Composition of a virgin stand of longleaf pine in south Alabama

January 23, 2021

The Flomaton Natural Area is a virgin stand of longleaf pine located in Escambia County, Alabama. Fire has been absent for at least the past 45 years from the stand. Efforts are underway to restore this fire-dependent ecosystem through the re-introduction of fire. This paper presents data collected in advance of the re-introduction of fire. A substantial hardwood understory and midstory have developed and a thick litter layer has accumulated in the absence of fire. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) regeneration and herbaceous vegetation are almost nonexistent. Considering all trees>1.25 em DBH, longleaf pine averages 309 stemslha and 19 m2/ha, or 65% of total stand basal area. The predominant hardwood species are water oak (Quercus nigra), laurel oak (Q. laurifolia), southern red oak (Q. falcala) , and black cherry (Prunus seratinaJ. Together these hardwoods average 929 stemslha and 6.5 m’/ha, or 22% of the total stand basal area. Other pines and hardwoods comprise 8% and 5% of total stand basal area, respectively. Considering only saplings (1.25 to 12.7 em DBH), longleaf accounts for only 11% and the four major hardwoods 64% of total sapling basal area.