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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F115XB046MO
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodland
Accessed: 08/17/2024
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 Dry Chert Woodland.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Post Oak Woodland.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica - Quercus velutina - Carya texana / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002149).
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
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”.
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodlands are within the green areas on the map. They occupy the southerly and westerly aspects of steep, dissected slopes, and are mapped in complex with the Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest ecological site. These sites are in scattered upland locations in the Missouri River watershed. Soils are typically moderately deep over limestone/dolomite bedrock, with gravelly surfaces. The reference plant community is woodland with an overstory dominated by post oak, with minor amounts of blackjack oak and black oak, and a ground flora of native grasses and forbs with scattered shrubs.
Associated sites
F115XB005MO |
Loamy Upland Woodland Loamy Upland Woodlands are typically upslope on hillslope summits, crests and shoulders. |
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F115XB014MO |
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Woodlands are mapped in complex with this ecological site on north and east aspects. |
R115XB009MO |
Shallow Limestone/Dolomite Upland Glade/Woodland Shallow Limestone/Dolomite Upland Glade sites are commonly associated with this site. |
Similar sites
F115XB014MO |
Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest Chert Limestone/Dolomite Protected Backslope Woodlands are mapped in complex with this ecological site on north and east aspects. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Quercus stellata |
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Shrub |
(1) Rhus aromatica |
Herbaceous |
(1) Schizachyrium scoparium |
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