Physiognomy of Mississippi:
Natural Vegetation

Compiled By Samuel P. Faulkner

What is Physiognomy?
Any large landscape is characterized by its physiography. On the other hand, an area's physiognomy describes the outer appearance (structure, form) of a plant species or group of plant species occupying the same general area. Basically, then, an area's physiognomy describes for us, the basic "signature" of a landscape's vegetational communities. Physiognomy is a function of prevailing plant architectures, life forms, and ultimately, these reflect environmental features of the landscape, that is, the physiographic aspects.

Each vegetation type has its own unique physiognomy that has evolved in response to the area's unique environmental features (geology, soils, climate patterns, etc.). How do we describe landscape patterns? At a very large landscape level, we look at vegetation patterns that occur over fairly large areas as "formations." For example, we might call the pattern over the eastern United States a "deciduous forest formation," or the prevailing pattern of the northern Great Plains, a "grassland formation."

Associations
Formations, due to local variations, are usually subdivided into "associations." Such associations are basically groupings, aggregations if you will, of plant species growing together in a specific habitat. Within an area, although associations can be somewhat variable and to some extent unpredictable regarding composition, we could call these artificial categories "communities."

Traditionally, we have assumed that associations have certain attributes, including, but not limited to the following: (1) the floristic composition is somewhat fixed for an area (a "Clementsian" notion); (2) these aggregations show a fairly uniform physiognomy; (3) associations recur where they develop on similar habitats, and (4) associations can be named based upon 2-3 of the most dominant or characteristic taxa.

Associations often form patches that intergrade into what one might view as mosaic patterns. Some associations a limited to very specific soil or geologic conditions, and are said to be edaphic associations. For example, acid bogs in the Gulf coastal counties owe their existence to sandy to loamy soils with an acidic pH reaction and the ability to retain water. Cedar glades in northeastern Mississippi owe their existence to calcareous soils with high pH (and probably other soil factors).

Interestingly, we see similar physiognomic patterns worldwide due to convergent evolutionary processes in similar physiographies and climates. For example, we have oak-beech-magnolia forests in the loess bluffs of Mississippi. Similar forests have evolved in the loess bluffs of temperate China.

Flora & Fauna in Mississippi
Although the state has been settled to some degree since the 1700s and early 1800s, massive land clearing for agriculture was begun in earnest after the Civil War. The state now has about 55% forest cover, and a large proportion are now pine plantations. The floodplain forests of northwestern Mississippi and river bottoms and similar habitat in other parts of the state, support wetland oaks, elms, sugarberry, willow, bald cypress and swamp tupelo. The upland forests of central and northeastern Mississippi are usually associations of oaks, hickories, gums, red cedar, and shortleaf pine. As we move southward, loblolly, slash and longleaf pine, and oak-hickory-magnolia associations are common.

Our main large native animal in Mississippi is the common white-tailed deer, and it is ubiquitous to forests and forest edges everywhere.The American alligator is common in swampy waterways, especially in the southern portions of the state. Our forests also support faunic elements typical of eastern deciduous forests, with squirrels, skunks, raccoons, red and grey foxes, bobcats, etc., being most commonly encountered. Also, the state supports a fairly high diversity of amphibians, reptiles and fish.

Endangered Species
The state's list of endangered animals comprises some 50 species, including the Indiana bat, the West Indian manatee, the brown pelican, Mississippi sandhill crane, the least tern, the loggerhead turtle, and the pallid sturgeon. Only two plants are on the list, the pond berry (in the Delta) and Price's potato bean (NE MS).

Physiognomy & Physiography
Mississippi occurs in the eastern deciduous forest formation, but is blessed with great variability due to its physiography. The state can be loosely grouped into about 10 distinct physiographic regions, which show relatively distinct physiognomies. These are discussed elswhere on this website. Here, I have compiled brief descriptions of the major ecosystems and habitat types that occur in Mississippi. For each category, I provide a brief listing of some of the more common plant species that one might encounter there.

These categories are very general. While various efforts by government agencies to refine these landscape features have resulted in, I think, in unnecessary "hair-splitting," these groupings are reasonable and represent the main types that one is likely to encounter in the state. By clicking on high-lighted words or phrases, you can view photo images of many of these environments.

Terrestrial Communities
 Terrestrial communities include upland areas, except wetland areas (discussed later in this compilation). Their soils are never flooded or saturated with water at any time. The diversity of terrestrial plant communities is due to a number of factors including soil type, elevation, slope, climate, etc.

Important Disclaimer

Regardless of any language implying the contrary, nothing within this web site constitutes, nor is intended to constitute, an offer, inducement, promise, or contract of any kind. The information contained herein is not guaranteed to be free of error. While this page can be accessed through the deltastate.edu domain, it is NOT a publication of Delta State University, nor has Delta State University examined nor approved the content of this page.