.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife (MDC 2006):
Oaks provide abundant hard mast; scattered shrubs provide soft mast; native legumes provide high-quality wildlife food;
Sedges and native cool-season grasses provide green browse; native warm-season grasses provide cover and nesting habitat; and a diversity of forbs provides a diversity and abundance of insects.
Bird species associated with Oak Woodland ecological sites are Indigo Bunting, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Bobwhite, Summer Tanager, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Whip-poor-will, Chuck-will’s widow, Red-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Broad-winged Hawk.
Bird species associated with Oak-Pine Woodlands are Carolina Chickadee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Pine Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, Cooper’s Hawk, Yellow-throated Warbler, Summer Tanager, Black-and-white Warbler, and Northern Bobwhite.
Reptile and amphibian species associated with Oak and Oak-Pine Woodlands include ornate box turtle, northern fence lizard, five-lined skink, broad-headed skink, six-lined racerunner, flat-headed snake, rough earth snake, and timber rattlesnake.Other information
Forestry (NRCS 2002, 2014):
Management: Field measured site index values average 55 for oak and 53 for shortleaf pine. Timber management opportunities are fair to good. Sandy and gravelly textures and lower available water affects tree growth and increases windthrow hazards. Harvest methods that leave some mature trees to provide shade and soil protection may be desirable. Restrict cuttings to group selection cuttings of 2 to 5 acres or single tree selections. These sites respond well to prescribed fire as a management tool.
Limitations: Sand, gravels; lower available water capacity. Surface layers with high amounts of sandstone gravel and cobbles; Moderate seedling mortality may occur because of lack of adequate soil moisture. Harvest methods that leave some mature trees to provide shade and soil protection may be desirable. 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: Low-Base Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodland Plot CASPFS03 - Bender soil Located in Carman Springs NA, MTNF, USFS, Howell County, MO Latitude: 36.9259 Longitude: -92.071825 Plot BISPNP03 – Coulstone soil Located in Big Spring Pines NA, Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Carter County, MO Latitude: 36.940841 Longitude: -91.000288 Plot ECKCA_KS02 - Bender soil Located in Eck Natural Area, Texas County, MO Latitude: 37.585995 Longitude: -92.030204 Plot GRCASP_KS11 - Bender soil Located in Graham Cave State Park, Montgomery County, MO Latitude: 38.90759 Longitude: -91.581704 Plot MONTSP_KS09 - Bender soil Located in Montauk State Park, Den County, MO Latitude: 37.46141 Longitude: -91.677633
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.
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.
Little, E.L., Jr. 1971. Atlas of United States Trees, Volume 1, Conifers and Important Hardwoods: U.S. Department of Agriculture Miscellaneous Publication 1146, 9 p., 200 maps
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. International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications. Rapid Assessment Reference Condition Model, R5BSOW Interior Highlands Dry Oak/Bluestem Woodland/Glade. NatrueServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA U.S.
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.
Skaer, David M., and Michael A. Cook. 2005. Soil Survey of Washington County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
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 in the development of this ecological site.
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 05/19/2026 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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