Print Report
CEGL004391 Asplenium montanum Central Appalachian Sandstone Cliff Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Spleenwort Central Appalachian Sandstone Cliff Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Spleenwort Acidic Cliff
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This type includes acidic cliffs with sparse vegetation. It is typically scattered on quartzite and sandstone cliffs in the Central Appalachians, with a few disjunct occurrences on river bluffs, foothills and monadnocks of the western Piedmont in Virginia and Maryland. Vegetation is characterized by species such as Asplenium montanum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Polypodium appalachianum, and Polypodium virginianum.
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: The community is characterized by sparse herbaceous vegetation rooted in crevices and on shelves.
Floristics: The community is characterized by sparse herbaceous vegetation rooted in crevices and on shelves. Characteristic species include Asplenium montanum, Asplenium pinnatifidum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex argyrantha, Polypodium virginianum (= Polypodium vulgare) (lower elevations), Polypodium appalachianum (higher elevations), Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Dicentra eximia, Paronychia argyrocoma (drier sites), and Heuchera villosa. Small seedlings of woody species such as Betula lenta, Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron maximum, and Quercus montana may also be present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association typically occupies more-or-less vertical faces of quartzite and sandstone cliffs. Local moisture conditions and degree of shading from overhanging trees varies among sites.
Geographic Range: This community is scattered throughout the Central Appalachians, with a few disjunct occurrences on river bluffs, foothills and monadnocks of the western Piedmont in Virginia and Maryland.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MD, TN?, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683657
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.1 Shrubby Fivefingers - Rock Polypody / Cup Lichen species Eastern North American Cliff & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M111 | 6.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.1.c Appalachian Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G840 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A2071 Appalachian Acidic Cliff Alliance | A2071 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL004391 Mountain Spleenwort Central Appalachian Sandstone Cliff Vegetation | CEGL004391 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? SNE acidic cliff community (Rawinski 1984a)
- 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/]
- Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
- Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
- Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.