The Vegetation Types of Texas

Physiognomic Regions

Grassland

Herbs (grasses, forbs, and grasslike plants) dominant; woody vegetation lacking or nearly so (generally 10 percent or less woody canopy coverage).

Shrub

Individual woody plants generally less than nine feet tall scattered throughout arid or semi-arid regions (less than 30 percent woody canopy coverage).

Brush

Woody plants mostly less than nine feet tall dominant and growing as closely spaced individuals, clusters or closed canopied stands (greater than 10 percent canopy cover).

Parks

Woody plants mostly equal to or greater than nine feet tall generally dominant and growing as clusters, or as scattered individuals within continuous grass or forbs (11 to 70 percent woody canopy cover overall).

Woods

Woody plants mostly nine to 30 feet tall with closed crowns or nearly so (71 to 100 percent canopy cover); midstory usually lacking.

Forest

Deciduous or evergreen trees dominant; mostly greater than 30 feet tall with closed crowns or nearly so (71 to 100 percent canopy cover); midstory generally apparent except in managed monoculture.

Young Forest

Various combinations and age classes of pine and hardwood regrowth resulting from the recent harvest of pine or mixed hardwood and pine forests.

Marsh

Emergent herbaceous plants dominant in inundated or periodically inundated areas; woody vegetation lacking or nearly so (generally 10 percent or less woody canopy coverage).

Swamp

Deciduous or evergreen trees with varying heights (canopy cover generally greater than 10 percent) within frequently or constantly inundated sites.

Crops

Includes cultivated cover crops or row crops used for the purpose of producing food and/or fiber for either man or domestic animals.

Barrier Island

Smooth sloping accumulations of sand, shell and gravel along sea and bay shores; periodically exposed unvegetated or sparsely vegetated wetlands and sand dunes.