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CEGL004539 Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba / Kalmia latifolia - (Rhododendron catawbiense) / Galax urceolata Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - White Oak / Mountain Laurel - (Catawba Rosebay) / Beetleweed Forest
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Beech / Heath Bluff
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association includes heath bluffs on steep north-facing slopes in the lower Piedmont and Inner Coastal Plain of Virginia, the Carolinas, and other southeastern states. Disjunct examples of this type are found in northern Alabama and may also occur in Georgia. Generally, these communities occur in areas of thin and rocky soils but may also occur in areas of soft material exposed by undercutting by a stream. These sites experience a combination of dry conditions caused by shallow, well-drained soils and cool, moist microclimates caused by northern aspects. Sites may be heterogeneous with dry microsites intermixed with wet seepage areas. These communities are dominated by a dense shrub layer of Kalmia latifolia (most common), Rhododendron catawbiense or Rhododendron maximum. Other shrubs may include Hamamelis virginiana, Symplocos tinctoria, and Vaccinium spp. The tree canopy is open to very sparse, with trees such as Fagus grandifolia, Quercus alba, Quercus montana, Pinus virginiana, Pinus taeda, Oxydendrum arboreum, Acer rubrum, and Amelanchier arborea characteristic. A variety of trees from surrounding areas may also be present. Herbs are generally sparse under the shrubs, with acid-loving species, such as Galax urceolata, Epigaea repens, Gaultheria procumbens, Chimaphila maculata, Hexastylis minor, and Mitchella repens, typical. These communities generally border a floodplain forest or a stream channel and may grade to such communities through a talus slope at the base. These communities are distinguished by having an open tree canopy and closed, often dense, shrub layer. There is little open substrate for rock outcrop or weedy species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: North Carolina Piedmont examples with Rhododendron catawbiense may represent a distinctive variant which may deserve recognition. Occurrences of this species in the Piedmont of North Carolina have been taxonomically recognized as forma insularis (Coker 1919, Weakley 2005; cited incorrectly as "insulare" in Small 1933). More information is needed to evaluate the significance of these variations. This association was formerly attributed to Alabama based on a comment by A. Schotz (pers. comm.), who stated: "This association is represented by two examples in Alabama which occur on steep rocky slopes along Hatchet Creek in Coosa County (Piedmont Ecoregion)."This example is more properly affiliated with CEGL004415 (q.v.). Virginia Natural Heritage has classified nine plots as this association (K. Patterson pers. comm. 2012).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is distinguished by having an open tree canopy and closed, often dense, shrub layer. Stands are dominated by a dense shrub layer of Kalmia latifolia (most common), Rhododendron catawbiense or Rhododendron maximum. Other shrubs may include Hamamelis virginiana, Symplocos tinctoria, and Vaccinium spp. The tree canopy is open to very sparse, with trees such as Fagus grandifolia, Quercus alba, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Pinus virginiana, Pinus taeda, Oxydendrum arboreum, Acer rubrum, and Amelanchier arborea characteristic. A variety of trees from surrounding areas may be present. Herbs are generally sparse under the shrubs, with acid-loving species, such as Galax urceolata, Epigaea repens, Gaultheria procumbens, Chimaphila maculata, Hexastylis minor, and Mitchella repens, typical. Alabama examples (A. Schotz pers. comm. 2001) occur on steep rocky slopes along Hatchet Creek in Coosa County (Piedmont Ecoregion). The canopy is relatively open (ranging from 30-60% closure) with Quercus montana serving as the principal species. Other characteristic canopy species include Quercus falcata, Pinus echinata, Pinus palustris, and occasionally Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Quercus stellata, and Oxydendrum arboreum. The shrub layer is represented by a very dense ericaceous component dominated by Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron minus, and to a lesser degree, Symplocos tinctoria and Vaccinium spp. Herbs are generally very sparse with Galax urceolata, Tiarella cordifolia, Hexastylis arifolia, and Polystichum acrostichoides appearing most prominent. Some examples exhibit greater canopy closure (50-80%). In southeastern Virginia, the most characteristic species are Fagus grandifolia, Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus nigra, Oxydendrum arboreum, Symplocos tinctoria, Kalmia latifolia, and Vitis rotundifolia. Although Galax urceolata occurs in a minority of stands, it often forms large colonies where found.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Heath bluffs typically occur on steep north-facing slopes in the lower Piedmont and Inner Coastal Plain. Generally, these communities occur in areas of hard rock but may occur in areas of soft material exposed by undercutting by a stream. Soils are thin and rocky and include Goldston (Ruptic-Ultic Dystrochrept), Tatum (Typic Hapludult), Wedowee (Typic Hapludult), and Wilkee (Typic Hapludult). These sites experience a combination of dry conditions caused by shallow, well-drained soils and cool, moist microclimates caused by northern aspects. Sites may be heterogeneous with dry microsites intermixed with wet seepage areas. These communities generally border a floodplain forest or a stream channel and may grade to such communities through a talus slope at the base. There is little open substrate for rock outcrop or weedy species.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in the lower Piedmont and Inner Coastal Plain of Virginia, the Carolinas and other southeastern states.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA?, NC, SC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684280
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D006 | 1.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Na.3 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - White Oak Forest Macrogroup | M008 | 1.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.3.b American Beech - Southern Sugar Maple - White Oak Forest Group | G166 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Alliance | A2059 American Beech - White Oak - Water Oak Coastal Plain Forest Alliance | A2059 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Association | CEGL004539 American Beech - White Oak / Mountain Laurel - (Catawba Rosebay) / Beetleweed Forest | CEGL004539 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: this nonstandard type is covered here
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fagus grandifolia - Quercus (alba, falcata, nigra) / Symplocos tinctoria / Kalmia latifolia Forest (Fleming and Patterson 2003)
< Piedmont/Coastal Plain Heath Bluff (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
< Piedmont/Coastal Plain Heath Bluff (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
- Coker, J. C. 1919. The distribution of Rhododendron catawbiense, with remarks on a new form. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 35:76-82.
- Fleming, G. P. 2002b. Preliminary classification of Piedmont & Inner Coastal Plain vegetation types in Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-14. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 29 pp.
- 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., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2003. Preliminary vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2003. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Patterson, Karen D. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.
- SCWMRD [South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 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.
- Small, J. K. 1933. Manual of the southeastern flora. Parts I-II. Hafner Publishing Company, New York.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.