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CEGL007296 Quercus alba / Physocarpus opulifolius / Packera plattensis - Hexastylis arifolia var. ruthii Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak / Common Ninebark / Packera plattensis - Hexastylis arifolia var. ruthii Woodland
Colloquial Name: Southern Blue Ridge Ultramafic Outcrop Barrens (Deciduous Woodland Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community includes Quercus alba-dominated forest vegetation occurring in association with serpentine geology in the Southern Blue Ridge. Quercus alba makes up 50-75% of the canopy, with lesser amounts (less than 25%) of Pinus rigida and Tsuga canadensis. The subcanopy is primarily Acer rubrum, Amelanchier arborea, and Magnolia acuminata. Shrub cover can exceed 80% or be as low as 15%. Kalmia latifolia is a typical shrub, but other common shrubs include Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Vaccinium stamineum, and Physocarpus opulifolius. The herbaceous stratum is dominated by Packera plattensis. Other typical herbs include Hexastylis arifolia var. ruthii, Polygala paucifolia, Epigaea repens, Mitchella repens, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Thalictrum macrostylum, Poa saltuensis, Phlox stolonifera, Andropogon gerardii, and Zizia aptera. This community occurs on rocky soils associated with serpentine geology. It is found at moderate elevations (1015 m) on gentle to steep concave slopes with an eastern to northwestern exposure.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This forest at Buck Creek Barrens, Clay County, North Carolina, forms a matrix in which ~Pinus rigida - Quercus alba / Sporobolus heterolepis - Andropogon gerardii Woodland (CEGL003768)$$ and its seepage inclusions occur. This forest occurs in a physiognomically complex landscape. Fire should be applied with the objective of maintaining a physiognomic complex of woodland, forest, and grass-dominated areas.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Quercus alba makes up 50-75% of the canopy in this forest, with lesser amounts (less than 25%) of Pinus rigida and Tsuga canadensis. The subcanopy is primarily Acer rubrum, Amelanchier arborea, and Magnolia acuminata. Shrub cover can exceed 80% or be as low as 15%. Kalmia latifolia is a typical shrub, often occurring in dense patches. Other common shrub species include Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Vaccinium stamineum, and Physocarpus opulifolius. The herbaceous stratum is dominated by Packera plattensis (= Senecio plattensis). Other typical herbs include Hexastylis arifolia var. ruthii, Polygala paucifolia, Epigaea repens, Mitchella repens, Pteridium aquilinum, Thalictrum macrostylum, Poa saltuensis (= Poa languida), Phlox stolonifera, Andropogon gerardii, and Zizia aptera. Smilax glauca is a common vine that occurs throughout this forest. Regionally uncommon species or species disjunct from their main distributions include Carex woodii, Poa saltuensis, Polygala paucifolia, and Packera plattensis (Schafale and Weakley 1990).
Dynamics: Natural disturbances in this community include infestations of southern pine beetle and periodic fire. The natural fire frequency for this forest is not known. This forest is thought to be a late successional community. Periodic fire will likely increase the Pinus rigida and graminoid component.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on rocky soils associated with serpentine geology. It is found at moderate elevations (1015 m) on gentle to steep concave slopes with a east to northwest exposure.
Geographic Range: This community occurs on rocky soils associated with serpentine geology in the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684358
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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 | A4679 <i>Pinus rigida - Quercus alba - Quercus stellata</i> Ultramafic Grassy Woodland Alliance | A4679 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Association | CEGL007296 White Oak / Common Ninebark / <i>Packera plattensis - Hexastylis arifolia var. ruthii</i> Woodland | CEGL007296 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IE9b. Blue Ridge/Piedmont Ultramafic Barren (Allard 1990)
? Pine-savanna on serpentine (Mansberg and Wentworth 1984)
? White Oak (54) (USFS 1988)
< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
? Pine-savanna on serpentine (Mansberg and Wentworth 1984)
? White Oak (54) (USFS 1988)
< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Fleming, Gary P. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.
- Kauffman, Gary. Personal communication. Botanist. USDA Forest Service, Nantahala National Forest, Highlands, NC.
- Mansberg, L., and T. R. Wentworth. 1984. Vegetation and soils of a serpentine barren in western North Carolina. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 111:273-286.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- 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.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1988. Silvicultural examination and prescription field book. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.
- Weakley, A. S. 2010. Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and surrounding areas. Unpublished working draft. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. [http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm]