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CEGL007215 Quercus rubra - Quercus muehlenbergii / Hamamelis virginiana / Polymnia canadensis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Red Oak - Chinquapin Oak / American Witch-hazel / White-flower Leafcup Forest
Colloquial Name: Appalachian Calcareous Oak - Walnut Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association represents forests on sheltered dolomite slopes in the Southern Blue Ridge with canopies dominated by Quercus spp., Juglans nigra, and Magnolia acuminata. However, a small amount of the canopy and understory is always composed of calciphilic canopy species more characteristic of areas west of the Blue Ridge, including Quercus muehlenbergii and Juglans cinerea. The dominant shrub is Hamamelis virginiana, but other shrubs include Calycanthus floridus, Cornus alternifolia, and Hydrangea arborescens. The herbaceous layer is lush and diverse, with typical species including Impatiens spp., Hybanthus concolor, Polymnia canadensis, Laportea canadensis, Aquilegia canadensis, Adiantum pedatum, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Asarum canadense.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The name of the association is based on a North Carolina occurrence over limestone on North Fork Catawba River (McDowell County). The name and concept may need modification with additional information. It is documented by plots gathered by the North Carolina Vegetation Survey near Linville Caverns, North Carolina (Plots 4-303 and 5-304 from PULSE 1995). Related vegetation in Virginia is treated as ~Quercus muehlenbergii - Quercus (alba, rubra) - Carya cordiformis / Viburnum prunifolium Forest (CEGL004793)$$, a broad and variable dry-mesic calcareous forest.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Canopies of this community are dominated by Quercus spp., Juglans nigra, and Magnolia acuminata. However, a small amount of the canopy and understory is always composed of calciphilic canopy species more characteristic of areas west of the Blue Ridge, including Quercus muehlenbergii and Juglans cinerea. The dominant shrub is Hamamelis virginiana, but other shrubs include Calycanthus floridus, Cornus alternifolia, and Hydrangea arborescens. The herbaceous layer is lush and diverse, with typical species including Impatiens spp., Hybanthus concolor, Polymnia canadensis, Laportea canadensis, Aquilegia canadensis, Adiantum pedatum, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Asarum canadense. Due to the isolated nature of this type of geology in this part of the Appalachians, the species composition tends to be very different than the surrounding matrix. It is not clear at this point whether this community is indeed its own type or whether there is enough similarity to other types in the Ridge and Valley to warrant lumping it with them.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association represents forests on sheltered dolomite slopes in the Southern Blue Ridge. This type of geology is extremely uncommon this far east in the southern Appalachians, so this community is isolated from other patches of similar geology.
Geographic Range: This community is currently only known to occur in North Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, SC?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685314
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1Q
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.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M016 | 1.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.1.e Chinquapin Oak - Shumard Oak - Blue Ash Forest & Woodland Group | G601 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
| Alliance | A2060 Chinquapin Oak - Sugar Maple - White Ash Forest Alliance | A2060 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
| Association | CEGL007215 Northern Red Oak - Chinquapin Oak / American Witch-hazel / White-flower Leafcup Forest | CEGL007215 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? IA5e. Calcareous Mesophytic Forest (Allard 1990)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Fleming, Gary P. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 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.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.