Green Ash
Location
County: Sharkey
Forest: Delta National Forest
District: Delta Ranger District
View a searchable map for the Green Ash RNA.
Related Reports and Publications
- Johnson, R.L. and T.L. Price. 1959. Resume of 20 years of hardwood management on the Delta Purchase Unit. Unpublished, Stoneville Research Center, Stoneville, Mississippi. 74p.
- Allen, Bruce P. 2007. Vegetation dynamics and response to disturbance, in floodplain forest ecosystems with a focus on lianas. Dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University, The Ohio State University. (studied Red Gum, Overcup Oak, Green Ash and other sites)
- Devall, Margaret S. and Paul Ramp. 1992. The Forest Service Research Natural Area Program and old growth forests in the South. Natural Areas Journal 12(2): 75-85.
- Gucker, Corey L. 2005. Fraxinus pennsylvanica. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).
- Ramp, P.F. 1990. Ecological Assessment of the Red Gum, Overcup Oak and Green Ash Research Natural Areas in the Delta National Forest, Mississippi. Unpublished Report, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, Stoneville, MS. 22p.
- Scott, F.T. and L.B. Walton. 1962. Soil survey of Sharkey County, Mississippi. United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service.
Ecological and Physical Description
Old growth bottomland hardwood forest remnant dominated by green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii).
The annual precipitation is 53”, fairly well distributed throughout the year, but highest from December to April (5-6” per month) and lowest from September to October (2-3” per month).
The nearest weather stations are at Anguilla, 8 miles to the northeast and Holly Bluff, 5 miles to the southeast.
The soils are relatively young inceptisols of the Sharkey-Alligator-Dowling Association (Scott and Walton, 1962), poorly drained clay soil formed in slackwater areas and in depressions. Parent material is fine textured alluvium from the Mississippi River. When dry, the soil may form cracks 2.5 to 12.5 cm deep.
The site is approximately 2.5 km east of the Big Sunflower River, usually flooded for one to three weeks per year, with a water depth of 1 to 1.3 meters (Johnson and Price, 1959). Several small sloughs pass through the southern half of the RNA, from east to west.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smilax rotundifolia | Greenbrier | Plant Communities | ||
| Campsis radicans | Trumpet creeper | Plant Communities | ||
| Toxicodendron radicans | Poison ivy | Plant Communities | ||
| Trachelospermum difforme | Plant Communities |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sciurus carolinensis | Grey squirrel | Common Mammal Species | ||
| S. niger | Fox squirrel | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Sylvilagus floridanus | Cottontail rabbit | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Procyon lotor | Raccoon | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Meleagris gallopavo | Turkey | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Didelphis virginiana | Opossum | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Mephitis mephitis | Striped skunk | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Spiogale putorius | Spotted skunk | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Dasypus novemcintus | Armadillo | Common Mammal Species |