Cross Timbers Upland Habitat
The Cross Timbers region is a mosaic of deciduous forest and prairie that connects the eastern forests and southern Great Plains. The Eastern Cross Timbers is geologically restricted to soils that are sandy or sandy loam derived from sandstone parent material, which drains well. The region’s unique geology and climate has resulted in a mixture of prairies that include grasses and wildflowers and forests with an understory of shrubs, vines and herbaceous plants.
Tree Species
The woodlands are dominated by post oak (Quercus merican) and blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), but also contains populations of other woody species such as:- Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia)
- Hickory (Carya spp.)
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana)
- Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
- Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)
- Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)
- Greenbriar (Smilax spp.)
Common to the Cross Timbers habitat are native grass species in interspersed pocket prairies.