Helena-Sedgefield & Orange
Plant Layer
Dry oak-hickory forest
Xeric hardpan forest
Piedmont Hardpan Forests
Where circumneutral clay soils develop an impermeable hardpan, the Xeric Hardpan Forest may occur. Quite rare and restricted to the Piedmont, Xeric Hardpan Forest communities have a stunted, open tree canopy. This community is found on broad upland flats in environments that are xeric because of restricted rooting depth caused by dense or shrink-swell clay, sometimes in combination with rock. Canopy density is less than in dry forests and depends more on fire and disturbance history.
The canopy is xerophytic, dominated by post oak, with or without blackjack oak, Carolina shagbark hickory or pines. Base-loving flora such as white ash, winged elm, eastern redbud, viburnums, fragrant sumac, coralberry, and curlyheads are usually common.