The four habitat groupings
The Longleaf Alliance notes that longleaf habitat types can be grouped as: montane, sandhill, rolling hill, and flatwoods/savannas. Below is a practical summary of how they describe each setting.
Montane
The Longleaf Alliance describes montane longleaf as occurring on slopes and ridgelines up to about 2,000 feet elevation in north Alabama and northwest Georgia, with an isolated ridge system extending from Pine Mountain, GA toward Thomson, GA. Because this is near the northern boundary of longleaf, they note it can grade into mixed southern pine overstory at its fringes.
They estimate roughly 20% of the pre-settlement longleaf ecosystem occurred in this habitat type.
Sandhills
Sandhills are described as ridges of loose, porous sand—beginning in southern Virginia and running through west Georgia around 500–600 feet above sea level, with additional sand ridges in parts of Florida. Longleaf sandhills tend to be widely spaced pines with a fire-stunted scrub oak understory and groundcover ranging from sparse to continuous bunchgrasses and herbs.
The Longleaf Alliance notes sandhills longleaf may represent some of the largest acreages of remaining longleaf habitat today, even though they estimate sandhills were roughly 10% of the original landscape.
Rolling hills
Rolling hill habitat is described as sufficiently rolling to ensure good drainage, and often capable of producing excellent longleaf timber. The Longleaf Alliance describes it as occurring around 130–250 feet above sea level, with soil profiles that can include sandy loams and occasional limestone outcrops.
They speculate that about 30% of the pre-settlement landscape was rolling hill habitat.
Flatwoods / savannas
Flatwoods are described as level, often poorly drained longleaf-dominated forests interspersed with swampy patches or wet prairies. The Longleaf Alliance notes these areas can begin just above tidewater and extend inland to around 130 feet above sea level.
They describe high productivity with longleaf reaching heights above 120 feet, and note that flatwoods can have the highest diversity of groundcover herbs and shrubs. Because soils can be poorly drained with low nutrient reserves, they note orchids and carnivorous plants are common in some ground layers.
Related reading
Habitat diversity helps explain why longleaf landscapes support so many plants and animals. Next: Species Diversity.