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CEGL006399 Prunus serotina - Rhus typhina Scrub Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Cherry - Staghorn Sumac Scrub Forest
Colloquial Name: Rocky Headland Scrub Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association represents maritime shrublands or scrub forests of northern New England rocky shorelines, headlands, and bluffs. Vegetation is continuously exposed to onshore winds and salt spray and grows in thin, dry, acidic soils. The constant disturbance and environmental conditions maintain an early-successional shrubland or scrub forest that tends to be patchy and variable, and often sparse. Characteristic shrubs include Prunus serotina, Morella pensylvanica, Rosa virginiana, Rosa rugosa, Prunus maritima, Amelanchier canadensis, Rhus typhina, and stunted Juniperus virginiana. Toxicodendron radicans is a common vine. Herbs are also patchy and may include Solidago sempervirens, Plantago maritima, Cakile edentula, Lathyrus japonicus, Oenothera biennis, Euthamia graminifolia, Baptisia tinctoria, Sericocarpus asteroides, Solidago rugosa, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, as well as Tanacetum vulgare, Achillea millefolium, Juncus effusus, and Lonicera morrowii. In more protected areas and where there is more moisture, vegetation can be more diverse and abundant.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The species composition of this association is comparable to maritime shrublands on dunes, but is distinguished by having sparse vegetation on exposed rocky headlands and cliffs that typically lack coastal dune species. The relationship between this community and ~Juniperus virginiana / Morella pensylvanica Woodland (CEGL006212)$$ needs to be determined.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is an early-successional shrubland or scrub forest that tends to be patchy and variable, and often sparse. Characteristic shrubs include Prunus serotina, Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), Juniperus virginiana, Rosa virginiana, Rosa rugosa, Prunus maritima, Amelanchier canadensis, and Rhus typhina. Toxicodendron radicans, Smilax rotundifolia, and Parthenocissus quinquefolia can be common vines. Herbs are also patchy and may include Solidago sempervirens, Plantago maritima, Cakile edentula, Lathyrus japonicus, Oenothera biennis, Solidago rugosa, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, Juncus spp., as well as Tanacetum vulgare, Achillea millefolium, Juncus effusus, and Lonicera morrowii. In more protected areas and where there is more moisture, vegetation can be more diverse and abundant. For example, in wetter crevices, Photinia spp. (= Aronia spp.) and Clethra alnifolia can occur.
Dynamics: This is an early successional shrubland due to the constant disturbance and harsh environmental conditions. The rocky coastline setting is also a common target for recreation; this habitat can receive a great deal of foot traffic.
Environmental Description: This association occurs on rocky shorelines and headlands exposed to onshore winds and salt spray. Vegetation grows in crevices or on thin, dry, acidic soils of ledges.
Geographic Range: This association occurs from Maine to Rhode Island.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: CT?, MA, ME, NH, QC?, RI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683668
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 | A0237 Black Cherry - Serviceberry species - Eastern Red-cedar Maritime Scrub Forest Alliance | A0237 | 1.B.2.Na.9.c |
| Association | CEGL006399 Black Cherry - Staghorn Sumac Scrub Forest | CEGL006399 | 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: ? SNE coastal rocky headland community (Rawinski 1984a)
? Southern New England coastal rocky headland community (Rawinski 1984a)
? Southern New England coastal rocky headland community (Rawinski 1984a)
- CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Enser, R. W., and J. A. Lundgren. 2006. Natural communities of Rhode Island. A joint project of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Natural Heritage Program and The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island. Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Kingston. 40 pp. [www.rinhs.org]
- Gawler, S. C. 2002. Natural landscapes of Maine: A guide to vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta, ME.
- Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.
- Largay, E. F., and L. A. Sneddon. 2017. Vegetation mapping and classification of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2017/1529. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.
- Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.
- 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]