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CEGL005246 Quercus ellipsoidalis - Quercus macrocarpa - (Pinus banksiana) Rocky Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Pin Oak - Bur Oak - (Jack Pine) Rocky Woodland
Colloquial Name: Boreal Oak - Pine Rocky Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This oak - (pine) rocky woodland community is found in restricted areas of the subboreal regions of the Lake States in the United States and in adjacent Canada. Stands occur on warm, rocky outcrops and well-drained sandy sites. Soils are shallow, dry to fresh, and rapidly drained. The tree canopy is scattered and often stunted. This type is characterized by either a canopy dominated by Quercus ellipsoidalis, with occasional Quercus macrocarpa or Pinus banksiana, or with large Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, or Pinus strobus either forming an emergent canopy over the oak trees, or mixed with the oaks. These evergreen trees may have 25-75% cover; thus this type varies from pure deciduous to mixed evergreen-deciduous, and from 30% cover (woodland physiognomy) to 90% cover (forest physiognomy). Corylus cornuta, Viburnum rafinesqueanum, Quercus ellipsoidalis, and Amelanchier spp. are the most abundant species in the shrub layers and usually cover 20-40% of the forest floor. Vaccinium angustifolium is the most common dwarf-shrub and is present at low (<25%) cover. In stands with much exposed bedrock, the dwarf-shrubs Juniperus communis, Prunus pumila, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Comptonia peregrina may also be present. Cover of the herbaceous layer is highly variable, ranging from 20-80%, with the most abundant herbs being Pteridium aquilinum, Eurybia macrophylla, and Aralia nudicaulis. Species typical of bedrock outcrops and shallow soils can also be found and include Danthonia spicata, Poa alsodes, Elymus trachycaulus, Maianthemum canadense, Schizachne purpurascens, and Oryzopsis asperifolia. The nonvascular layer can be absent or present with up to 30% cover. In the open bedrock areas this layer consists mainly of the lichens Cladonia rangiferina, Cladonia arbuscula ssp. mitis, and Cladonia stellaris and, to a lesser degree, the mosses Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Hedwigia ciliata, and Orthotrichum spp. Under the canopy of oaks, the nonvascular strata consists primarily of Pleurozium schreberi and Dicranum spp. Diagnostic features of the type include the forest or woodland canopy consisting primarily of Quercus ellipsoidalis, with varying amounts of Quercus macrocarpa, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa and Pinus strobus, and a rocky substrate, with dry herbaceous, moss, and lichen species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Diagnostic features of the type are a forest or woodland canopy consisting primarily of Quercus ellipsoidalis, with varying amounts of Quercus macrocarpa, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa and Pinus strobus, and a rocky substrate, with dry herbaceous, moss, and lichen species. Though there are some differences, community analysis indicates that the floristic similarities between the woodland and forest stands warrant including them as open and closed version of this type. This type lacks Abies balsamea, and is not evergreen dominated, whereas the Boreal Pine Rocky Woodland, ~Pinus banksiana - (Picea mariana, Pinus strobus) / Vaccinium spp. Rocky Woodland (CEGL002483)$$, almost always contains it, and is evergreen-dominated. Stands of this type on Dryweed Island in Voyageurs National Park are distinct from the stands that occur in the rest of the park, presumably because of the differences in underlying bedrock. In the case of Quercus macrocarpa being dominate in the canopy, this type includes only those stands with exposed bedrock and woodland physiognomy. Forested mesic situations with Quercus macrocarpa are included in the Northern Bur Oak Mesic Forest, ~Quercus macrocarpa / Cornus drummondii / Aralia nudicaulis Forest (CEGL002072)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This type is characterized by either a canopy dominated by Quercus ellipsoidalis, with occasional Quercus macrocarpa or Pinus banksiana, or with large Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, or Pinus strobus either forming an emergent canopy over the oak trees, or mixed with the oaks. These evergreen trees may have 25-75% cover. Thus the canopy of this type varies from pure deciduous to mixed evergreen-deciduous. Stands may also vary in canopy cover from 30% (woodland physiognomy) to 90% (forest physiognomy). It is common for open bedrock ridges with oak to be found in a mosaic with more closed oak stands. In both circumstances, Corylus cornuta, Viburnum rafinesqueanum, Quercus ellipsoidalis, and Amelanchier spp. are the most abundant species in the shrub layers and usually cover 20-40% of the forest floor. Vaccinium angustifolium is the most common dwarf-shrub and is present at low (<25%) cover. In stands with much exposed bedrock, the dwarf-shrubs Juniperus communis, Prunus pumila, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Comptonia peregrina may also be present. Cover of the herbaceous layer is highly variable, ranging from 20-80%, with the most abundant herbs being Pteridium aquilinum, Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), and Aralia nudicaulis. Species typical of bedrock outcrops and shallow soils can also be found and include Danthonia spicata, Poa alsodes, Elymus trachycaulus (= Agropyron trachycaulum), Maianthemum canadense, Schizachne purpurascens, and Oryzopsis asperifolia. The nonvascular layer can be absent or present with up to 30% cover. In the open bedrock areas this layer consists mainly of the lichens Cladonia rangiferina (= Cladina rangiferina), Cladonia arbuscula ssp. mitis (= Cladina mitis), and Cladonia stellaris (= Cladina stellaris) and, to a lesser degree, the mosses Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Hedwigia ciliata, and Orthotrichum spp. Under the canopy of oaks, the nonvascular strata consists primarily of Pleurozium schreberi and Dicranum spp. (M. Smith pers. comm. 1999).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This type occurs on ridgetops and high slopes, and some dry, flat, rocky areas. Slopes range from 0-20% with variable aspects. These sites are generally dry, well-drained sites with exposed bedrock typical in the more open stands and commonly covering 10-30% of the ground. In stands with more closed canopies exposed bedrock may be absent. In both cases, soils are fairly rocky, shallow loams, averaging 3-5 cm deep. Occasional cracks in the underlying bedrock results in pockets of relatively deep (15-20 cm) soil (M. Smith pers. comm. 1999).
Geographic Range: This oak - (pine) rocky woodland community is found in the boreal regions of the Lake States of the United States, and in central Canada, ranging from northern Minnesota to adjacent northern Ontario, and possibly in Manitoba.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MN, ON
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683348
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.6 Eastern White Pine - Jack Pine - Northern Pin Oak Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M159 | 1.B.2.Na.6 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.6.b Jack Pine - Red Pine - Oak species Subboreal Woodland Group | G347 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
| Alliance | A3839 Jack Pine - Red Pine - Northern Pin Oak Subboreal Rocky Woodland Alliance | A3839 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
| Association | CEGL005246 Northern Pin Oak - Bur Oak - (Jack Pine) Rocky Woodland | CEGL005246 | 1.B.2.Na.6.b |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus ellipsoidalis - Quercus macrocarpa - (Pinus banksiana) Rocky Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Oak Woodland-Brushland (MNNHP 1993)
= Oak Woodland-Brushland (MNNHP 1993)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Hop, K., D. Faber-Langendoen, M. Lew-Smith, N. Aaseng, and S. Lubinski. [1999]. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. USDI U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI. 210 pp.
- Kurmis, V., S. L. Webb, and L. C. Merriam. 1986. Plant communities of Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, U.S.A. Canadian Journal of Botany 64:531-540.
- MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003-2005a. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota. Three volumes: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (2003), The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province (2005c), The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces (2005b). Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.
- Sims, R. A., W. D. Towill, K. A. Baldwin, P. Uhlig, and G. M. Wickware. 1997. Field guide to the forest ecosystem classification for northwestern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, North West Science and Technology, Thunder Bay, ON. Field Guide FG-03. 176 pp.
- Sims, R. A., W. D. Towill, K. A. Baldwin, and G. M. Wickware. 1989. Field guide to the forest ecosystem classification for northwestern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto. 191 pp.