Edwards Plateau Cliff

Geology

Hard-bedded limestones.

Landform

Vertical or near vertical rock faces, sometimes alternating with slope forming limestone members.

Soils

Little to no soil development. Some soil accumulating on ledges and in crevices.

Parent Description

Some of these sites may be mesic, accumulating moisture from nearby slopes in crevices within the limestone substrate, and seeps may be present. They often occur as long narrow bands. Composition and cover on these cliff faces is a function of aspect, canopy cover provided by surrounding systems, local climate, and moisture available from the underlying 51 geologic formation. Seeps and mesic sites may have fairly dense cover of Adiantum capillusveneris (maiden-hair fern) with patches of Thelypteris ovata var. lindheimeri (Lindheimer's maidenfern) present. More xeric sites often have significant shrub cover, with species such as Buddleja racemosa (Texas butterflybush), Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye), Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon), Ageratina havanensis (shrubby boneset), Garrya ovata ssp. lindheimeri (Lindheimer's silktassel), Bernardia myricifolia (southwest bernardia), Philadelphus spp. (mock-orange), Styrax spp. (snowbell), and Toxicodendron radicans ssp. eximium (poison ivy). Herbaceous species that may be present include Salvia roemeriana (cedar sage), Penstemon baccharifolius (baccharisleaf beardtongue), Schoenus nigricans (black sedge), Chaetopappa bellidifolia (least daisy), Perityle spp. (rockdaisy), and ferns in the genera Asplenium, Astrolepis, Cheilanthes, and Pellaea. Sparse grasses including Bouteloua hirsuta (hairy grama), Bouteloua rigidiseta (Texas grama), and Aristida oligantha (oldfield threeawn) may be present. These cliffs often serve as refugia from herbivores.