Bastrop Lost Pines Forest and Woodland

This vegetation type is characteristic of the system, with clear dominance of Pinus taeda (loblolly pine). Vaccinium arboreum (farkleberry) may form a conspicuous understory, with Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) as a common herbaceous dominant. Oak species, such as Quercus stellata (post oak) and Quercus marilandica (blackjack oak) may be present in the canopy, but pines dominate. In some cases, areas mapped as this vegetation type may be dominated by Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar).

Distribution Map

Photos

Public Land Occurrence

• Bastrop State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Buescher State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• South Shore Park: Lower Colorado River Authority

This vegetation type represents the transition from strictly Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) dominated sites to those more characteristic of the surrounding post oak savanna. As such, Quercus stellata (post oak), and to a lesser extent, Quercus marilandica (blackjack oak) are significant components of the canopy, though Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) remains a co-dominant canopy species. Carya texana (black hickory), Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm), and Celtis laevigata (sugar hackberry) may be conspicuous deciduous elements in the canopy. Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) may also be present, co-dominant, or sometimes dominant on sites mapped as this vegetation type.

Distribution Map

Photos

Public Land Occurrence

• Bastrop State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Buescher State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• South Shore Park: Lower Colorado River Authority

This vegetation type occupies slopes greater than twenty percent and likely represents a more mesic and closed canopy representation of the Bastrop Lost Pines Loblolly Pine Forest. As such, the canopy is dominated by Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), with Quercus stellata (post oak), Ulmus spp. (elms), Juniperus virginina (eastern redcedar) and Quercus marilandica (blackjack oak) also present, but as minor components of the canopy. This forest is often found on the Sandstone Hill ecoclass. Differentiation from the surrounding upland forests based on species composition will be problematic. The shrub and herbaceous layer is less well-developed than in the surrounding uplands, due to the more closed nature of the canopy. Since Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) in the canopy also results in coniferous evergreen canopy, forests dominated by this species may be mapped as this vegetation type.

Distribution Map

Photos

Public Land Occurrence

• Bastrop State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Buescher State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• South Shore Park: Lower Colorado River Authority

This vegetation type on slopes greater than twenty percent is a minor mapped type in this system. The overstory canopy is co-dominated by the coniferous evergreens Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) and/or Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) and deciduous oaks such as Quercus stellata (post oak) and Quercus marilandica (blackjack oak). Ulmus spp. (elms) and Celtis laevigata (sugar hackberry) are also common components of the overstory. This vegetation type is often found on the Sandstone Hill ecoclass. One interesting small patch (20 - 80 acres) community that may be embedded within this mapped type occurs below the highest occurrences of the Sandylands types of the Post Oak Savanna region. This community occurs where sandhills make contact with sandy loam and sandy clay associated with the Recklaw Formation. It is an infrequent to rare community, mostly found on south and southeast facing slopes, and dominated by Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), Quercus nigra (water oak), Nyssa sylvatica (black gum), Ilex opaca (American holly), Morella cerifera (wax-myrtle), and Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry). The herbaceous layer of this community is dominated by Rhynchospora glomerata (cluster beakrush), Eleocharis torilis (twisted spikerush), Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem), Chasmanthium laxum (slender woodoats), Dichanthelium scoparium (velvet panicum), and Pterideum aquilinum (brackenfern). Well-developed understory seep forest flora occurs on mid and lower slopes within this type, with spring runs, spongy muck, and in some cases, quaking conditions. These seepage areas are dominated by Woodwardia virginica (Virginia chainfern), Woodwardia areolata (chain fern), Triadenum virginicum (Virginia St. Johnswort), Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis (royal fern), and Osmunda cinnamomaea (cinnamon fern), though the latter two species are rare in this landscape. This restricted community may be found in Bastrop, Lee, and Gonzales counties (lacking Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) in Gonzales County and therefore not mapped in this vegetation type there). Representative occurrences can be found at Hoppy Spring (Bastrop State Park) and Yegua Knobs Preserve (Bastrop/Lee County).

Distribution Map

Photos

Public Land Occurrence

• Bastrop State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Buescher State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

This is a very minor component of the system, occurring on slopes greater than 20% and dominated by hardwood species such as Quercus stellata (post oak), Quercus marilandica (blackjack oak), Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm), Ulmus americana (American elm), and Celtis laevigata (sugar hackberry). This vegetation type is similar to Post Oak Savanna: Oak / Hardwood Slope Forest of the surrounding landscape.

Distribution Map

Photos

Public Land Occurrence

• Bastrop State Park: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• South Shore Park: Lower Colorado River Authority