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CEGL005023 Quercus montana - Quercus (alba, coccinea) / Viburnum acerifolium - (Kalmia latifolia) Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak - (White Oak, Scarlet Oak) / Mapleleaf Viburnum - (Mountain Laurel) Forest
Colloquial Name: Western Allegheny Dry Oak / Heath Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This chestnut oak - mixed oak forest community is found in the Allegheny Plateau region of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Stands occur on dry to subxeric upper slopes and narrow ridgetops. Soils are shallow and occur over non-calcareous bedrock of sandstone, conglomerate, or shale. Tree species commonly include Quercus montana and Quercus coccinea, along with Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina. Castanea dentata was a major component in the past and may be evident as root sprouts and/or decaying stumps and logs. Other associates can include Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Carya tomentosa, Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, and occasional Pinus spp. (Pinus echinata, Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana). Tall shrubs and small trees can include Cornus florida, Sassafras albidum, and Viburnum acerifolium. Characteristic dwarf-shrubs and vines include Gaylussacia baccata, Gaultheria procumbens, Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and, more locally, Kalmia latifolia. The herbaceous layer includes Antennaria plantaginifolia, Symphyotrichum cordifolium, Carex pensylvanica, Cypripedium acaule, Danthonia spicata, Epigaea repens, Helianthus divaricatus, Helianthus hirsutus, Dichanthelium dichotomum, Polystichum acrostichoides, and others. Lichens (Cladonia spp.) and mosses can form a prominent layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is the historic chestnut oak forest after loss of chestnut. Quercus alba may often be a codominant. Quercus velutina and Quercus rubra may be as common as Quercus coccinea in Ohio stands. In Ohio the type apparently occurs on both the glaciated and unglaciated portions of the Allegheny Plateau. Distinguishing this type from ~Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Carya ovata Glaciated Forest (CEGL002068)$$ may require some minimum cutoff values for the dominance of Quercus montana and Quercus coccinea (perhaps at least 20% cover or basal area of either), or ground layer species, such as Vaccinium or the lichens and mosses. Dominance by Acer saccharum (perhaps at least 25%) would place a stand in ~Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Quercus montana - Acer saccharum / Lindera benzoin Forest (CEGL002059)$$, the Appalachian oak - maple type. Compare this type with ~Quercus montana - Quercus (rubra, velutina) / Vaccinium (angustifolium, pallidum) Forest (CEGL006282)$$ and ~Quercus montana / Smilax spp. Forest (CEGL005022)$$. In West Virginia, 45 plots are found in the Western Allegheny Plateau and peripheral areas. It is distinguished from ~Quercus montana - (Quercus coccinea, Quercus rubra) / Kalmia latifolia / Vaccinium pallidum Forest (CEGL006299)$$ of WV''s Ridge and Valley by having Oxydendrum arboretum and by usually lacking or having sparse Kalmia latifolia. It is distinguished from ~Quercus (montana, coccinea) / Kalmia latifolia / (Galax urceolata, Gaultheria procumbens) Forest (CEGL006271)$$ of southern WV by being outside the range of Galax urceolata and other Southern Appalachian species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Tree species commonly include Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) and Quercus coccinea, along with Quercus alba, Quercus rubra and Quercus velutina. Castanea dentata was a major component in the past. Other associates can include Acer rubrum, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, and occasional Pinus spp. (Pinus echinata, Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana). Tall shrubs and small trees can include Cornus florida, Sassafras albidum, Viburnum acerifolium and, more locally, Kalmia latifolia. Characteristic dwarf-shrubs and vines include Gaylussacia baccata, Gaultheria procumbens, Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Vaccinium pallidum, and Vaccinium stamineum, The herbaceous layer includes Antennaria plantaginifolia, Hieracium venosum, Symphyotrichum cordifolium (= Aster cordifolius), Carex pensylvanica, Cypripedium acaule, Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum, Danthonia spicata, Epigaea repens, Helianthus divaricatus, Helianthus hirsutus, Polystichum acrostichoides, and others. Lichens (Cladonia spp.) and mosses can form a prominent layer (Anderson 1996, Fike 1999).
Dynamics: This community can occupy lower, more moist slopes with past, heavy disturbances from logging and fire (Anderson 1996). By and large Quercus montana appears to have replaced Castanea dentata after that species was decimated by chestnut blight. Quercus montana life-history characteristics include slow growth, lowered nutrient demands, relatively good drought resistance, relatively high fire resistance, good sprouting ability, and intermediate shade tolerance. Quercus coccinea life-history traits include a faster growth rate, shorter lifespan, lowered nutrient demands, poor fire resistance, and good sprouting ability. Its drought tolerance is less clear but may equal that of Quercus montana.
Environmental Description: Stands occur on dry/xeric upper slopes and narrow ridgetops. Soils are typically shallow and occur over non-calcareous bedrock of sandstone, conglomerate, or shale. Soils are acidic, with unincorporated mor humus that, in turn, promotes soil podzolization (Anderson 1996). In the glaciated region of the Allegheny Plateau, stands are more isolated, but have been reported over dry glacial features, such as kames or gravel knobs (Anderson 1996). Stands are on non-calcareous bedrock of sandstone, conglomerate, or shale in the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau. In the glaciated region of the plateau, stands are more isolated, but have been reported over dry glacial features, such as kames or gravel knobs (Anderson 1996).
Geographic Range: This chestnut oak - mixed oak forest community is found in the United States from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It is not found in Kentucky, which is south of its range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: OH, PA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684730
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M502 | 1.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.2.c White Oak - Chestnut Oak - Pignut Hickory Forest & Woodland Group | G650 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A4391 White Oak - Quercus montana Western Allegheny Forest | A4391 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
| Association | CEGL005023 Chestnut Oak - (White Oak, Scarlet Oak) / Mapleleaf Viburnum - (Mountain Laurel) Forest | CEGL005023 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
Concept Lineage: Merged into this (lower number).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus prinus - Quercus (alba, coccinea, velutina) / Oxydendrum arboreum / Vaccinium pallidum Forest [Western Allegheny Plateau Oak / Heath Forest] (Vanderhorst 2017d)
= Quercus prinus - Quercus (alba, coccinea, velutina) / Viburnum acerifolium - (Kalmia latifolia) Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Quercus prinus - Quercus (alba, coccinea, velutina) / Viburnum acerifolium - (Kalmia latifolia) Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Anderson, D. M. 1996. The vegetation of Ohio: Two centuries of change. Draft. Ohio Biological Survey.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- ONHD [Ohio Natural Heritage Database]. No date. Vegetation classification of Ohio and unpublished data. Ohio Natural Heritage Database, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus.
- Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, W. A. Millinor, and L. A. Sneddon. 2006c. Vegetation classification and mapping at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Park. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2006/058. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA.
- Vanderhorst, J. 2017d. Wild vegetation of West Virginia: Oak / heath forests. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program. [http://www.wvdnr.gov/Wildlife/Factsheets/OakHeath.shtm]