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Texas Hill Country Slope Forest

EVT 7523Edwards Plateau Dry-Mesic Slope Forest and Woodland

CES303.656GNRTreeConifer-hardwood

Summary

This system occurs on dry to mesic, middle slopes of the rolling uplands and escarpments of the Edwards Plateau and similar sites in the adjacent Blackland Prairie region. The canopy is typically dominated or codominated by deciduous trees, including Quercus buckleyi, Quercus sinuata var. breviloba, Ulmus crassifolia, and/or Celtis laevigata var. reticulata. Quercus fusiformis and Juniperus ashei are often present and are sometimes codominant with deciduous species of this system. Canopy closure is variable, and this system can be expressed as forests or woodlands. The shrub layer may be well-represented, especially where the overstory canopy is discontinuous. Species such as Aesculus pavia var. flavescens, Cercis canadensis var. texensis, Forestiera pubescens, Ungnadia speciosa, Ceanothus herbaceus, Sophora secundiflora, Rhus spp., Vitis spp., and Garrya ovata may be present in the shrub layer. With the large amount of exposed rock, frequent accumulation of leaf litter, and significant canopy closure, herbaceous cover is generally sparse, with Carex planostachys often present. Woodland forbs such as Tinantia anomala, Chaptalia texana, Nemophila phacelioides, Salvia roemeriana, Lespedeza texana, and various ferns may also be present, these often being patchy in distribution.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Vegetation

The canopy is typically dominated or codominated by deciduous trees, including Quercus buckleyi, Quercus laceyi, Quercus sinuata var. breviloba, Fraxinus albicans (= Fraxinus texensis), Ulmus crassifolia, Prunus serotina var. eximia, Juglans major, and/or Celtis laevigata var. reticulata. Quercus fusiformis and Juniperus ashei are often present and are sometimes codominant with deciduous species of this system. Canopy closure is variable, and this system can be expressed as forests or woodlands. The shrub layer may be well-represented, especially where the overstory canopy is discontinuous. Species such as Aesculus pavia var. flavescens, Cercis canadensis var. texensis, Forestiera pubescens, Ungnadia speciosa, Ceanothus herbaceus, Frangula caroliniana, Sophora secundiflora, Viburnum rufidulum, Rhus spp., Vitis spp., and Garrya ovata may be present in the shrub layer. With the large amount of exposed rock, frequent accumulation of leaf litter, and significant canopy closure, herbaceous cover is generally sparse, with Carex planostachys often present. Woodland forbs such as Tinantia anomala, Chaptalia texana, Nemophila phacelioides, Salvia roemeriana, Lespedeza texana, and various ferns may also be present, if patchy (Elliott 2011).

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Environment

This system occurs on dry-mesic, primarily north- and east-facing limestone slopes in the Edwards Plateau of Texas. In the adjacent Blackland Prairie region, it is found on limestone chalk cuestas (Elliott 2011). Stones and boulders are conspicuous on the soil surface. Soils are generally dark clay to clay loam and shallow. Steep Rocky and Steep Adobe Ecological Sites may be associated with this system (Elliot 2011).

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Distribution

This system is expected to occur on dry-mesic slopes in the Edwards Plateau and Lampasas Cutplain.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Tree canopy

Aesculus pavia var. flavescens, Fraxinus texensis, Juniperus ashei, Quercus buckleyi, Quercus fusiformis, Quercus laceyi, Ulmus crassifolia

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Cornus drummondii

Herb (field)

Bouteloua rigidiseta, Carex planostachys, Muhlenbergia reverchonii

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Ecologically Associated Animals (3)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Mammals (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
White-footed Deermouse	Peromyscus leucopus	G5

Reptiles (2)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Texas Spiny Lizard	Sceloporus olivaceus	G5
Little Brown Skink	Scincella lateralis	G5

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (1)

Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank	ESA Status
Red Buckeye	Aesculus pavia var. flavescens	G5T3?	--

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Component Associations (4)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

Name	G-Rank
Juniperus ashei - Quercus buckleyi Woodland	G4	NatureServe
Muhlenbergia reverchonii - Bouteloua hirsuta var. pectinata - Carex microdonta Grassland	G3	NatureServe
Quercus buckleyi - Fraxinus albicans - Juniperus ashei Forest	G3	NatureServe
Quercus laceyi - Juniperus ashei Woodland	G2	NatureServe

State Conservation Ranks (1)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

State	S-Rank
TX	SNR

Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.