A Phytosociological Study of an Evergreen Oak Forest in the Vicinity of New Orleans, Louisiana

Abstract

The evergreen oak forest in the vicinity of New Orleans corresponds to Cover Type No. 78 of the report of the Committee on Types (Hawley, et al, 1932). This type is referred to as the Live Oak Forest in which oak is pure or predominant but with red gum, evergreen magnolia, holly, laurel oak, water oak, and hawthorn as associates. It is said to occur in Southern Louisiana along well-drained borders of tidal marshes and to be climax in the succession. Viosca (1933) states that live oaks, draped with Spanish Moss, are the dominant trees on the coastal ridges, but give way as we proceed inland to a mixed forest consisting chiefly of oak, water oak, red or sweet gum, elm, hackberry and magnolia, often with an undergrowth of dwarf palmetto or switch cane, or both. It is apparent that there is considerable diversity in the composition of the evergreen oak forest and that no single study will suffice to describe this forest adequately.