CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^1203.1 Beech/Magnolia Forests
Value to SGCN - 62
Rank - 13th of 29 Inland Terrestrial Complexes
(Terrestrial, Wetland, Subterranean and Anthropogenic)DESCRIPTION
This forest type is found on deep soils of stream terraces,
deep loess of protected slopes along draws and areas of
coarse-textured sandy or gravelly substrates that receive
seepage from adjacent uplands. Substrates generally remain moist throughout the growing season.
Since beech and magnolia are of limited commercial value, other species of trees are promoted after
logging. Beech and magnolia trees are found as common sub-canopy trees of some mature pine and
hardwood stands of the southern loess hills. If allowed to recover after clearing, a beech/magnolia forest
may take a century to reestablish itself. Other important trees of this community include white oak, tulip
poplartree, sweetgum, water oak and spruce pine. Sub-canopy trees may include bigleaf magnolia,
ironwood, sourwood, American holly and flowering dogwood. Six magnolia species may be
encountered in this forest type: southern magnolia — the most common upland magnolia, sweetbay,
pyramid, cucumber tree, big leaf and rarely, umbrella magnolia. Florida anise, witch-hazel, wild azalea,
Elliot’s blueberry and giant cane are common understory constituents.
LOCATION, SIZE, CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
EGCP, UEGCP
Beech/magnolia forests over 80,000 acres in isolated small to medium sized
patches (100 to 1,000 acres) throughout the southern part of the state, but are
most commonly encountered in the loess bluff region. The community occurs
on isolated steep hilly areas or blufflands, protected coves and along mid and
lower slopes of ravines, draws and river valleys. Adjoining upland support or
originally supported mesic hardwood forest in the loess hills and expansive
pinelands in the piney woods region.
Beech/magnolia forests require over 70 to 100 years to reach maturity. Due to extensive logging, this
community has been lost at many sites, and may only support successional vegetation at others. Some
protected areas in the Homochitto National Forest, Desoto National Forest and Clark Creek Natural Area
present interesting examples of this subtype.
Formerly widespread and abundant, this subtype is critically imperiled in the state because of extreme
rarity (few occurrences) and has disappeared in many areas due to logging, site conversion and
urbanization.
Range of Beech/
Magnolia Forests