Print Report
CEGL004991 Selaginella rupestris - Schizachyrium scoparium - Hylotelephium telephioides - Allium cernuum Granitic Glade Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rock Spikemoss - Little Bluestem - Allegheny Stonecrop - Nodding Onion Granitic Glade Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Low-Elevation Basic Glade (Montane Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community includes vegetation of North Carolina''s upper Piedmont and Blue Ridge, and Virginia''s Southern Blue Ridge, on gently to moderately sloping, low-elevation outcrops, with irregular or undulating surfaces but few crevices, and containing plants characteristic of higher pH conditions. This community occurs as small patches (approx. 5-50 acres) at elevations below 1220 m (4000 feet). Vegetation consists of shallow mats dominated by Selaginella rupestris and deeper grassy mats, interspersed with areas of smooth rock or rock with few crevices or fractures. This community has few deep-rooted forbs, shrubs, or trees. The flora is diverse and characterized by the presence of plants indicative of higher pH soils, such as Hylotelephium telephioides, Dodecatheon meadia, Sedum glaucophyllum, Cheilanthes lanosa, Pycnanthemum curvipes, Arabis laevigata var. laevigata, and Penstemon canescens. Graminoids in this community include Danthonia sericea, Andropogon virginicus, Carex biltmoreana, Andropogon gerardii, and Sorghastrum nutans. Woody species may be scattered, rooted in crevices or in marginal zones between exposed rock and adjacent forests. Typical woody plants include Philadelphus inodorus, Philadelphus hirsutus, Chionanthus virginicus, Quercus montana, Juniperus virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Physocarpus opulifolius.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: A subtype of this association, known from the Brushy Mountains of North Carolina (231Aa), is distinguished by a suite of distinctive plant species, including Croton michauxii var. ellipticus, Allium cuthbertii, Cheilanthes tomentosa, Coreopsis pubescens, Hypericum denticulatum, Senna marilandica, and Diodia teres (M. Schafale pers. comm.). This community often grades into woodlands dominated by Juniperus virginiana and deciduous trees (Quercus montana, Carya spp., Fraxinus spp.) [see ~Carya (glabra, tomentosa) - Fraxinus americana - (Juniperus virginiana) Woodland (CEGL003752)$$].
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation consists of shallow mats dominated by Selaginella rupestris and deeper grassy mats, interspersed with areas of smooth rock or rock with few crevices or fractures. This community has few deep-rooted forbs, shrubs, or trees. The flora is diverse and characterized by the presence of plants indicative of higher pH soils, such as Hylotelephium telephioides (= Sedum telephioides), Dodecatheon meadia, Sedum glaucophyllum, Cheilanthes lanosa, Arabis laevigata var. laevigata, and Penstemon canescens. Graminoids in this community include Danthonia sericea, Andropogon virginicus, Carex biltmoreana, Andropogon gerardii, and Sorghastrum nutans. Typical woody plants include Philadelphus inodorus, Philadelphus hirsutus, Chionanthus virginicus, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Juniperus virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Physocarpus opulifolius. The single Virginia occurrence of this type is strongly codominated by Dodecatheon meadia, Minuartia glabra, Saxifraga michauxii, and Phemeranthus teretifolius (= Talinum teretifolium). Additional characteristic species include Allium cernuum, Phacelia dubia, Tradescantia ohiensis, Danthonia compressa, and Juncus secundus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community includes vegetation on gently to moderately sloping, low-elevation outcrops, with irregular or undulating surfaces but few crevices, and containing plants characteristic of higher pH conditions. This community occurs as small patches (approx. 5-50 acres) at elevations below 1220 m (4000 feet). The single Virginia site for this community occurs at 975 to 1040 m (3200-3400 feet) elevation on the Striped Rock granite, a classic exfoliating formation. Soil samples collected from this site indicate that the rock is calcium-bearing. The vegetation occurs as herbaceous patches at the top of the steep, exfoliated faces. Most of the patches are located where ephemeral seepage runs across the rock surface during wet periods. The transition from forest to open rock is generally abrupt, and there is no well-developed xeric woodland in transitional areas.
Geographic Range: This community type is limited to exposures of granitic rocks in the upper Piedmont of North Carolina, and possibly South Carolina and Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, SC?, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684362
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 | A3469 Rock Spikemoss Appalachian Basic Clubmoss Alliance | A3469 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Association | CEGL004991 Rock Spikemoss - Little Bluestem - Allegheny Stonecrop - Nodding Onion Granitic Glade Vegetation | CEGL004991 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
Concept Lineage: The former OC type (CEGL004992) Selaginella rupestris - Crotonopsis elliptica - Cheilanthes tomentosa - (Allium cuthbertii) Herbaceous Vegetation is now included here.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Dellinger, B. 1992. Natural areas survey, Nantahala National Forest, Highlands Ranger District: Site survey reports. Unpublished data. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Schafale, Mike P. Personal communication. Ecologist, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.