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CEGL008430 Quercus alba - (Quercus montana) / (Hydrangea quercifolia) - Viburnum acerifolium / Carex picta Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - (Chestnut Oak) / (Oakleaf Hydrangea) - Mapleleaf Viburnum / Painted Sedge Forest
Colloquial Name: Cumberland Plateau Dry-Mesic White Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association includes dry-mesic white oak forests of the southern Cumberland Plateau in Alabama and Tennessee. This forest occurs mostly over sandstone-derived soils, on middle to high slopes and ridges; also included are areas influenced by calcareous rocks or soils. Diagnostic features of this association are canopy dominance by Quercus alba, with an overall dry-mesic species composition, signified by the prominence of Quercus montana, Vaccinium spp., Oxydendrum arboreum, Cornus florida, and by the absence or low coverage of mesophytic forest species (e.g., Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia acuminata, Euonymus americanus). In the Bankhead National Forest of Alabama, where the type was initially identified, the high constancy of Magnolia macrophylla, Hydrangea quercifolia, and Carex picta serve to help identify this type, but these taxa are not necessarily good indicators throughout its range, Additionally, Pinus taeda and/or Pinus virginiana (especially on higher slopes) may also be present but may indicate past disturbance. The most common subcanopy species are Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, and Magnolia macrophylla (within its range). On higher slopes and ridges Nyssa sylvatica and Carya glabra become additional, important subcanopy components. In areas with a calcareous influence, Ostrya virginiana may be dominant in the subcanopy. The shrub strata vary in density from site to site, but the constant shrub species are Hydrangea quercifolia and Viburnum acerifolium. On high slopes and ridges, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Vaccinium pallidum become shrub components, sometimes dominating the shrub layers. The herbaceous stratum can be sparse but often has patches of local dominance by Carex picta (within its range), especially on lower to middle slopes. Piptochaetium avenaceum and Vitis rotundifolia are characteristic of occurrences on high slopes and ridges. Additional herbs with high constancy are Polystichum acrostichoides and Chimaphila maculata, although other species may be present in more mesic examples of this forest.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Examples of this association in more protected situations begin to resemble ~Quercus alba - Fagus grandifolia / Hydrangea quercifolia - Viburnum acerifolium / Carex picta Forest (CEGL007213)$$. Overall this association (CEGL008430) is different from CEGL007213 and ~Quercus alba - (Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua) / Calycanthus floridus / Athyrium filix-femina Forest (CEGL008428)$$ because it is on drier habitats and because of the absence or low coverage of mesophytic forest species (e.g., Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia acuminata, Euonymus americanus). A very similar association defined from the Interior Low Plateau of Tennessee is ~Quercus alba - Carya tomentosa - (Quercus velutina) / Desmodium nudiflorum - (Carex picta) Forest (CEGL007795)$$, but differs by its lack of Quercus montana and many of the character species (e.g., Magnolia macrophylla, Hydrangea quercifolia) found in this type (CEGL008430).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a closed-canopy, deciduous forest with sparse, open to patchy shrub strata, and a variable herbaceous stratum. The canopy is always dominated by Quercus alba, with Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) usually codominating or occurring as a prominent canopy tree. Quercus stellata may be present in some examples. Pinus taeda or, on higher slopes, Pinus virginiana may blend in from adjacent forests or occur as an artifact of past disturbance. The most common subcanopy species are Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, and Magnolia macrophylla (within its range). On higher slopes and ridges Nyssa sylvatica and Carya glabra become additional, important subcanopy components. In areas with a calcareous influence, Ostrya virginiana may be dominant in the subcanopy. Other minor canopy and subcanopy trees may include Acer leucoderme, Acer rubrum, Amelanchier arborea, Fagus grandifolia, Prunus serotina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus falcata. The shrub strata vary in density from site to site, but the constant shrub species are Hydrangea quercifolia (in Alabama) and Viburnum acerifolium. On high slopes and ridges, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Vaccinium pallidum become shrub components, sometimes dominating the shrub layers. On more mesic sites, Acer leucoderme, Acer rubrum, and Amelanchier arborea are shrubs. The herbaceous stratum can be sparse but often has patches of local dominance by Carex picta (within its range), especially on lower to middle slopes. Piptochaetium avenaceum and Vitis rotundifolia are characteristic of occurrences on high slopes and ridges. Additional herbs with high constancy are Polystichum acrostichoides and Chimaphila maculata, although other species may be present in more mesic and calcareous examples of this forest. Sparse coverage by species such as Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Collinsonia canadensis, Phryma leptostachya, Maianthemum racemosum, and Geranium maculatum are possible in such examples.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest can occur on all slope positions but is mostly found on middle to high slopes and ridges. Examples are typically supported by sandstone-derived soils, although some examples may have a calcareous influence (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data).
Geographic Range: This community occurs in the southern Cumberland Plateau of the southeastern United States. It is currently defined as occurring in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee, but it may extend into adjacent states.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, KY, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683394
Confidence Level: Low
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.a Chestnut Oak - Hickory species / American Chestnut Forest Group | G015 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A4390 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Quercus montana Forest Alliance | A4390 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL008430 White Oak - (Chestnut Oak) / (Oakleaf Hydrangea) - Mapleleaf Viburnum / Painted Sedge Forest | CEGL008430 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chestnut Oak - White Oak Type (Schmalzer and DeSelm 1982)
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Schmalzer, P. A., and H. R. DeSelm. 1982. Vegetation, endangered and threatened plants, critical plant habitats and vascular flora of the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Unpublished report. USDI National Park Service, Obed Wild and Scenic River. 2 volumes. 369 pp.
- Schotz, A., H. Summer, and R. White, Jr. 2008. Vascular plant inventory and ecological community classification for Little River Canyon National Preserve. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 244 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.