Overcup Oak
Status
Established
Year Established
1943
Location
Station
State
Mississippi
National Forest Regions
Southern Region (R8)
County: Sharkey Co.
Forest: Delta National Forest
District: Delta National Forest
View a searchable map for the Overcup Oak RNA.
Related Reports and Publications
- 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.
- 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 Unpublished, Stoneville Research Center, Stoneville, Mississippi. 74p
- Ramp, P.F. 1990. Ecological Assessment of the Red Gum, Overcup Oak and Green Ash Research Natural Area in the Delta National Forest, Mississippi. Unpublished manuscript for the USDA Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. 22p.
- Scott, F.T. and L.B. Walton. 1962. Soil survey of Sharkey County, Mississippi. United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service.
- Smith, C. G.; Hamel, P. B.; Gullo, M. F. 2010. Evaluating small mammal response to natural disturbance and restoration in oak ecosystems in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Revista Colombia Forestal 13: 335-346. (in the Red Gum and Overcup Oak RNAs)
Ecological and Physical Description
Size
40ac (16ha)
Elevation Range
90' (27m) - 90' (27m)
Temperature Range
43°F (6°C) - 82°F (28°C)
Primary Features
Old growth forest remnant with American elm (Ulmus americana) and Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii), and overcup oak (Q. lyrata) intermediate in importance.
Annual Precipitation
Annual precipitation: 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 inches per month).
Nearest Weather Station
Anguilla is 8 miles to the northeast and Holly Bluff is 5 miles to the southeast.
Geology and Soils
Relatively young Inceptisols of Sharkey-Dowling Association; soil is Sharkey clay, a waxey yellow-brown soil that occurs extensively throughout the bottomlands of the Mississipppi River in MS, AR, and LA.
Aquatic Features
A northwest–flowing slough runs through the southwest corner of the RNA.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quercus lyrata | Overcup oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Ulmus americana | American elm | Plant Communities | ||
| Quercus nuttallii | Nuttall oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Acer rubrum | Red maple | Plant Communities | ||
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Green ash | Plant Communities | ||
| Celtis laevigata | Sugarberry | Plant Communities | ||
| Liquidambar styraciflua | Sweetgum | Plant Communities | ||
| Carya aquatica | Water hickory | Plant Communities | ||
| Ilex decidua | Possumhaw | Plant Communities | ||
| Diospyros virginiana | Persimmon | Plant Communities | ||
| Cornus spp. | Dogwood | Plant Communities | ||
| Crataegus viridis | Hawthorn | Plant Communities | ||
| Quercus phellos | Willow oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Ulmus crassifolia | Winged elm | Plant Communities | ||
| Forestiera acuminata | Swamp privet | Plant Communities | ||
| Taxodium distichum | Baldcypress | Plant Communities | ||
| Smilax spp. | Greenbrier | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Sabal minor | Palmetto | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Toxicodendron radicans | Poison ivy | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Campsis radicans | Trumpet creeper | Common Shrub Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peromyscus leucopus/gossypinus | White footed/cotton mouse | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Neotoma floridana | Eastern wood rat | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Dasypus novemcinctus | Armadillo | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Didelphis virginiana | Virginia opossum | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Procyon lotor | Raccoon | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Sciurus carolinensis | Eastern gray squirrel | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Sylvilagus aquaticus | Swamp rabbit | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Cardinalis cardinalis | Northern cardinal | Common Bird Species | ||
| Protonotaria citrea | Prothonotary warbler | Common Bird Species |
Last updated July 14, 2023