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Llano Uplift

Ecoregion on Great Plains, Edwards Plateau in TX

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The Llano Uplift ecoregion is actually a basin; in some places, it is 1000 feet below the level of the surrounding limestone escarpment. It gets its name from the granitic mass (batholith) that is exposed in the basin, granite that has been dated at one billion years old. Upland soils are shallow, reddish brown, stony, sandy loams over granite, gneiss, and schist with deeper sandy loams in the valleys. Soils tend to be acidic in contrast to the alkaline soils of the Edwards Plateau Woodland (30a) surrounding Ecoregion 30b. The woody vegetation has elements of both 30a and the Cross Timbers (29b and 29c), with plateau live oak, honey mesquite, post oak, blackjack oak, cedar elm, and some black hickory present depending on aspect and habitat. Flora normally found in the deserts of West Texas, such as catclaw mimosa and soaptree yucca, also occur on dry sites. Ashe juniper and Texas oak are generally absent from the Llano Uplift; they are found mainly on the slopes of the limestone escarpment surrounding the basin or on limestone inclusions. Grasses include little bluestem, switchgrass, yellow Indiangrass, and silver bluestem. Dome-like granite hills and outcrops contain unusual plant communities. Although ranching is the major land use, level areas of sandy loam produce wheat, sorghum, and peaches.

— EPA

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