Print Report

CEGL006373 Quercus stellata - Quercus velutina / Morella pensylvanica / Deschampsia flexuosa Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Post Oak - Black Oak / Northern Bayberry / Wavy Hairgrass Forest

Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Coast Maritime Post Oak Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This vegetation is a maritime oak forest of bluffs, sand spits, and salt marsh borders along the North Atlantic Coast. It is dominated by stunted, wind- and salt-pruned Quercus stellata, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus alba. Juniperus virginiana may contribute a minor cover to the canopy. A dense shrub layer is made up of Morella pensylvanica, Gaylussacia baccata, and Prunus serotina with a heavy component of vines such as Smilax rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Vitis aestivalis. Herbaceous species are sparse and include Deschampsia flexuosa. Vegetation varies to a degree along topo-edaphic gradients.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This maritime oak forest is dominated by stunted, wind- and salt-pruned Quercus stellata, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus alba. Juniperus virginiana may contribute minor cover to the canopy. A dense shrub layer is made up of Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), Gaylussacia baccata, and Prunus serotina with a heavy component of vines such as Smilax rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Vitis aestivalis. Herbaceous species are sparse and include Deschampsia flexuosa. Vegetation varies to a degree along topo-edaphic gradients: a post oak-catbrier forest is the typical variety; a post oak-basswood variant occurs on dune sands atop morainal bluffs; and a post oak-blackjack oak variant occurs on reddish sandy clay loam ridges of Staten Island (Reschke et al. 2002).

Dynamics:  This community is heavily influenced by maritime processes, especially salt spray and wind-pruning.
Environmental Description:  This vegetation occurs on bluffs, sand spits, and salt marsh borders within 200 m of the seacoast.
Geographic Range: Currently described from Long Island, New York, and Connecticut. It possibly occurs in New Jersey.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, NJ?, NY


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F008 1.B.2
Division 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division D008 1.B.2.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Na.9 Pitch Pine - oak spp. - American Holly North Atlantic Forest Macrogroup M525 1.B.2.Na.9
Group 1.B.2.Na.9.c Pitch Pine - American Beech / Northern Bayberry Maritime Forest Group G893 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Alliance A2032 Black Oak - American Beech - American Holly Maritime Forest Alliance A2032 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Association CEGL006373 Post Oak - Black Oak / Northern Bayberry / Wavy Hairgrass Forest CEGL006373 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Pinus rigida - Quercus stellata woodlands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Black Oak, Post Oak-Vine Maritime Strand Forest (Greller 1977)
? CNE Mesic hardwood Forest on acidic bedrock / till (Rawinski 1984a)
? Maritime Forest, Dune Subtype, Deciduous Forest (Rawinski 1984a)
? Maritime forest (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE Maritime Forest on Dunes/Maritime Juniper Forest (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE Maritime Forest on Uplands/Maritime Oak Forest (Rawinski 1984a) [also Coastal Forest.]
? Southern New England oak / pine forest on sandy / gravelly soils (Rawinski 1984a)
Concept Author(s): D. Hunt (NYNHP)

Author of Description: S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-09-02
  • Breden, T. F. 1989. A preliminary natural community classification for New Jersey. Pages 157-191 in: E. F. Karlin, editor. New Jersey''s rare and endangered plants and animals. Institute for Environmental Studies, Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ. 280 pp.
  • 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.
  • Greller, A. M. 1977. A classification of mature forests on Long Island, New York. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 104:376-382.
  • Hunt, D. 1997a. Long Island oak forest project: Classification justification. Unpublished materials. New York Natural Heritage Program, Latham, NY.
  • 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.
  • Metzler, K., and J. Barrett. 2006. The vegetation of Connecticut: A preliminary classification. State Geological and Natural History Survey, Report of Investigations No. 12. Connecticut Natural Diversity Database, Hartford, CT.
  • Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.
  • Reschke, Carol. Personal communication. Ecologist, New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY.
  • 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]