2 minute read

Dry Oak-Hickory forest

Sites

Ridge tops, upper slopes, steep south-facing slopes, and other relatively dry upland areas on acidic soils. Occasionally on upland flats with somewhat restricted rooting depth.

Soils

A variety of upland soils. Series include Appling, Cecil, Creedmoor, Georgeville, Goldston, Herndon, Lignum, Tarrus, Vance, and Wedowee.

Hydrology

Terrestrial, dry.

Vegetation

Canopy

Forest dominated by dry site oaks, primarily Quercus alba (White Oak), Q. stellata (Post Oak) or Q. falcata (Southern Red Oak), along with various other oak and hickory species such as Quercus velutina (Black Oak), Q. montana (Rock Chestnut Oak), Q. coccinea (Scarlet Oak), Q. marilandica (Blackjack Oak), Carya tomentosa (Mockernut Hickory) and C. glabra (Pignut Hickory).

Understory

Typical understory species include Acer rubrum (Eastern Red Maple), Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum), Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood), Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood) and Vaccinium arboreum (Farkleberry). Shrubs range from sparse to dense, with Vaccinium pallidum (Hillside Blueberry), V. stamineum (Common Deerberry) and other ericaceous shrubs most common. Vitis rotundifolia (Muscadine) and Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia-creeper) are often present.

Herb Layer

Herbs are generally sparse, with Chimaphila maculata (Pipsissewa), Hieracium venosum (Veiny Hawkweed), Danthonia spicata (Poverty Oat-grass), Piptochaetium avenaceum (Eastern Needlegrass), Coreopsis major (Woodland Coreopsis) and Hexastylis arifolia (Little Brown Jug) typical.

Dynamics

Disturbed areas have increased amounts of pines and weedy hardwoods such as Acer rubrum (Eastern Red Maple) and Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum). Areas that were cultivated are generally dominated by even-aged pine stands. Logged areas may have a mixture of hardwoods and pines. Under natural conditions these forests are uneven-aged, with old trees present. Reproduction occurs primarily in canopy gaps. The natural fire regime of the Piedmont is not known, but fires certainly occurred periodically. Most of the component trees are able to tolerate light surface fires with little effect. Regular fire may have created a more open forest, with gaps persisting longer than at present and perhaps forming more frequently.

Associations

Usually associated with Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest, sometimes with Monadnock Forest, Acidic Cliff, Heath Bluff, Xeric Hardpan Forest, Upland Depression Swamp, or other upland communities.

Comments

Dry Oak-Hickory Forests were once one of the predominant community types in the Piedmont. Most of this area is now in agriculture, urban development, or is occupied by successional pine stands after past agriculture. What was not cleared was subject to long-term selective cutting and to livestock foraging. This type is still relatively common compared to most natural community types, but examples of significant size and good quality are extremely rare.