Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This community, the classic maritime forest of Wells (1939) and Bourdeau and Oosting (1959), consists of a low- to moderate-statured, broad-leaved evergreen forest that is often, though not always, sculpted into streamlined forms by wind-borne salt spray (Wentworth et al. 1993). Subcanopy and shrub layers are well-developed, and vines are typically abundant. The herb layer is sparse and low in diversity. Canopies are dominated by Quercus virginiana and Quercus hemisphaerica with lesser amounts of Pinus taeda and Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola. Typical understory components include Persea borbonia, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola, Cornus florida, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Ilex opaca, and Zanthoxylum clava-herculis. Shrub species include Ilex vomitoria, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Sabal minor, and Callicarpa americana. Dominant vines are Toxicodendron radicans, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Bignonia capreolata, Berchemia scandens, Nekemias arborea (= Ampelopsis arborea), and Gelsemium sempervirens. Typical herbs are Mitchella repens, Asplenium platyneuron var. platyneuron, Chasmanthium laxum, Piptochaetium avenaceum, Galium pilosum, Dichanthelium commutatum, Elephantopus nudatus, and Passiflora lutea (Schafale and Weakley 1990, Wentworth et al. 1993). At the northern end of the range in southeastern Virginia, Quercus hemisphaerica and Ilex vomitoria are uncommon, and this community has an overstory composed almost exclusively of Quercus virginiana, with Pinus taeda sometimes codominant. Rare plants reported from this community include Sageretia minutiflora and Teloschistes flavicans (Weakley 1993). This type is found primarily north of the range of Sabal palmetto and Pinus elliottii, although examples are reported to the south. There may be some minor overlap in the ranges of this and the related southern type. Species dominance varies with distance from the ocean, successional age and protection from salt spray. Quercus virginiana and Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola dominate in areas closer to the ocean, while Quercus hemisphaerica and Pinus taeda predominate farther from the ocean (Schafale and Weakley 1990).

Dynamics:  Although this forest occurs in the most stable portions of Atlantic barrier islands, the maritime environment is still extremely dynamic. Chronic salt spray is an important influence on structure and composition, eliminating salt-intolerant plants and usually shaping the canopy into a streamlined shape. Geologic processes such as destruction of dunes by storms or slow dune movements may quickly or slowly destroy the relatively stable environment this community needs to exist. Sand movement may also create new sites for eventual occupation of this community. Extreme salt spray or saltwater flooding in storms can severely disturb vegetation, though it recovers if the landforms have not been altered. Fire may have naturally occurred infrequently in this system, but probably was not an important factor.

In maritime forests in the Sea Islands region (USFS 232Ce, EPA Ecoregion 75j) (Keys et al. 1995, EPA 2204), a successional pathway may exist from which new islands of sand or shell are first colonized by Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola and Sabal palmetto (with salt shrub species as well). This would include ~Sabal palmetto - (Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola) Woodland (CEGL003526)$$ and ~Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola - (Quercus virginiana, Sabal palmetto) Forest (CEGL007813)$$. These associations represent an early stage in this process. This could be considered an important stage in the stabilization and maintenance of hammock and barrier islands. In the absence of disturbance, this sere in time will give way to ~Quercus virginiana - (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, Sabal palmetto) / Persea borbonia - Callicarpa americana Forest (CEGL007032)$$ with red-cedar, palmetto, yaupon and wax-myrtle as components. Ultimately as the soils become more nutrient-rich and in the absence of major disturbance events, Quercus hemisphaerica, Magnolia grandiflora, and Quercus nigra become more dominant, for example, as in ~Quercus virginiana - Quercus hemisphaerica - Pinus taeda / Persea palustris - Ilex vomitoria Forest (CEGL007027)$$. Of course tropical storms, flood tides and other wind events may alter this succession. This general pattern also may be reflected on larger maritime islands when one goes from the salt marsh to the island interior. Composition varies with the presence of shell or spoil in the soil. Some variants, such as ~Quercus geminata - (Quercus virginiana) / Serenoa repens - Lyonia fruticosa Forest (CEGL007020)$$ (from the coast of Florida, Georgia and at least one location in South Carolina), do not fit perfectly into this scheme, but in South Carolina they are more anomalies than the norm.