254 THE STUDY OF PLANT COMMUNITIES * Chapter X 



The dominants of oak-hickory forest are not the same through- 

 out its extensive range, but several species occur consistently. 

 Quercus alba, Q. bore alls maxima, Q. velutina, Q. stellata, Q. 

 marilandica, Carya cordijormis, C. ovata, C. alba, and C. laciniosa 

 are species that may be found in the climax anywhere. Other oaks 

 and hickories with more restricted ranges may be in association 



FlG. 126. Slash pine savannah after protection from fire for only a few 

 years. With continued protection, the pine will soon form a closed stand 

 with shrubs and hardwoods forming an understory— U. S. Forest Service. 



and produce local variations. Shingle oak (Q. imbricaria), not so 

 important in the east, should be added for the western forest from 

 Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma 37 northward. 4 Bur oak (Q. ma- 

 crocarpa) is the characteristic tree of the sometimes extensive sa- 

 vannah-like transition from forest to grassland, as well as along 

 the rivers in the prairie, from Texas to Minnesota. Constant sub- 

 ordinate species are sourwood (Oxydendrum arbor eum), dog- 

 wood (Cornus florida), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and sweet 

 gum (Liquidambar styraciflua). 



Because of the amount of abandoned land throughout the east- 

 ern and southern range of the association, old field succession is 



