The oak woodlands were one of the most common plant communities found in the presettlement deciduous zone in Minnesota.  It's an intermediate community between oak forests and oak savanna. Oak woodlands tend to be more prevalent on dry sites than other tree species. Oak trees have adapted to fire, which was an important ecological factor in presettlement times. Common plants found in the oak woodlands are oak trees, raspberries, gooseberries, cherries, hazel, and prickly ash. Bracket fungi and wildflowers are also found in an oak woodland.

An introduced plant species that is now common in the oak woodland is Common Buckthorn.

In addition to their plant species, oak woodlands are characterized by their vertical and horizontal structure. 

Link to woodland ecology for more information about our woodland

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Authors: Melissa Minter, Laurie Hanson, and Kerry Dennison.  October 2001.

© 2013 Anoka-Ramsey Community College - Biology Department.

The contents of this page have not been reviewed by ARCC.

Last Updated -July 28, 2016

Comments or Problems contact:

Melanie Waite-Altringer or Joan McKearnan or Terry Teppen