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Ecological site R115XB052MO

Shallow Sandstone Backslope Glade/Woodland

Last updated: 12/30/2024
Accessed: 12/31/2024

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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.

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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

This MLRA is characterized by deeply dissected, loess-covered hills bordering well defined valleys of the Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Wabash Rivers and their tributaries. It is used to produce cash crops and livestock. About one-third of the area is forested, mostly on the steeper slopes. This area is in Illinois (50 percent), Missouri (36 percent), Indiana (13 percent), and Iowa (1 percent) in two separate areas. It makes up about 25,084 square miles (64,967 square kilometers).

Most of this area is in the Till Plains section and the Dissected Till Plains section of the Central Lowland province of the Interior Plains. The Springfield-Salem plateaus section of the Ozarks Plateaus province of the Interior Highlands occurs along the Missouri River and the Mississippi River south of the confluence with the Missouri River. The nearly level to very steep uplands are dissected by both large and small tributaries of the Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Wabash Rivers. The Ohio River flows along the southernmost boundary of this area in Indiana. Well defined valleys with broad flood plains and numerous stream terraces are along the major streams and rivers. The flood plains along the smaller streams are narrow. Broad summits are nearly level to undulating. Karst topography is common in some parts along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries. Well-developed karst areas have hundreds of sinkholes, caves, springs, and losing streams. In the St. Louis area, many of the karst features have been obliterated by urban development.

Elevation ranges from 90 feet (20 meters) on the southernmost flood plains to 1,030 feet (320 meters) on the highest ridges. Local relief is mainly 10 to 50 feet (3 to 15 meters) but can be 50 to 150 feet (15 to 45 meters) in the steep, deeply dissected hills bordering rivers and streams. The bluffs along the major rivers are generally 200 to 350 feet (60 to 105 meters) above the valley floor.

The uplands in this MLRA are covered almost entirely with Peoria Loess. The loess can be more than 7 feet (2 meters) thick on stable summits. On the steeper slopes, it is thin or does not occur. In Illinois, the loess is underlain mostly by Illinoian-age till that commonly contains a paleosol. Pre-Illinoian-age till is in parts of this MLRA in Iowa and Missouri and to a minor extent in the western part of Illinois. Wisconsin-age outwash, alluvial deposits, and sandy eolian material are on some of the stream terraces and on dunes along the major tributaries. The loess and glacial deposits are underlain by several bedrock systems. Pennsylvanian and Mississippian bedrock are the most extensive. To a lesser extent are Silurian, Devonian, Cretaceous, and Ordovician bedrock. Karst areas have formed where limestone is near the surface, mostly in the southern part of the MLRA along the Mississippi River and some of its major tributaries. Bedrock outcrops are common on the bluffs along the Mississippi, Ohio, and Wabash Rivers and their major tributaries and at the base of some steep slopes along minor streams and drainageways.

The annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 49 inches (880 to 1,250 millimeters) with a mean of 41 inches (1,050 millimeters). The annual temperature ranges from 48 to 58 degrees F (8.6 to 14.3 degrees C) with a mean of 54 degrees F (12.3 degrees C). The freeze-free period ranges from 150 to 220 days with a mean of 195 days.

Soils The dominant soil orders are Alfisols and, to a lesser extent, Entisols and Mollisols. The soils in the area have a mesic soil temperature regime, an aquic or udic soil moisture regime, and mixed or smectitic mineralogy. They are shallow to very deep, excessively drained to poorly drained, and loamy, silty, or clayey.

The soils on uplands in this area support natural hardwoods. Oak, hickory, and sugar maple are the dominant species. Big bluestem, little bluestem, and scattered oak and eastern redcedar grow on some sites. The soils on flood plains support mixed forest vegetation, mainly American elm, eastern cottonwood, river birch, green ash, silver maple, sweetgum, American sycamore, pin oak, pecan, and willow. Sedge and grass meadows and scattered trees are on some low-lying sites. (United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2022)

LRU notes

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part consists of deeply dissected, loess-covered hills bordering the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers as well as floodplains and terraces of these rivers. The Northern boundary runs along the South Fabius River valley separating it from the broad rounded interfluves of the northern till plain. A major physiographic feature within the LRU (Land Resource Unit) includes the Lincoln Hills region. The Lincoln Hills extend along the Mississippi River in Missouri, starting about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of St. Louis and extending north to Hannibal. The Lincoln Hills partially escaped the most recent glaciation in the region during the Pleistocene. In geology and biology, they resemble the rugged and forested hills of the Ozark Highlands (MLRA 116A) more than the rolling plains of northern Missouri. The underlying limestone bedrock has formed bluffs, glades, caves, springs, and sinkholes. Elevation ranges from about 420 feet (128 meters) along the Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau, Missouri to about 830 feet (253 meters) near Clarksville along the Mississippi River upstream from St. Louis. High ridges near Hillsboro, Missouri can reach over 1,000 feet (305 meters). Underlying bedrock is mainly Ordovician-aged dolomite and sandstone, with Mississippian-aged limestone north of the Missouri River. Loess caps both stream and glacial outwash terraces along the major rivers along with Pre-Illinoisan till near the edges of the area.

Classification relationships

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) (USDA-NRCS, 2022):
115X–Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes

Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Sandstone Glade.

National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Schizachrium scoparium-Aristida dichotoma-Croton willdenowii/Lichens Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL002242).

Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs primarily in the Inner Ozark Border Subsection, in the following Land Type Associations:
Hermann Oak Woodland/Forest Rugged Hills
Osage-Gasconade River Oak Woodland/Forest Hills

Ecological site concept

Shallow Sandstone Backslope Glade/Woodlands are not extensive in the uplands. Soils are very shallow to sandstone bedrock. The reference plant community ranges from open areas of grasses and forbs interspersed with bare bedrock, to areas with shrubs and widely scattered blackjack oak.

Associated sites

F115XB017MO	Sandstone Protected Backslope Forest Sandstone Protected Backslope Forests are closely associated with this site on northerly and easterly aspects.
F115XB051MO	Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodland Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodlands are closely associated with this site on southerly and westerly aspects.

F115XB017MO

Sandstone Protected Backslope Forest

Sandstone Protected Backslope Forests are closely associated with this site on northerly and easterly aspects.

F115XB051MO

Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodland

Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodlands are closely associated with this site on southerly and westerly aspects.

Similar sites

R115XB009MO	Shallow Limestone/Dolomite Upland Glade/Woodland Shallow Limestone/Dolomite Upland Glade/Woodlands are similar in structure but associated with limestone/dolomite bedrock.

R115XB009MO

Shallow Limestone/Dolomite Upland Glade/Woodland

Shallow Limestone/Dolomite Upland Glade/Woodlands are similar in structure but associated with limestone/dolomite bedrock.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Quercus marilandica
Shrub	(1) Rhus copallina
Herbaceous	(1) Schizachyrium scoparium (2) Crotonopsis elliptica

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Physiographic features

This site is on upland backslopes with slopes of 9 to 65 percent. The site receives runoff from upslope summit and shoulder sites, and generates runoff to adjacent, downslope ecological sites. This site does not flood.

The following figure (adapted from Brown & Childress, 1985) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships among the major ecological sites in uplands that are underlain by sandstone. The site is within the area labeled “4”, on steep lower backslopes. Sandstone Backslope Woodland sites (labeled “3” on the figure) are closely associated with this site, and Sandstone Upland Woodland sites are often upslope (labeled “2”). These Shallow Sandstone glade ecological sites may also occur as narrow bands or ledges within the other sandstone sites, or at the interface with limestone ecological sites. The Fragipan Upland Woodland sites shown in this figure (labeled “1”) can be found on summit positions along the Ozark border in the southern part of MLRA 115X. In other areas, these positions are occupied by Loamy Upland Woodland ecological sites.

Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Hill (2) Hillslope
Runoff class	Medium to very high
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	525 – 1,020 ft
Slope	15 – 50%
Water table depth	60 in
Aspect	W, SE, S, SW

Table 3. Representative physiographic features (actual ranges)

Runoff class	Not specified
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	Not specified
Slope	9 – 65%
Water table depth	60 in

Climatic features

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part has a continental type of climate marked by strong seasonality. In winter, dry-cold air masses, unchallenged by any topographic barriers, periodically swing south from the northern plains and Canada. If they invade reasonably humid air, snowfall and rainfall result. In summer, moist, warm air masses, equally unchallenged by topographic barriers, swing north from the Gulf of Mexico and can produce abundant amounts of rain, either by fronts or by convectional processes. In some summers, high pressure stagnates over the region, creating extended droughty periods. Spring and fall are transitional seasons when abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation may occur due to successive, fast-moving fronts separating contrasting air masses.

The Central Mississippi Valley Wooded Slopes, Western Part experiences regional differences in climates, but these differences do not have obvious geographic boundaries. Regional climates grade inconspicuously into each other. The basic gradient for most climatic characteristics is along a line diagonally crossing the MLRA from northwest to southeast. Both mean annual temperature and precipitation exhibit gradients along this line.

The average annual precipitation in most of this area is 38 to 48 inches. The average annual temperature is 53 to 57 degrees F. Mean January minimum temperature follows the northwest-to-southeast gradient. However, mean July maximum temperature shows hardly any geographic variation in the MLRA. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only two or three degrees across the area.

Mean annual precipitation varies along the same gradient as temperature. Seasonal climatic variations are more complex. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages three to four times greater than January precipitation. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in summer. Snowfall is common in winter.

During years when precipitation comes in a fairly normal manner, moisture is stored in the top layers of the soil during the winter and early spring, when evaporation and transpiration are low. During the summer months the loss of water by evaporation and transpiration is high, and if rainfall fails to occur at frequent intervals, drought will result. Drought directly affects plant and animal life by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates.

Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. In regions of appreciable relief, for example, air drainage at nighttime may produce temperatures several degrees lower in valley bottoms than on side slopes. At critical times during the year, this phenomenon may produce later spring or earlier fall freezes in valley bottoms. Higher daytime temperatures of bare rock surfaces and higher reflectivity of these unvegetated surfaces may create distinctive environmental niches such as glades and cliffs. Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes. Finally, the climate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open grassland or savanna areas.

Source: University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; accessed June 2012

Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 296 - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/

Table 4. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	140-144 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	173-178 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	42-45 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	139-145 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	171-180 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	41-46 in
Frost-free period (average)	142 days
Freeze-free period (average)	176 days
Precipitation total (average)	43 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 8. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) ROSEBUD [USC00237300], Gerald, MO
(2) ELSBERRY 1 S [USC00232591], Elsberry, MO

Influencing water features

High temperatures, intense solar radiation, and dry conditions prevail throughout much of the growing season, although soils may be saturated in spring, winter and late fall. Frost upheaval frequently disrupts these shallow soils during the dormant season. While evapotranspiration remains the most constant water feature, evapotranspiration rates typically peak in the summer and become dormant. The surface runoff pulse is greatly influenced by extreme events.

Soil features

These soils are underlain by sandstone bedrock at less than 20 inches. The soils were formed under a mixture of grasses, forbs, and woodlands. Organic matter content is generally low. Parent material is sandstone residuum. They have fine sandy loam or loam surface layers, with loamy subsoils. Low to moderate amounts of sandstone fragments are in some soils. They are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Ramsey.

Table 5. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Residuum – sandstone
Surface texture	(1) Fine sandy loam (2) Loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Somewhat excessively drained
Permeability class	Very slow
Depth to restrictive layer	7 – 20 in
Soil depth	7 – 20 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	0 – 3%
Surface fragment cover >3"	0 – 6%
Available water capacity (0-40in)	2 – 3 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	0%
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	0 – 2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	0
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	4.5 – 6
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	0 – 3%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	0 – 3%

Ecological dynamics

Information contained in this section was developed using historical data, professional experience, field reviews, and scientific studies. The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants, animals and ecological processes are described to help inform land management decisions. Plant communities will differ across the MLRA because of the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The Reference Plant Community is not necessarily the management goal. The species lists are representative and are not botanical descriptions of all species occurring, or potentially occurring, on this site. They are not intended to cover every situation or the full range of conditions, species, and responses for the site.

Glades are open, rocky areas with very shallow soils dominated by drought-adapted herbaceous flora, generally occurring on south-and west-facing slopes of otherwise wooded sites. The shallow soils of this ecological site limit the growth and abundance of trees and support the native grasses and forbs that dominate these systems. The following conditions are general characteristic of most sandstone glades (Nelson and Ladd 1983; Nelson et al. 2013):
• Sandstone bedrock at or near the surface because of major erosional activity and resistance to weathering;
• Moderate to steep slopes in deeply dissected drainages or hilly to mountainous terrain with a southern or western exposure with intense solar radiation;
• Exceptionally dry conditions throughout much of the growing season, although soils may be seasonally saturated in spring, winter, and fall;
• Peripheral areas and sometimes large expanses of the glades themselves characterized by a mosaic of stunted, often gnarled trees and shrubs.

Shallow Sandstone Backslope Glade/Woodlands harbor a wide diversity of lichens, plants and animals. The dominant grasses include little bluestem, broomsedge and Indiangrass. The glade/woodland complexes range from wide open grassy areas with very shallow soils and bare bedrock, to areas with widely scattered blackjack oaks on slightly deeper soil areas. While most have suffered from grazing and fire suppression, good examples can still be found.

Trees found on and near glades are often stunted and express poor development because of shallow droughty soils and poor growing conditions. Like the adjacent prairies, fire also played an important role in the maintenance of these systems. These systems typically burned at least once every three years. These periodic fires removed the litter and stimulated the growth and flowering of the grasses and forbs. They also further limited the growth and dominance of trees. Fire tolerant oaks occupied islands and edges of deeper soils, creating a complex mosaic of open glade and low-density woodland.

During fire-free intervals, woody species increased, especially on protected slopes. Once established, blackjack oak, eastern redcedar and sumac can quickly fill in a glade/woodland system, especially if grazing has diminished the vigor of the diverse flora. Many glades have been heavily grazed and suffer substantial woody invasion. Removal of the undesirable woody plants and the application of prescribed fire have proven to be effective management tools.

A State and Transition Diagram follows. Detailed descriptions of each state, transition, plant community, and pathway follow the model. This model is based on available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretations. It is likely to change as knowledge increases.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 9. State and transition diagram for this ecological site

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference

SWAPAEH

2. Woody Invaded Glade/Woodland

SWAPAEH

3. Grazed Glade/Woodland

SWAPAEH

State 1
Reference

Glade/Woodland reference sites harbor a wide diversity of plants and animals. Desert-adapted animals, like scorpions and tarantulas, also occupy healthy glades. The glade/woodland complexes range from wide open grassy areas with shallow soils and bare bedrock, to areas with widely scattered blackjack oak on locations with soil depths at the deeper extreme of the range for this soil component. On protected slopes, open woodlands are more common. Here the deeper soil depth range for this soil component and protected aspects allow more woody components to dominate.

Dominant plant species

blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), tree
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
post oak (Quercus stellata), tree
winged sumac (Rhus copallinum), shrub
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass

Community 1.1
Blackjack Oak/Winged Sumac/Little Bluestem-Michaux's Croton

This phase has widely scattered stunted, old growth blackjack oak and winged sumac with little bluestem, side oats grama, and dropseeds dominating the open ground layer. Numerous forbs and lichens are also present and locally abundant. The plant species list is based on field surveys and commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).

Forest overstory. The Overstory Species list is based on field surveys and commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).

Forest understory. The Understory Species list is based on field surveys and commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).

Community 1.2
Blackjack Oak – Post Oak/Winged Sumac – Eastern Redcedar /Little Bluestem – Michaux’s Croton

This phase is similar to community phase 1.1 but post oak, eastern red cedar and numerous shrubs are increasing due to longer periods of fire suppression. Some displacement of grasses and forbs may be occurring due to shading and competition from the increased densities of shrubs and oaks.

Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

This pathway is the result of fire-free interval 10 to 20 years.

Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

This pathway is the result of a fire and other natural disturbances such as fire occurring on a 3 to 10 year cycle being reestablished.

State 2
Woody Invaded Glade/Woodland

This state is dominated by eastern redcedar with large increases of oak density due to extended periods of fire suppression. This state can form relatively even-age stands, dating to when fire suppression became the dominant management characteristic on the site. Canopy closures can approach 100 percent with little or no ground flora.

Dominant plant species

eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), tree
winged sumac (Rhus copallinum), shrub
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
Michaux's croton (Croton michauxii var. ellipticus), other herbaceous

Community 2.1
Eastern Redcedar – Blackjack Oak /Winged Sumac – Winged Elm /Little Bluestem

This phase is dominated by eastern redcedar and numerous shrub species. They can form relatively even-age stands, dating to when fire suppression began. This phase can occur relatively quickly (10 to 20 years). Canopy closures can approach 50 to 80 percent with little or no ground flora under the overstory canopy. Without active management, such as prescribed fire and woody removal, these sites will continue increasing in canopy coverage except on the shallowest soil and open bedrock areas where droughty conditions often keep woody invasion in check.

State 3
Grazed Glade/Woodland

The Grazed Glade/Woodland State has reduced cover, diversity and vigor of native glade/woodland flora. Woody species encroachment, particularly by eastern redcedar, has also increased in this state. Potential physical site damage by uncontrolled livestock grazing may further degrade this state.

Dominant plant species

blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), tree
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
winged sumac (Rhus copallinum), shrub

Community 3.1
Blackjack Oak - Eastern Redcedar - Winged Sumac / Broomsedge

Due to long periods of domestic livestock grazing grass the forb diversity and ground cover are severely reduced increasing the potential for soil erosion and increased water runoff. This phase may also have increased densities of eastern redcedar, oak, and shrubs. Other weedy species such as non-native grasses and forbs also increase.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

This transition is the result of fire suppression for greater than 20 years.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

This transition is the result of uncontrolled livestock grazing and fire suppression.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Restoration requires cutting most of the eastern redcedar and other invasive woody species, accompanied by prescribed fire.

Transition T3A
State 2 to 3

This transition is the result of uncontrolled livestock grazing and fire suppression.

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

Restoration requires livestock exclusion and woody removal, accompanied by prescribed fire.

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height (ft)	Canopy cover (%)	Diameter (in)	Basal area (square ft/acre)
Tree
post oak	QUST	Quercus stellata	Native	–	–	–	–
blackjack oak	QUMA3	Quercus marilandica	Native	–	–	–	–
eastern redcedar	JUVI	Juniperus virginiana	Native	–	–	–	–
black hickory	CATE9	Carya texana	Native	–	–	–	–

Table 7. Community 1.1 forest understory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height (ft)	Canopy cover (%)
Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)
Indiangrass	SONU2	Sorghastrum nutans	Native	–	–
eastern bottlebrush grass	ELHY	Elymus hystrix	Native	–	–
Virginia wildrye	ELVI3	Elymus virginicus	Native	–	–
Great Plains flatsedge	CYLU2	Cyperus lupulinus	Native	–	–
lopsided rush	JUSE	Juncus secundus	Native	–	–
broomsedge bluestem	ANVI2	Andropogon virginicus	Native	–	–
tapered rosette grass	DIAC2	Dichanthelium acuminatum	Native	–	–
little bluestem	SCSC	Schizachyrium scoparium	Native	–	–
poverty oatgrass	DASP2	Danthonia spicata	Native	–	–
big bluestem	ANGE	Andropogon gerardii	Native	–	–
Forb/Herb
mealy fumewort	COCR2	Corydalis crystallina	Native	–	–
Michaux's croton	CRMIE	Croton michauxii var. ellipticus	Native	–	–
Virginia tephrosia	TEVI	Tephrosia virginiana	Native	–	–
scaly blazing star	LISQ	Liatris squarrosa	Native	–	–
roundstem false foxglove	AGGA	Agalinis gattingeri	Native	–	–
fringeleaf wild petunia	RUHU	Ruellia humilis	Native	–	–
hairy pinweed	LEMU3	Lechea mucronata	Native	–	–
orangegrass	HYGE	Hypericum gentianoides	Native	–	–
threadleaf evening primrose	OELI	Oenothera linifolia	Native	–	–
prairie tea	CRMO6	Croton monanthogynus	Native	–	–
yellow stonecrop	SENU	Sedum nuttallianum	Native	–	–
dwarf plantain	PLPU	Plantago pusilla	Native	–	–
poorjoe	DITE2	Diodia teres	Native	–	–
Virginia dwarfdandelion	KRVI	Krigia virginica	Native	–	–
southern bluet	HOMI4	Houstonia micrantha	Native	–	–
Fern/fern ally
upland brittle bladderfern	CYTE7	Cystopteris tenuis	Native	–	–
marginal woodfern	DRMA4	Dryopteris marginalis	Native	–	–
hairy lipfern	CHLA2	Cheilanthes lanosa	Native	–	–
Shrub/Subshrub
winged sumac	RHCO	Rhus copallinum	Native	–	–
farkleberry	VAAR	Vaccinium arboreum	Native	–	–
shrubby St. Johnswort	HYPR	Hypericum prolificum	Native	–	–
dwarf hackberry	CETE	Celtis tenuifolia	Native	–	–
fragrant sumac	RHAR4	Rhus aromatica	Native	–	–
winged elm	ULAL	Ulmus alata	Native	–	–
Nonvascular
greygreen reindeer lichen	CLRA60	Cladina rangiferina	Native	–	–
cup lichen	CLMA17	Cladonia mateocyatha	Native	–	–
Schleicher's cracked lichen	ACSC5	Acarospora schleicheri	Native	–	–
northern selaginella	SERU	Selaginella rupestris	Native	–	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Wildlife

Wildlife habitat: oaks provide hard mast; numerous native legumes provide high-quality wildlife food; native warm-season grasses provide extensive cover and nesting habitat; and a diversity of forbs provides a diversity and abundance of insects.

Post-burn areas can provide temporary bare-ground – herbaceous cover habitat important for turkey poults and quail chicks.

Game species that utilize this ecological site include:
Turkey will utilize this ecological site for food (seeds, green browse, soft mast, and insects) and nesting and brood-rearing cover. Turkey poults feed heavily on insects provided by this site type.

White-tailed Deer will utilize this ecological site for browse (plant leaves in the growing season, seeds and soft mast in the fall/winter). This site type also can provide escape cover.

Bird species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition:
Breeding Birds: Field Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat, White-eyed vireo, Brown Thrasher, Indigo Bunting, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Bobwhite, Summer Tanager and Eastern Wood-Pewee.

Amphibian and reptile species that may be associated with this ecological site’s reference state: Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus), Six-lined Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus), Flat-headed Snake (Tantilla gracilis), Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum), Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila), Ground Snake (Snora semiannulata) and Prairie Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus arnyi).

Small mammals likely associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Eastern Woodrat (Neotoma floridana) and Peromyscus species.

Invertebrates – Many native insect species are likely associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition, especially native bees, ants, beetles, butterflies and moths, and crickets, grasshoppers and katydids.

Insect species likely associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Lichen Grasshopper (Trimerotropis saxatilis), a prickly pear borer moth (Melitara prodenialis), native ants (Pheidole tysoni, Formica schaufussi), and native bees (Colletes aestivalis, Andrena helianthiformis, Protandrena rudbeckiae, Lasioglossum coreopsis, Anthidium psoraleae and Dianthidium subrufulum).

(This section prepared by Mike Leahy, Natural Areas Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation, 2013. References for this section: Fitzgerald and Pashley 2000b; Heitzman and Heitzman 1996; Jacobs 2001; Johnson 2000; Pitts and McGuire 2000; Schwartz and others 2001)

Other information

Forestry

Management: Estimated site index values are generally less than 40 for eastern redcedar and oak. Productivity is very low. Very limited timber management opportunities exist. These sites are valuable for wildlife purposes and watershed protection. Severely reduced rooting depth restricts tree growth and increases windthrow hazards. These sites respond well to prescribed fire as a management tool.

Limitations: Surface stones and surface rock; very shallow soil depth. Severe seedling mortality due to high soil surface temperatures and low available water holding capacity is possible. Machine planting and mechanical site preparation is not recommended. Hard bedrock at shallow depths may interfere with equipment operation. Rock outcrops may cause breakage of timber when harvesting. Surface stones and rocks will make equipment use extremely difficult. Erosion is a hazard when slopes exceed 15 percent. On steep slopes greater than 35 percent, traction problems increase and equipment use is not recommended.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Potential Reference Sites: Shallow Sandstone Backslope Glade/Woodland

Plot DOROSP05 - Ramsey soil
Located in Don Robinson State Park, Jefferson County, MO
Latitude: 38.394671
Longitude: -90.697353

Plot GRCASP01 - Ramsey soil
Located in Graham Cave State Park, Montgomery County, MO
Latitude: 38.903614
Longitude: -91.572346

Plot DOROSP11 - Ramsey soil
Located in Don Robinson State Park, Jefferson County, MO
Latitude: 38.394637
Longitude: -90.70594

Plot GRCASP_KS06 - Ramsey soil
Located in Graham Cave State Park, Montgomery County, MO
Latitude: 38.903679
Longitude: -91.572741

Other references

Anderson, R.C. 1990. The historic role of fire in North American grasslands. Pp. 8-18 in S.L. Collins and L.L. Wallace (eds.). Fire in North American tallgrass prairies. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.

Batek, M.J., A.J. Rebertus, W.A. Schroeder, T.L. Haithcoat, E. Compas, and R.P. Guyette. 1999. Reconstruction of early nineteenth-century vegetation and fire regimes in the Missouri Ozarks. Journal of Biogeography 26:397-412.

Brown, Burton L., & James D. Childress. 1985. Soil Survey of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Soil Conservation Service.

Fitzgerald, J.A. and D.N. Pashley. 2000a. Partners in Flight bird conservation plan for the Ozark/Ouachitas. American Bird Conservancy.

Fitzgerald, J.A. and D.N. Pashley. 2000b. Partners in Flight bird conservation plan for the Dissected Till Plains. American Bird Conservancy.

Harlan, J.D., T.A. Nigh and W.A. Schroeder. 2001. The Missouri original General Land Office survey notes project. University of Missouri, Columbia.

Heitzman, J.R. and J.E. Heitzman. 1996. Butterflies and moths of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

Jacobs, B. 2001. Birds in Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Johnson, T.R. 2000. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2002. Woodland Suitability Groups. Missouri FOTG, Section II, Soil Interpretations and Reports. 30 pgs.

Natural Resources Conservation Service. Site Index Reports. Accessed May 2014. https://esi.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESI_Forestland/pgFSWelcome.aspx

NatureServe, 2010. Vegetation Associations of Missouri (revised). NatureServe, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.

Nelson, Paul W and Douglas Ladd. 1980. “Preliminary report on the identification, distribution and classification of Missouri glades”.

Nelson, P. W., J. A. Fitzgerald, K. Larson, R. McCoy, A. Schotz, J. Taft, T. Witsell, B. Yahn. 2013. Central Hardwoods Joint Venture Glade Conservation Assessment for the Interior Highlands and Interior Low Plateaus of the Central Hardwoods Region. Central Hardwoods Joint Venture.

Nigh, Timothy A., and Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.

Pitts, D.E. and W.D. McGuire. 2000. Wildlife management for Missouri landowners. 3rd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

Schwartz, C.W., E.R. Schwartz and J.J. Conley. 2001. The wild mammals of Missouri. University of Missouri Press, Columbia and Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.

United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296. 682 pgs.

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2022. Land resource regions and major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 296.

University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; accessed June 2012

Contributors

Fred Young
Doug Wallace

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 12/30/2024

Acknowledgments

Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support in the development of this ecological site.

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date	12/31/2024
Approved by	Suzanne Mayne-Kinney
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

Dominant:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R115XB052MO

Shallow Sandstone Backslope Glade/Woodland

Last updated: 12/30/2024 Accessed: 12/31/2024

General information

Figure 1. Mapped extent

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Ecosystem states

State 1 submodel, plant communities

State 2 submodel, plant communities

State 3 submodel, plant communities

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 12/30/2024
Accessed: 12/31/2024