Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F115XB022MO
Loess High Terrace Forest
Accessed: 11/13/2024
General information
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.
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): 115X–Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes
The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part (area outlined in red on the map) consists mainly of the deeply dissected, loess-covered hills bordering the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers as well as the floodplains and terraces of these rivers. It wraps around the northeast corner of the Ozark Uplift, and constitutes the southern border of the Pre-Illinoisan-aged till plain. Elevation ranges from about 320 feet along the Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau in the south to about 1,020 feet on the highest ridges near Hillsboro, MO in the east. Local relief varies from 10 to 20 feet in the major river floodplains, to 50 to 100 feet in the dissected uplands, with bluffs of 200 to 350 feet along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Underlying bedrock is mainly Ordovician-aged dolomite and sandstone, with Mississippian-aged limestone north of the Missouri River.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mesic Bottomland Forest.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Mixed Hardwood Mesic Bottomland Forest.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum - Carya cordiformis / Lindera benzoin Forest (CEGL002058).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs primarily in Land Type Associations of the following Subsections:
Inner Ozark Border
Outer Ozark Border
Mississippi River Hills
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”.
Loess High Terrace Forests (green areas on the map) are scattered throughout the Missouri River watershed portion of the MLRA, and in adjacent areas to the north. Soils are very deep, with no rooting restrictions. The reference plant community is forest dominated by a variety of trees including white oak, sugar maple, northern red oak, bitternut hickory, bur oak, American elm, walnut and Kentucky coffee tree, with a well-developed understory and a rich herbaceous ground flora.
Associated sites
F115XB004MO |
Loess Upland Woodland Loess Upland Woodlands are on summit positions above these ecological sites. |
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F115XB014MO |
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest are upslope on northerly and easterly aspects. |
F115XB031MO |
Loamy Floodplain Forest Loamy Floodplain Forests are below in the floodplain. |
F115XB046MO |
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodland Chert Limestone/Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodland are upslope on westerly and southerly aspects. |
Similar sites
F115XB024MO |
Loamy Terrace Forest Loamy Terrace Forests are on lower terrace areas that do experience some periodic flooding. Overstory species composition is similar. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Quercus alba |
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Shrub |
(1) Lindera benzoin |
Herbaceous |
(1) Polemonium reptans |
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