Print Report
CEGL008526 Quercus montana / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak / Bear Oak / Poverty Oatgrass Woodland
Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Xeric Shale Woodland (Chestnut Oak / Mixed Herbs Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The known range of this vegetation type includes the extreme northern end of the Southern Blue Ridge, the western flank of the Northern Blue Ridge, and the Ridge and Valley region of Virginia and Maryland. The likely global range encompasses the entire Central Appalachian extent of these provinces in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Stands are generally confined to low elevations, up to about 840 m (2760 feet), but exceptionally to 1100 m (3600 feet). Habitats are mostly steep, south- to west-facing, middle to upper slopes with abundant shale outcrops, loose stones, and exposed mineral soils. However, substrates appear to be relatively stable and lack the ongoing erosional processes of shale barrens, which these habitats often border on the landscape. Slope shape is typically convex in at least one direction. Site moisture potential is very low. This community is an open to very open woodland dominated by Quercus montana. Overstory trees are often stunted and gnarled. Quercus rubra and Carya glabra are constant, usually minor canopy associates that attain codominance with Quercus montana locally. Pinus virginiana is an important canopy associate in some situations, but is entirely absent from other stands of the type. Understory tree layers are sparse, consisting mostly of younger reproduction of the canopy species. Quercus ilicifolia, Vaccinium stamineum, and Vaccinium pallidum are the chief species of a patchy shrub layer, which may also include Rosa carolina, Amelanchier arborea, and Viburnum rafinesqueanum. Quercus ilicifolia usually forms open colonies in this community type, rather than the dense thickets characteristic in pyrophytic pine-oak/heath vegetation. The herb layer is typically quite patchy and sparse but contains a surprising diversity of xerophytic graminoids and forbs.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community type is floristically similar to ~Pinus virginiana - Quercus montana / Quercus ilicifolia / (Hieracium greenii, Viola pedata) Woodland (CEGL008525)$$ but differs in the dominance of hardwoods (versus Pinus virginiana) and in its much greater herbaceous diversity and overall species richness (n = 33 versus 15 per 400 m2). Edaphic stresses are probably the most important ecological factor maintaining this woodland, but many stands have undoubtedly been influenced by periodic fires as well, which may account for some of the compositional differences with CEGL008525. Although soil samples collected from plots of both community types were similar in pH and base status, we suspect that differences in soil fertility, texture, and/or stability may also distinguish these types. More intensive study of the environmental differences between the two units is warranted. In a regional analysis (1134 plots from Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia) for the Southern Appalachian portion of the Appalachian Trail, a small group of nine plots was classified as this association (Fleming and Patterson 2009a). This association is represented by a total of 18 plots (12 Virginia, 6 Maryland).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is an open to very open woodland dominated by Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus). Overstory trees are often stunted and gnarled. Quercus rubra and Carya glabra are constant, usually minor canopy associates that attain codominance with Quercus montana locally. Pinus virginiana is an important canopy associate in some situations, but is entirely absent from other stands of the type. Understory tree layers are sparse, consisting mostly of younger reproduction of the canopy species. Quercus ilicifolia, Vaccinium stamineum, and Vaccinium pallidum are the chief species of a patchy shrub layer, which may also include Rosa carolina, Amelanchier arborea, and Viburnum rafinesqueanum. Quercus ilicifolia usually forms open colonies in this community type, rather than the dense thickets characteristic in pyrophytic pine-oak/heath vegetation. The herb layer is typically quite patchy and sparse, but contains a surprising diversity of xerophytic graminoids and forbs. The most characteristic herbs are Danthonia spicata, Carex pensylvanica, Solidago bicolor, Houstonia longifolia, Hieracium greenii, Symphyotrichum undulatum (= Aster undulatus), Potentilla canadensis, Penstemon canescens, and Polygonatum biflorum. Species that are less constant but locally important include Paronychia montana, Parthenium integrifolium, Silene caroliniana ssp. pensylvanica, Aureolaria laevigata, Coreopsis major, Campanula divaricata, Solidago erecta, Cunila origanoides, Antennaria virginica, Phlox latifolia, Helianthus laevigatus, and Liatris pilosa (= Liatris graminifolia). Scattered individuals of shale barren endemics such as Packera antennariifolia (= Senecio antennariifolius) and Clematis albicoma occasionally occur in this community, particularly where stands border well-developed shale barrens, but are not characteristic. Species richness of plot-sampled stands ranges from 16 to 64 taxa per 400 m2 (mean = 33).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: With the exception of one site underlain by Tuscarora quartzite, plot-sampling locations are underlain by Devonian and Ordovician shales or Cambrian metashale, metasiltstone, and phyllite of the Hampton and Harper''s Formations. Stands are generally confined to low elevations, up to about 840 m (2760 feet), but exceptionally reach 1100 m (3600 feet). Habitats are mostly steep (mean in plots = 23°), south to west-facing, middle to upper slopes with abundant outcrops, loose stones, and exposed mineral soils. However, substrates appear to be relatively stable and lack the ongoing erosional processes of shale barrens, which these habitats often border on the landscape. Slope shape is typically convex in at least one direction. Site moisture potential is very low. Soils are shallow, extremely acidic (mean pH = 4.4), with low calcium and magnesium levels, and high levels of iron and aluminum.
Geographic Range: The known range of this community includes the extreme northern end of the Southern Blue Ridge, the western flank of the Northern Blue Ridge, and the Ridge and Valley region of Virginia and Maryland. The likely global range encompasses the entire Central Appalachians extent of these provinces in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MD, PA?, VA, WV?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683786
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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 | CEGL008526 Chestnut Oak / Bear Oak / Poverty Oatgrass Woodland | CEGL008526 | 1.B.2.Na.2.h |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Pinus pungens - Pinus rigida / Quercus ilicifolia / Gaylussacia baccata Association: Andropogon scoparius - Coreopsis verticillata - Dichanthelium depauperatum Subassociation, pro parte (Rawinski et al. 1996) [see CEGL008540.]
= Quercus prinus / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata - Solidago bicolor Woodland (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
= Quercus prinus / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata - Solidago bicolor Woodland (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
- 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 K. Taverna. 2006. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, western region. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2006. 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.
- 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. 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.