Print Report

CEGL006037 Juniperus virginiana - Fraxinus americana / Carex pensylvanica - Cheilanthes lanosa Open Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Red-cedar - White Ash / Pennsylvania Sedge - Hairy Lipfern Open Woodland

Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Circumneutral Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This barrens community occurs on steep slopes with exposed outcrops of calcareous sedimentary, metasedimentary, and metamorphic rocks of the Central Appalachians. In the Ridge and Valley province, underlying bedrock includes calcareous shales of the Jennings, Hampshire, Martinsburg, and Brallier formations, and less commonly calcareous Silurian sandstones. Blue Ridge sites are underlain by Catoctin Formation metabasalt, amphibolite, and Harpers Formation metasiltstone and phyllite. Habitats are on steep, southeast - to southwest-facing slopes at elevations from 170 to 580 m (550-1900 feet). On sites underlain by shale, soils are thin but generally better developed than other shale-barren associations. Mafic-rock sites typically have high cover (about 50%) of exposed bedrock outcrops with some areas of shallow soil development. Sandstone sites generally consist of steep, continuous pavements with thin veneers and pockets of soil. Soils from all substrates have high calcium levels; those weathered from metabasalt and amphibolite also have high magnesium and manganese levels. A patchy overstory of stunted trees may ameliorate to some degree the otherwise xeric conditions imposed by exposure and slope. Canopy closure is usually less than 30%, occasionally higher, and tends to be patchy, with herbaceous openings. Shrubs are sparse at most known locations. The herbaceous layer forms 25-90% ground cover. The canopy is codominated by Juniperus virginiana and Fraxinus americana, with other associates including Carya glabra, Quercus montana, Quercus stellata, Celtis tenuifolia, Amelanchier arborea, Quercus rubra, and Pinus virginiana. Rhus aromatica is a characteristic shrub. The herbaceous layer is very diverse. Carex pensylvanica is constant and dominant. Danthonia spicata is frequent but sparse. Other characteristic species include Cheilanthes lanosa, Woodsia obtusa, Phacelia dubia, Deschampsia flexuosa, Solidago arguta var. harrisii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Phlox subulata, Silene antirrhina, Elymus hystrix, Tradescantia virginiana, Helianthus divaricatus, Polygonum scandens var. cristatum, Polygonatum biflorum, Triodanis perfoliata, Pycnanthemum incanum, Allium cernuum, and Arenaria serpyllifolia. This association is distinguished from other shale-barren types by its open physiognomy, occurrence on circumneutral to calcareous rock at low to moderate elevations, and the frequency of several characteristic herbs including Cheilanthes lanosa, Phacelia dubia, Tradescantia virginiana, and Triodanis perfoliata. In addition, Fraxinus americana and Celtis tenuifolia occur at a higher frequency in this association than in other shale-barren types.

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: No Data Available

Floristics: This community type is characterized by a mixed physiognomy of scattered, stunted trees and herbaceous openings. The patchy canopy may ameliorate to some degree the otherwise xeric conditions imposed by exposure and slope. Canopy closure is usually less than 30%, occasionally higher. Shrubs are sparse at most known locations. The herbaceous layer forms 25-90% ground cover, except where broken by rock outcrops. The canopy is codominated by Juniperus virginiana and Fraxinus americana, with other associates including Carya glabra, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Quercus stellata, Celtis tenuifolia, Amelanchier arborea, Quercus rubra, and Pinus virginiana. Rhus aromatica is a characteristic shrub. The herbaceous layer is very diverse. Carex pensylvanica is constant and dominant. Danthonia spicata is frequent but sparse. Other characteristic species include Cheilanthes lanosa, Woodsia obtusa, Phacelia dubia, Deschampsia flexuosa, Solidago arguta var. harrisii (= Solidago harrisii), Schizachyrium scoparium, Phlox subulata, Silene antirrhina, Elymus hystrix (= Hystrix patula), Tradescantia virginiana, Helianthus divaricatus, Polygonum scandens var. cristatum, Polygonatum biflorum, Triodanis perfoliata, Pycnanthemum incanum, Allium cernuum, and Arenaria serpyllifolia. Although they are very similar, expressions of this community type on shale and metabasalt exhibit some compositional differences. Shale occurrences contain a greater number of low-cover forbs and exclusively contain several shale endemics and other species common on shale barrens, including Blephilia ciliata, Clematis albicoma, Deschampsia flexuosa, Draba ramosissima, Eriogonum allenii, Melica nitens, Minuartia michauxii, Oenothera argillicola, Packera antennariifolia, and Trifolium virginicum. Occurrences on mafic outcrops tend to have stratified graminoid dominance, with Schizachyrium scoparium forming a taller layer over Carex pensylvanica. Species documented only on metabasalt and amphibolite, including Cyperus lupulinus, Trichostema brachiatum (= Isanthus brachiatus), Muhlenbergia capillaris (= var. capillaris), Polygonum tenue, Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum (= Solidago rigida ssp. rigida), Sporobolus clandestinus, and Phemeranthus teretifolius (= Talinum teretifolium), are probably associated with high-magnesium soils weathered from this substrate. Quercus stellata is common on the few known sandstone sites. However, despite these differences, stands on all substrates share almost all of the type''s characteristic species as well as a remarkable number of other specialized xerophytic species, including Asclepias verticillata, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (= Aster oblongifolius), Bouteloua curtipendula, Lithospermum canescens, Paronychia montana, Selaginella rupestris, Taenidia montana, and Triosteum perfoliatum.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This barrens community occurs on steep slopes with exposed outcrops of calcareous sedimentary, metasedimentary, and metamorphic rocks of the Central Appalachians. In the Ridge and Valley province, underlying bedrock includes calcareous shales of the Jennings, Hampshire, Martinsburg, and Brallier formations, and less commonly calcareous Silurian sandstones. Blue Ridge sites are underlain by Catoctin Formation metabasalt, amphibolite, and Harpers Formation metasiltstone and phyllite. Habitats are on steep, southeast - to southwest-facing slopes at elevations from 170 to 580 m (550-1900 feet). On sites underlain by shale, soils are thin but generally better developed than other shale barren associations. Mafic-rock sites typically have high cover (about 50%) of exposed bedrock outcrops with some areas of shallow soil development. Sandstone sites generally consist of steep, continuous pavements with thin veneers and pockets of soil. Soils from all substrates have high calcium levels; those weathered from metabasalt and amphibolite also have high magnesium and manganese levels.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to two subsections of four states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia) of the Central Appalachians.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MD, PA, VA, WV


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D024 2.B.2.Nc
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M506 2.B.2.Nc.1
Group 2.B.2.Nc.1.c Little Bluestem - Balsam Groundsel - Prairie Groundsel Appalachian Mafic Glade Group G180 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Alliance A2074 White Ash - Post Oak / Pennsylvania Sedge Appalachian Mafic-Circumneutral Scrub Alliance A2074 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL006037 Eastern Red-cedar - White Ash / Pennsylvania Sedge - Hairy Lipfern Open Woodland CEGL006037 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Concept Lineage: CEGL006541 is an herbaceous patch-type that can occur within many shale barrens, but it was decided that it did not make sense to segregate it as its own association. Vegetation patches resembling CEGL006541 could be found as part of CEGL006037, CEGL006562, CEGL006288, CEGL008530.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fraxinus americana / Rhus aromatica / Schizachyrium scoparium - Cheilanthes lanosa - Carex pensylvanica Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Young et al. 2007a)
= Juniperus virginiana - Fraxinus americana / Carex pensylvanica - Cheilanthes lanosa Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Patterson 2009a)
< Eastern Redcedar: 46 (Eyre 1980)
? Red cedar-white ash alkaline shale woodland (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
Concept Author(s): A. Berdine

Author of Description: G.P. Fleming and S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-07-12
  • CAP [Central Appalachian Forest Working Group]. 1998. Central Appalachian Working group discussions. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
  • Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
  • Fleming, G. P., A. Belden, Jr., K. E. Heffernan, A. C. Chazal, N. E. Van Alstine, and E. M. Butler. 2007a. A natural heritage inventory of the rock outcrops of Shenandoah National Park. Unpublished report submitted to the National Park Service. Natural Heritage Technical Report 07-01. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 433 pp. plus appendixes.
  • 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.
  • Lea, C. 2003. Vegetation types in the National Capital Region Parks. Draft for review by NatureServe, Virginia Natural Heritage, West Virginia Natural Heritage, Maryland Natural Heritage, and National Park Service. March 2003. 140 pp.
  • WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.
  • Young, J., G. Fleming, P. Townsend, and J. Foster. 2006. Vegetation of Shenandoah National Park in relation to environmental gradients. Final Report (v.1.1). Research technical report prepared for USDI, National Park Service. USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. 92 pp. plus appendices.
  • Young, J., G. Fleming, P. Townsend, and J. Foster. 2007a. Vegetation of Shenandoah National Park in relation to environmental gradients. Final Report, volume 1.1. Unpublished report submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. 103 pp. plus appendices and GIS products.
  • Young, J., G. Fleming, W. Cass, and C. Lea. 2009. Vegetation of Shenandoah National Park in relation to environmental gradients, Version 2.0. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2009/142. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 389 pp.