Print Report
CEGL006067 Morella pensylvanica / Schizachyrium littorale - Danthonia spicata Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Bayberry / Shore Little Bluestem - Poverty Oatgrass Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: Sandplain Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association comprises sandplain grasslands of the northeastern Atlantic coast. They occur on dry, nutrient-poor, sandy/gravelly soils of outwash plains influenced by offshore winds and salt spray. They are often associated with frost pockets on the landscape. The herbaceous layer is very diverse; graminoids are dominant and tend to form a dense turf. Dominant species include Schizachyrium littorale, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex pensylvanica, and occasionally Andropogon gerardii. Other typical species include Ionactis linariifolius, Solidago puberula, Lechea maritima, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Polygala polygama, Sericocarpus asteroides, Symphyotrichum dumosum, Helianthemum dumosum, Juncus greenei, Pityopsis falcata, Euthamia graminifolia, Euthamia caroliniana, Solidago nemoralis, Tephrosia virginiana, Dichanthelium scoparium, Liatris scariosa var. novae-angliae, Chrysopsis mariana, Aristida purpurascens, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia tinctoria, Viola pedata, Symphyotrichum concolor, Linum intercursum, and others. Lichens are generally present, characteristically including Cladonia rangiferina. Low shrubs can occur with variable cover (up to 50%). Species can include Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Morella pensylvanica, Comptonia peregrina, Quercus ilicifolia, Rhus copallinum, and Rubus flagellaris.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Sandplain grasslands are similar in species composition and environmental setting to sandplain heathlands. They differ in being more species-rich, having slightly higher soil fertility, and having less shrub cover.
Dunwiddie et al. (1993) have subdivided this community into two variants based on differences in the relative abundances and dominance patterns of the component species. They refer to these as (1) Little bluestem grassland, dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium and containing many rare species, and (2) Hairgrass grassland, dominated by Danthonia spicata and generally less species-rich than the little bluestem sites. Because the whole complex is rare and because some of these divisions are somewhat finer than those recognized by other states, we are categorizing the entire complex as a single element. However, the finer subdivisions are useful for site management, and further research may justify the acknowledgement of the subdivisions at the element level.
Dunwiddie et al. (1993) have subdivided this community into two variants based on differences in the relative abundances and dominance patterns of the component species. They refer to these as (1) Little bluestem grassland, dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium and containing many rare species, and (2) Hairgrass grassland, dominated by Danthonia spicata and generally less species-rich than the little bluestem sites. Because the whole complex is rare and because some of these divisions are somewhat finer than those recognized by other states, we are categorizing the entire complex as a single element. However, the finer subdivisions are useful for site management, and further research may justify the acknowledgement of the subdivisions at the element level.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The herbaceous layer is very diverse; graminoids are dominant and tend to form a dense turf. Dominant species include Schizachyrium littorale (= Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale), Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex pensylvanica, and occasionally Andropogon gerardii. Other typical species include Ionactis linariifolius, Solidago puberula, Lechea maritima, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Polygala polygama, Sericocarpus asteroides (= Aster paternus), Symphyotrichum dumosum (= Aster dumosus), Helianthemum dumosum, Juncus greenei, Pityopsis falcata, Euthamia graminifolia, Euthamia caroliniana (= Euthamia tenuifolia), Solidago nemoralis, Tephrosia virginiana, Dichanthelium scoparium, Liatris scariosa var. novae-angliae, Chrysopsis mariana, Aristida purpurascens, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia tinctoria, Viola pedata, Symphyotrichum concolor (= Aster concolor), Linum intercursum, and others. Lichens are generally present, characteristically including Cladonia rangiferina (= Cladina rangiferina). Low shrubs can occur with variable cover (up to 50%). Species can include Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), Comptonia peregrina, Quercus ilicifolia, Rhus copallinum, and Rubus flagellaris. Several rare species occur in this community type including Helianthemum dumosum, Linum intercursum, and Liatris scariosa var. novae-angliae.
Dynamics: This type occurs on the landscape in association with sandplain heathlands, scrub oak shrublands, and coastal/maritime shrublands and forests.
Environmental Description: This association occurs on dry, nutrient-poor, sandy/gravelly soils of outwash plains influenced by offshore winds and salt spray. They are often associated with frost pockets on the landscape.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in patches along the northeastern seacoast and on offshore islands of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MA, NY, RI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683124
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup | M057 | 2.B.4.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.2.e Bear Oak - Sheep Laurel - Kinnikinnick Sand Barrens Group | G063 | 2.B.4.Na.2.e |
| Alliance | A4369 Northern Bayberry / Little Bluestem species Heath & Grassland Alliance | A4369 | 2.B.4.Na.2.e |
| Association | CEGL006067 Northern Bayberry / Shore Little Bluestem - Poverty Oatgrass Shrub Grassland | CEGL006067 | 2.B.4.Na.2.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Heathy grassland (Dunwiddie et al. 1996)
> High-diversity native grassland (Dunwiddie et al. 1996)
? Moorland (Lundgren 2000)
> Pennsylvania sedge grassland (Dunwiddie et al. 1996)
? Sandplain Grassland (Rawinski 1984a)
> High-diversity native grassland (Dunwiddie et al. 1996)
? Moorland (Lundgren 2000)
> Pennsylvania sedge grassland (Dunwiddie et al. 1996)
? Sandplain Grassland (Rawinski 1984a)
- Askings, R. A. 1997. History of grasslands in the northeastern United States: Implications for bird conservation. Pages 119-136 in: P. D. Vickery and P. W. Dunwiddie, editors. Grasslands of northeastern North America. Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln.
- Dowhan, J. J., and R. Rozsa. 1989. Flora of Fire Island, Suffolk Country, New York. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 116:265-282.
- Dunwiddie, P. W., K. A. Harper, and B. Zaremba. 1993. Classification and ranking of coastal heathlands and sandplain grasslands in Massachusetts. Final report to the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Boston, MA.
- Dunwiddie, P. W., R. E. Zaremba, and K. A. Harper. 1996. A classification of coastal heathlands and sandplain grasslands in Massachusetts. Rhodora 98(894):117-145.
- Dunwiddie, P. W., W. A. Patterson, J. L. Rudnicky, and R. E. Zaremba. 1997. Vegetation management in coastal grasslands on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts: Effects of burning and mowing from 1982-1993. Pages 85-98 in: P. D. Vickery and P. W. Dunwiddie, editors. Grasslands of northeastern North America. Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln.
- Dunwiddie, P. W., and C. Caljouw. 1990. Prescribed burning and mowing of coastal heathlands and grasslands in Massachusetts. Pages 271-275 in: R. S. Sheviak, C. J. Sheviak, and D. J. Leopold, editors. Proceedings of the 15th annual Natural Areas Conference. New York State Museum Bulletin No. 471.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
- Enser, R. W., and J. A. Lundgren. 2006. Natural communities of Rhode Island. A joint project of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Natural Heritage Program and The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island. Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Kingston. 40 pp. [www.rinhs.org]
- Goldstein, P. Z. 1997. Lepidopteran assemblages and the management of sandplain communities on Martha''s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Pages 217-236 in: P. D. Vickery and P. W. Dunwiddie, editors. Grasslands of northeastern North America. Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln.
- Klopfer, S. D., A. Olivero, L. Sneddon, and J. Lundgren. 2002. Final report of the NPS Vegetation Mapping Project at Fire Island National Seashore. Conservation Management Institute, GIS & Remote Sensing Division, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. 193 pp.
- Lundgren, J. 2000. Lower New England - Northern Piedmont Ecoregion Forest Classification. The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Science, Boston, MA. 72 pp.
- Lundgren, J. A. 1998. Natural communities of coastal Massachusetts: Inventory and assessment. Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Boston, MA.
- Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.
- Reschke, C. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY. 96 pp.
- Sneddon, L. A., Zaremba, R. E., and M. Adams. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. Natural Resources Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2010/147. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 481 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/caco/cacorpt.pdf]
- Sneddon, L., and J. Lundgren. 2001. Vegetation classification of Fire Island National Seashore and William Floyd Estate. Final Draft. TNC/ABI Vegetation Mapping Program. 87 pp.
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2014. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 2.0. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/nhesp/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]
- Taylor, N. 1923. The vegetation of Montauk: A study of grassland and forest. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Memoirs 2:1-107.