Print Report

CEGL006562 Pinus virginiana - Quercus montana / Packera antennariifolia - Phlox subulata Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Virginia Pine - Chestnut Oak / Shale Barren Ragwort - Moss Phlox Woodland

Colloquial Name: Chestnut Oak - Virginia Pine / Ragwort Acidic Shale Woodland (Southern Type)

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: These patchy woodland barrens are found in the southern half of the Central Appalachians on steep, unstable shale slopes. The southeast-to-southwest aspect and high cover of shale fragments contribute to a xeric moisture regime. This and the acidic pH limit the establishment and survival of many vascular plants while favoring a number of specially adapted ones. Most commonly exhibiting a patchy woodland cover, often with herbaceous openings, these barrens occasionally range from a closed canopy to open shrublands; most sites have less than 50% canopy cover of stunted trees. Shrubs are often sparse and usually less than 30% cover. Herbaceous cover varies widely but is typically less than 50%. Pinus virginiana and Quercus montana, in varying mixtures, are the dominant trees. Associates vary from site to site; the more frequent are Carya glabra, Quercus rubra, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana, Quercus alba, Pinus strobus, Quercus velutina, and Carya ovata. Amelanchier arborea is a common small tree. Shrubs include Quercus ilicifolia, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Rosa carolina, and Rhus aromatica. The ground layer is dominated by the graminoids Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, and occasionally Schizachyrium scoparium. The species-rich and distinctive forb component is characterized by shale-barren endemics or near-endemics including Paronychia montana, Packera antennariifolia, Antennaria virginica, Scutellaria ovata, and Clematis albicoma, as well as the wider-ranging species Houstonia longifolia, Phlox subulata, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Cunila origanoides, Potentilla canadensis, the fern Cheilanthes lanosa, Campanula divaricata, Solidago bicolor, Lespedeza spp., Clematis coactilis, Coreopsis major, Symphyotrichum undulatum, Helianthus divaricatus, and Viola pedata. Additional shale-barren endemics or near-endemics that may occur in this type include Arabis serotina, Eriogonum allenii, Oenothera argillicola, Solidago arguta var. harrisii, Taenidia montana, and Trifolium virginicum. This association is distinguished from other acidic shale-barren types in the Central Appalachians by its higher species richness and presence of more shale-barren endemics or near-endemics. Indicators include Phlox subulata, Packera antennariifolia, Antennaria virginica, Arabis serotina, Campanula divaricata, Clematis coactilis, Clematis albicoma, Penstemon canescens, Penstemon pallidus, Silene caroliniana, and Sedum glaucophyllum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association represents the classic shale barren of west-central Virginia and adjacent West Virginia, the region in which these habitats and their endemic or near-endemic flora are most abundant. Both the environment and vegetation of this unit are unique and easily recognized. The dangerously steep, warm slopes with exposed shale outcrops, fragments, and mineral soil are diagnostic, along with a distinctive floristic assemblage with several shale-barren endemics.

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

Floristics: Stand physiognomy varies from largely herbaceous with sparse scrub to open stunted woodland. The most characteristic woody plants are stunted (maximum 10-15 m tall) Pinus virginiana, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Carya glabra, and Amelanchier arborea. Less frequent woody associates include Quercus ilicifolia, Quercus velutina, Quercus rubra, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana and, rarely, Quercus stellata. Rosa carolina, Vaccinium stamineum, and/or Rhus aromatica form low shrub patches at many sites. Stands typically have patchy (25-40%) herb cover in a matrix of exposed shale fragments and soil. The graminoids Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata and, more locally, Schizachyrium scoparium contribute the greatest herb cover, with the forbs Phlox subulata, Houstonia longifolia, Paronychia montana, and Potentilla canadensis also relatively constant and locally abundant. Other herbs with relatively high constancies in plot samples include Packera antennariifolia (= Senecio antennariifolius), Asplenium platyneuron, Allium cernuum, Helianthus divaricatus, Dichanthelium depauperatum, Penstemon canescens, Solidago bicolor, and Campanula divaricata. Inconstant, but nevertheless characteristic, herbs include Antennaria virginica, Arabis serotina, Helianthus laevigatus, Penstemon pallidus, Clematis albicoma, Clematis coactilis, and Galium circaezans. Many additional species, both woody and herbaceous, occur at low cover. Despite its xerophytic character, this community type has relatively high species richness (mean = 42 taxa per 100 m2; = 49 taxa per 400 m2 and 1000 m2, higher than any of the other acidic shale-barren types in the Central Appalachians. Rare species associated with this community include Arabis serotina, Cheilanthes eatonii, Echinacea laevigata, and Erysimum capitatum. Other endemic or near-endemic shale-barren plants recorded in stands of this type are Clematis albicoma, Eriogonum allenii, Packera antennariifolia, and Trifolium virginicum.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Habitats are steep to very steep (up to 45°, mean = 28°), unstable shale slopes. Instability is the result of ongoing incision of thick but relatively weak shale strata by small to large streams, and continual mass wasting of the exposed substrates. These slopes are strongly convex in at least one direction, with southerly aspects and high surface cover of exposed mineral soil (mean in plots = 19%) and small shale fragments (mean = 25%). Shale bedrock exposures are common, averaging 12% of plot-sampled areas. Soils are very strongly acidic (mean pH = 4.8) with relatively low base status. Organic (O) horizons are absent, or nearly so. Both the south to west aspects and the shedding of rainwater by surficial shale fragments contribute to a xeric moisture regime with high summer soil temperatures and evaporation rates. These factors limit the establishment and survival of many vascular plants while favoring a number of specially adapted ones (Allard and Leonard 1946, Platt 1951, Braunschweig et al. 1999).
Geographic Range: This community is endemic to the Central Appalachian region of west-central Virginia and eastern West Virginia. In Virginia, it is mostly confined to Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian shales of the Ridge and Valley province. There are a few, very localized occurrences on Cambrian (Harpers Formation) metasiltstone and phyllite of the Northern Blue Ridge, and a single known occurrence on Cambrian (Hampton Formation) shale in the Ridge and Valley (Wythe County). In West Virginia, it occurs on Devonian shales (Brallier Formation and Chemung Group) in Pendleton, Greenbrier, and Monroe counties.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  VA, WV


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup M502 1.B.2.Na.2
Group 1.B.2.Na.2.h Pitch Pine - Virginia Pine - Bear Oak Woodland & Barrens Group G906 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Alliance A3312 Virginia Pine - Chestnut Oak Acidic Shale Woodland Alliance A3312 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Association CEGL006562 Virginia Pine - Chestnut Oak / Shale Barren Ragwort - Moss Phlox Woodland CEGL006562 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Concept Lineage: CEGL006564 merged into CEGL006562. CEGL006541 is an herbaceous patch-type that can occur within many shale barrens, but it was decided that it did not make sense to segregate it as its own association. Vegetation patches resembling CEGL006541 could be found as part of CEGL006037, CEGL006562, CEGL006288, CEGL008530.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Juniperus virginiana / Schizachyrium scoparium - Eriogonum allenii - Senecio antennariifolius Woodland (Fleming and Moorhead 2000)
? Pinus virginiana - (Quercus alba) / (Carya ovata, Quercus alba) / Carex pensylvanica - Antennaria virginicus shale barren woodland (Vanderhorst 2002a)
= Pinus virginiana - Quercus prinus - Carya glabra / Phlox subulata - Packera antennariifolia Woodland (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
? Pinus virginiana - Quercus prinus / Carex pensylvanica - (Arabis serotina, Clematis albicoma) shale barren woodland (Vanderhorst 2002a)
= Pinus virginiana - Quercus prinus / Packera antennariifolia - Phlox subulata Woodland (Fleming and Patterson 2009a)
? Pinus virginiana - Quercus prinus / Senecio antennariifolius Association and all nested subassociations (Rawinski et al. 1996)
Concept Author(s): G. Fleming and P. Coulling (2001)

Author of Description: G. Fleming, P. Coulling, S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-01-05
  • Allard, H. A., and E. C. Leonard. 1946. Shale barren associations on Massanutten Mountain, Virginia. Castanea 11:71-124.
  • Braunschweig, S. H., E. T. Nilsen, and T. F. Wieboldt. 1999. The mid-Appalachian shale barrens. Pages 83-98 in: R. C. Anderson, J. S. Fralish, and J. M. Baskin. Savannas, barrens, and rock outcrop plant communities of North America. Cambridge University Press, NY.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
  • Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009a. A vegetation classification for the Appalachian Trail: Virginia south to Georgia. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. In-house analysis, March 2009.
  • Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009b. Classification of selected Virginia montane wetland groups. In-house analysis, December 2009. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
  • Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulling. 2001. Ecological communities of the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Preliminary classification and description of vegetation types. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 317 pp.
  • Fleming, G. P., and W. H. Moorhead, III. 2000. Plant communities and ecological land units of the Peter''s Mountain area, James River Ranger District, George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical Report 00-07. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. Unpublished report submitted to the USDA Forest Service. 195 pp. plus appendices.
  • Platt, R. B. 1951. An ecological study of the mid-Appalachian shale barrens and of the plants endemic to them. Ecological Monographs 21:269-300.
  • Rawinski, T. J., K. N. Hickman, J. Waller-Eling, G. P. Fleming, C. S. Austin, S. D. Helmick, C. Huber, G. Kappesser, F. C. Huber, Jr., T. Bailey, and T. K. Collins. 1996. Plant communities and ecological land units of the Glenwood Ranger District, George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report 96-20. Richmond. 65 pp. plus appendices.
  • Vanderhorst, J. 2002a. Classification of West Virginia shale barrens. Draft report. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program. 13 pp.
  • Vanderhorst, J. 2017a. Wild vegetation of West Virginia: High floodplain forests and woodlands. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program. [http://wvdnr.gov/Wildlife/Factsheets/HighFloodplain.shtm]
  • WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.