West Gulf Coastal Plain Weches Glade

Geology:

Associated with outcrops of glauconitic shales of the Eocene Weches Formation.

Landform:

Occupies slopes on rolling to relatively steep uplands, sometimes on minor scarp slopes of outcrops.

Soils:

Frequently associated with the Trawick-Bub complex.

Parent Description:

Vegetation restricted to outcrops of the Weches Formation in San Augustine, Sabine, and Nacogdoches counties, where it occupies generally shallow soils that oscillate between very dry and saturated (during winter and early spring). These are small patch occurrences and are therefore difficult to map using our methodology. Edaphic constraints tend to restrict the growth of woody species, though as soil depth increases, so does woody plant development. Outcrops may be exposed as a result of natural erosion on slopes or may be a result of human-induced openings. This primarily herbaceous system is characterized by species such as Sedum pulchellum (yellow stonecrop), Clinopodium arkansanum (Ozark savory), Minuartia patula (Pitcher’s sandwort), Minuartia drummondii (Drummond sandwort), Valerianella radiata (beaked cornsalad), Isoetes butleri (Butler’s quillwort), and Allium drummondii (Drummond wild-garlic). Other herbaceous species that may be present include Erigeron spp. (fleabane), Desmanthus illinoensis (Illinois bundleflower), Croton monanthogynus (doveweed), Dalea spp. (prairie clover), Houstonia spp. (bluets), Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass), Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama), Eleocharis spp. (spikerushes), Sporobolus vaginiflorus (poverty dropseed), Thelesperma filifolium (slender greenthread), and Arnoglossum plantagineum (groovestem Indian plantain). Sites may contain non-native species, including Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass), Lolium perenne (Italian ryegrass), Schedonorus phoenix (tall fescue), Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), and Trifolium spp. (clovers). Some woody species that may be present include Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar), Pinus taeda (loblolly pine), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet), Rosa bracteata (Macartney rose), Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood), Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia), and other species common to the surrounding landscape. Two rare species, Lesquerella pallida (white bladderpod) and Leavenworthia aurea var. texana (Texas golden gladecress), are associated with this system.