Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association is a mixed forest with relatively high diversity of woody species. Although Pinus taeda is the most constant canopy tree, it is greatly exceeded in density by associated hardwoods, including Quercus falcata, Fagus grandifolia, Quercus nigra, Carya glabra, Carya pallida, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Characteristic species of the subcanopy layer include Persea palustris, Carpinus caroliniana, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Cornus florida, Vaccinium arboreum, Ostrya virginiana, Juniperus virginiana, Sassafras albidum, Amelanchier canadensis, Oxydendrum arboreum, Castanea pumila, Symplocos tinctoria, and Hamamelis virginiana. Both canopy and subcanopy trees are frequently festooned by Tillandsia usneoides and climbing or scrambling vines of Gelsemium sempervirens, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Toxicodendron radicans. The shrub layer is patchy and may include Gaylussacia frondosa (= var. frondosa), Arundinaria gigantea, Callicarpa americana, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Rhus copallinum, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia baccata, and Toxicodendron pubescens. The herb layer is typically sparse to patchy. The most constant herbs in 19 plot samples are Mitchella repens, Carex nigromarginata, Conopholis americana, Hieracium gronovii, Pteridium aquilinum, Prenanthes autumnalis, Cnidoscolus urens var. stimulosus (= Cnidoscolus stimulosus), Piptochaetium avenaceum, and Chasmanthium laxum. There is considerable compositional variation between the Virginia occurrence and the North Carolina occurrences, which are located about 110 to 130 km apart. Quercus falcata, Carya glabra, Carpinus caroliniana, Callicarpa americana, and Arundinaria gigantea are more characteristic of the North Carolina stands, while Quercus nigra, Carya pallida, Oxydendrum arboreum, Symplocos tinctoria, and Gaylussacia baccata are more characteristic of the Virginia stands.

Dynamics:  The habitat of this association on large relict dune ridges located well back from the ocean provides considerable protection from salt spray and storm surges and allows a greater diversity of deciduous species to occur relative to other maritime forests. Subtle environmental gradients that change rapidly over short distances (e.g., distance from the ocean, depth and type of sand deposits, depth to water table) may account for some of the local variation that is evident in this type.