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CEGL004389 Umbilicaria muhlenbergii - Lasallia papulosa - (Melanelia stygia) Nonvascular Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Plated Rocktripe Lichen - Common Toadskin Lichen - (Stygian Black-parmelia) Nonvascular Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian High-Elevation Acidic Boulderfield
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on talus and exposed outcrops of quartzite and sandstone at 1050-1450 m (3500-4800 feet) elevation in the Central Appalachians. It is dominated by Umbilicaria muhlenbergii, Lasallia papulosa, and sometimes Melanelia stygia. The highly acidic, siliciclastic rocks support numerous crustose lichens. Crevices with slight soil development have Cladonia rangiferina, and very scattered vascular plants, such as Vaccinium angustifolium, Menziesia pilosa, Kalmia latifolia, Dicentra eximia, and Sorbus americana, may be established. Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus horridus) are very common, as are wood rats (Neotoma magister).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is known from Spruce Knob, Dolly Sods, and North Fork Mountain in West Virginia; Jack Mountain in Pendleton County, West Virginia, and Highland County, Virginia; and possibly over high-elevation quartzite talus in western Rockingham and Augusta counties, Virginia.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vascular plants are generally absent and lichens dominate. Umbilicaria muhlenbergii typically dominates, often with Melanelia stygia, and Lasallia papulosa is a constant codominant or associate. The highly acidic, siliciclastic rocks support numerous crustose lichens. Among the few that have been identified are Fuscidea recensa, Sarcogyne clavus, and the northern disjuncts Arctoparmelia centrifuga and Fuscidea praeruptorum. Crevices with slight soil development have Cladonia rangiferina (= Cladina rangiferina), and very scattered vascular plants, such as Vaccinium angustifolium, Menziesia pilosa, Kalmia latifolia, Dicentra eximia, and Sorbus americana may be established.
Dynamics: The slopes appear unstable, though the frequency of rockslides is uncertain.
Environmental Description: This association typically occurs on fully exposed talus and associated outcrops of Tuscarora quartzite and sandstones of the Allegheny Formation and Pottsville Group at 1050-1450 m (3500-4800 feet) elevation. Sites may be located on sideslope talus deposits below outcrops, or on extensive, weathered-in-place boulderfields on upper slopes and ridgetops. There is little or no available soil except for occasional deposits of organic matter in crevices.
Geographic Range: This community is known only from high elevations of eastern West Virginia and western Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684783
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.1 Shrubby Fivefingers - Rock Polypody / Cup Lichen species Eastern North American Cliff & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M111 | 6.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.1.c Appalachian Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G840 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3991 Appalachian Lichen Boulderfield Alliance | A3991 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL004389 Plated Rocktripe Lichen - Common Toadskin Lichen - (Stygian Black-parmelia) Nonvascular Vegetation | CEGL004389 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Lichen-dominated sandstone cliff, outcrops and talus (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
- CAP [Central Appalachian Forest Working Group]. 1998. Central Appalachian Working group discussions. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- 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/]
- WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.