Print Report
CEGL003951 Leiophyllum buxifolium Dwarf-shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand-myrtle Dwarf-shrubland
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Sand-myrtle Heath Bald
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This evergreen, sclerophyllous dwarf-shrubland occurs at the highest elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains on steep, exposed slopes. It is typically found at elevations over 1770 m (5800 feet) in northwestern North Carolina. This dwarf-shrubland may occur as inclusions in other communities or as extensive mats. It is dominated by Leiophyllum buxifolium growing in dense mats with a krummholz structure. Occurrences of this community may have significant areas of bare rock but are at least 25% vegetated with at least 75% of the total shrub cover composed of Leiophyllum buxifolium. Openings in the shrub stratum may contain sparse herbaceous cover including Selaginella tortipila, Zigadenus leimanthoides and Deschampsia flexuosa. Other shrub species that may occur include Rhododendron catawbiense and Vaccinium corymbosum. Mosses and lichens are also typical in more open occurrences. The largest occurrences of this shrubland are 1-2 hectares. An extreme environment with steep topography, high solar irradiation, desiccating winds in combination with shallow, nutrient-poor soils maintains this community as a topo-edaphic climax. This community often occurs adjacent to or grades into high-elevation rock outcrop communities and other montane shrublands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The species Leiophyllum buxifolium may be locally dominant in other Southern Appalachian heath shrublands. This association is restricted to areas where Leiophyllum buxifolium dominates areas greater than 0.1 hectare. In the southern part of this community''s range, the dominant species, Leiophyllum buxifolium, occurs on as an upright shrub (30-50 cm tall), in narrow vegetated zones on granitic domes. In the northwestern part of North Carolina and in eastern Tennessee, on steep, high-elevation areas, this community occurs as low shrub mats with a krummholz structure. Further study may reveal floristic differences between these two situations that may warrant recognition of two community elements.
Similar shrublands in the southern Appalachian Mountains (~Rhododendron carolinianum Shrubland (CEGL003816)$$, ~Rhododendron catawbiense Shrubland (CEGL003818)$$) may contain Leiophyllum buxifolium, but comprising less than 75% of the total shrub cover. In the Coastal Plain of New Jersey and North Carolina Leiophyllum buxifolium occurs as a dense shrub component in Pinus-dominated woodlands and sparse woodlands. It is not known if this species occurs in the Coastal Plain as a shrubland without a significant tree canopy.
Similar shrublands in the southern Appalachian Mountains (~Rhododendron carolinianum Shrubland (CEGL003816)$$, ~Rhododendron catawbiense Shrubland (CEGL003818)$$) may contain Leiophyllum buxifolium, but comprising less than 75% of the total shrub cover. In the Coastal Plain of New Jersey and North Carolina Leiophyllum buxifolium occurs as a dense shrub component in Pinus-dominated woodlands and sparse woodlands. It is not known if this species occurs in the Coastal Plain as a shrubland without a significant tree canopy.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is dominated by a low-growing (<0.5 m), evergreen, ericaceous shrub, Leiophyllum buxifolium, which may occur as scattered patches or as extensive, dense shrub mats. Openings in the shrub stratum may contain sparse herbaceous cover including Selaginella tortipila, Deschampsia flexuosa, Hypericum densiflorum, Carex umbellata, and Danthonia sericea. Other shrub species that may occur include Rhododendron carolinianum and Vaccinium pallidum. Mosses and lichens are also typical in more open occurrences. Species endemic to or with the bulk of their worldwide range in the Southern Blue Ridge include Hudsonia montana, Hypericum buckleii, Liatris helleri, Rhododendron carolinianum, Selaginella tortipila, and Leiophyllum buxifolium. The largest occurrences of this shrubland are 1-2 hectares.
Dynamics: Windfall, landslides, and small, localized lightning-cause fires are important in the establishment and maintenance of this community. This community may result from primary succession or from secondary succession when lichens, mosses, and eventually Leiophyllum invade rock exposed by landslides or catastrophic fires. On steep, exposed sites, wind exposure, soil infertility and drought help maintain this community as a topo-edaphic climax. If soil development is sufficient and the environment is not too extreme, this community may succeed to Rhododendron carolinianum- or Rhododendron catawbiense-dominated shrublands.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on exposed slopes and sharp ridges, typically above 1770 m (5800 feet) elevation, although it may occur at lower elevations. Shrubs root in shallow soils associated with rock outcrops or in coarse, sandy soils and organic matter accumulations in crevices. High solar irradiation and desiccating winds in combination with the shallow, nutrient-poor soils are the key environmental factors influencing this community.
Geographic Range: This community occurs on rock outcrops in the southern Appalachian Mountains. It is typically found at elevations over 1770 m (5800 feet) in northwestern North Carolina and northeastern Tennessee. It may also occur at lower elevations in western North Carolina, northeastern Georgia, and northwestern South Carolina, in association with granitic domes and gneissic outcrops.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA?, NC, SC?, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685394
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M506 | 2.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.1.a Catawba Rosebay - Mountain Fetterbush - Mountain Alder Southern Appalachian Shrub Bald Group | G658 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A0744 Catawba Rosebay - Carolina Azalea - Mountain Laurel Shrub Bald Alliance | A0744 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003951 Sand-myrtle Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL003951 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Picea rubens / Leiophyllum buxifolium outcrop community (Wiser 1993)
? Picea rubens / Leiophyllum buxifolium outcrop community (Wiser et al. 1996)
< IC4a. Heath Bald Shrubland (Allard 1990)
? Picea rubens / Leiophyllum buxifolium outcrop community (Wiser et al. 1996)
< IC4a. Heath Bald Shrubland (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.
- Chafin, L. 2011. Georgia''s natural communities and associated rare plant and animal species: Thumbnail accounts. Based on "Guide to the Natural Communities of Georgia," by Edwards et al. 2013. University of Georgia Press. Georgia Nongame Conservation Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 125 pp.
- Newell, C. L., and R. K. Peet. 1995. Vegetation of Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina. Unpublished report. to USDA Forest Service. University of North Carolina, Department of Biology, Chapel Hill. 211 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.
- Risk, P. L. 1993. High elevation heath communities in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Ph.D. dissertation, 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.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.
- Weakley, A. S., compiler. 1993. Natural Heritage Program list of the rare plant species of North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program. Raleigh. 79 pp.
- Whittaker, R. H. 1956. Vegetation of the Great Smoky Mountains. Ecological Monographs 26:1-80.
- Whittaker, R. H. 1979a. Appalachian balds and other North American heathlands. Pages 427-439 in: R. L. Specht, editor. Ecosystems of the world. Series Publication 9A. Heathlands and related shrublands: Descriptive studies. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, New York.
- Wiser, S. K. 1993. Vegetation of high-elevation rock outcrops of the Southern Appalachians: Composition, environmental relationships, and biogeography of communities and rare species. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 271 pp.
- Wiser, S. K., R. K. Peet, and P. S. White. 1996. High-elevation rock outcrop vegetation of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Journal of Vegetation Science 7:703-722.