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): 120C–Kentucky and Indiana Sandstone and Shale Hills and Valleys, Northeastern Part

120C—Kentucky and Indiana Sandstone and Shale Hills and Valleys, Northeastern Part
This area is entirely in Indiana and makes up about 1,050 square miles (2,725 square kilometers). Physiography: This area is in the Highland Rim Section of the Interior Low Plateaus Province of the Interior Plains. Both large and small tributaries of the Ohio River and the East Fork of the White River dissect the nearly level to very steep uplands in the area. The major streams and rivers have well defined valleys with broad flood plains and numerous stream terraces. The flood plains along the smaller streams are narrow. Summits are narrow and are nearly level to gently sloping. Geology: The geologic materials in this area are of Early and Middle Pennsylvanian and Late Mississippian age. The rocks consist mainly of flat-lying, interbedded sandstone, shale, coal, and siltstone with minor areas of limestone. Bedrock outcrops are common on the bluffs along the Ohio River and its major tributaries. The surficial geologic materials consist mainly of a layer of loess, typically less than 3.5 feet (1 meter) thick, on the less eroded parts of the landscape and stratified sediments of Pleistocene age along the Ohio River and its tributaries. Unconsolidated alluvium is deposited in the river valleys.
Soils: The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Alfisols, Ultisols, and Inceptisols. The soils in the area have a mesic soil temperature regime, an udic or aquic soil moisture regime, and dominantly mixed mineralogy. They formed dominantly in loess and in residuum derived from siltstone and shale. They range from moderately deep to very deep and from somewhat poorly drained to well drained and are loamy, silty, or clayey. Fragiudults (Spickert and Tilsit series) and Hapludults (Wrays series) are the dominant soils on ridgetops and the upper parts of hills and knobs. Halpudalfs (Kurtz series), Hapludults (Gilwood and Gnawbone series), and Dystrudepts (Brownstown series) are on moderately sloping to very steep side slopes. Hapludalfs (Coolville, Rarden, Stonehead, and Wellrock series) are on the gently sloping to moderately steep lower parts of side slopes. Hapludalfs (Elkinsville series), Fragiudalfs (Pekin series), and Fragiaqualfs (Bartle series) are on stream terraces. Dystrudepts (Beanblossom, Cuba, and Steff series) and Endoaquepts (Stendal series) are on flood plains.

Classification relationships

South-Central Interior Large Floodplain CES202.705

(Quercus palustris - Quercus bicolor - (Liquidambar styraciflua) Swamp Forest, CEGL002432)

Ecological site concept

The Moist Silty Alluvium ecological site consist of soils deep or very deep, moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained soils formed in silty alluvium on flood plains and flood-plain steps. Representative soils include: Hatfield, Lindside, Newark, Steff, Stendal, Wakeland, Wilbur.

The communities described in this provisional document reflect plant communities that are likely to be found on these soils and have not been field verified. This PES describes hypotheses based on available data of many different scales and sources and has not been developed utilizing site-specific ecological field monitoring. This PES does not encompass the entire complexity or diversity of these sites. Field studies would be required to develop a comprehensive and science-based restoration plan for these sites.

State 1, Phase 1.1: Forestland.
This pin oak - swamp white oak forest community type is found in multiple states throughout the Midwest and southeast. Stands occur on wet, poorly drained sites and contain a closed to partially open canopy dominated by various species including oaks, maples and sweetgum. Species likely include Quercus palustris, Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, and Quercus bicolor. Other wetland hardwood species can occur, including Acer saccharinum, Betula nigra, Quercus macrocarpa, and Quercus rubra. Shrub and vine species are variable and may include Cornus spp., Lindera benzoin, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Sambucus canadensis. Herbaceous species also vary widely. Herbaceous species may include Cinna spp., Carex spp., Elymus riparius, Elymus virginicus, Cardamine bulbosa, Cardamine pensylvanica, Claytonia virginica, Oxalis violacea, and Podophyllum peltatum.
(Quercus palustris - Quercus bicolor - (Liquidambar styraciflua) Swamp Forest, CEGL002432)

State 1, Phase 1.1: Forestland.
Plant species dominant:
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) – pin oak (Quercus palustris) /paw paw (Asimina triloba)- spicebush (Lindera benzoin) / smallspike false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) - Cinna arundinacea

State 2, Phase 2.1: Pastureland.
Plant species dominant:
Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue). Species present are dependent upon seeding and management.

State: 3. Phase 3.1: Transitional (Abandoned Field)
Plant species dominant:
Maple (Acer spp.) / berries (Rubus spp.)/ fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus)

This phase is best described as an old field habitat with a mixture of native and introduced grasses and a variety of native and non-native herbs, forbs, seedlings, and saplings. Species will depend on seed sources and ongoing disturbance levels.

State 4, Phase 4.1: Abandoned Cropland
Plant species dominant:
henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) – mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium L. )

Abandonment of cropland would result in many weed species taking over the site. Initially, annual weeds would be predominate followed by grasses, shrubs and pioneers trees.

State 5, Phase 5.1: Cropland.
Plant species dominants: dependent upon seeding and management.
Most common crops are corn and soybeans.

Restoration of states 2-5 to the reference community would require long-term, intensive management inputs.

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species