Print Report

CEGL006295 Morella pensylvanica - Prunus maritima Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Bayberry - Beach Plum Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Northern Bayberry Dune Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association comprises maritime dune shrublands of protected slopes and hollows of dry, stabilized maritime backdunes along the northern Atlantic Coast. It is dominated by Morella pensylvanica and Prunus maritima. Additional shrubs that are commonly present but with low cover can include Rosa carolina, Rosa rugosa, Baccharis halimifolia, Rhus typhina, or Juniperus virginiana. Although Rosa rugosa is not a native species, it is naturalized and is nearly restricted to this vegetation, where it grows in similar habit and physiognomy as the other two shrubs characteristic of this vegetation. The herbaceous layer tends to be sparse and low, particularly where shrub growth is dense, and can include dune grassland or adjacent upland species such as Ammophila breviligulata, Solidago sempervirens, Hudsonia tomentosa, Lechea maritima, Juncus greenei, Carex silicea, Polygonella articulata, Symphyotrichum subulatum, Solidago rugosa, Achillea millefolium, Oenothera parviflora, Euthamia spp., Cyperus grayi, Cyperus polystachyos, Schizachyrium scoparium, and others. Typical vine associates are Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Smilax spp. Large patches of open unvegetated or sparsely vegetated sand are present in some examples. Depending on exposure, these shrublands range from over 2 m tall in sheltered areas to less than 1 m tall in areas with greater exposure to winds and storms.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This vegetation is compositionally similar to maritime rocky headland, ~Prunus serotina - Rhus typhina Scrub Forest (CEGL006399)$$. ~Morella pensylvanica / Diodia teres Shrubland (CEGL003881)$$ is the southern analog of this association.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This shrubland vegetation is dominated by Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica) and Prunus maritima. Additional shrubs that are commonly present but with low cover can include Rosa carolina, Rosa rugosa, Baccharis halimifolia, Rhus copallinum, Rhus typhina, or Juniperus virginiana. The herbaceous layer tends to be sparse and can include dune grassland or adjacent upland species such as Ammophila breviligulata, Solidago sempervirens, Hudsonia tomentosa, Lechea maritima, Juncus greenei, Carex silicea, Polygonella articulata, Symphyotrichum subulatum (= Aster subulatus), Solidago rugosa, Achillea millefolium, Oenothera parviflora, Euthamia spp., Cyperus grayi, Cyperus polystachyos, Schizachyrium scoparium, and others. Typical vine associates are Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Smilax spp. Large patches of open unvegetated or sparsely vegetated sand are present in some examples. Depending on exposure, these shrublands range from over 2 m tall in sheltered areas to less than 1 m tall in areas with greater exposure to winds and storms.

Dynamics:  This vegetation can be a probable intermediate in succession between beach dune and sunken forest; further dune development and protection from salt spray allows development of sunken forest vegetation (Art 1976).
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on protected slopes and hollows of dry, stabilized maritime backdunes where the water table is greater than 1 m from the surface.
Geographic Range: This association occurs from Maine to New Jersey.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE?, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D026 2.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup M057 2.B.4.Na.2
Group 2.B.4.Na.2.c Northern Bayberry - American Beachgrass - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group G493 2.B.4.Na.2.c
Alliance A0902 Northern Bayberry Dune Shrubland Alliance A0902 2.B.4.Na.2.c
Association CEGL006295 Northern Bayberry - Beach Plum Shrubland CEGL006295 2.B.4.Na.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Morella pensylvanica - Prunus maritima shrublands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Myrica thicket (Chrysler 1930)
? Coastal dune community (Rawinski 1984a)
> Low xeric thicket (Martin 1959b) ["Low dune thicket" type (too small to be mapped) should be considered an inclusion in this synonymy.]
? Maritime Shrubland on Dunes (Lundgren 2000)
? SNE coastal rocky headland community (Rawinski 1984a)
? Short shrub thicket (Dunlop and Crow 1985)
Concept Author(s): Eastern Ecology Group

Author of Description: S.L. Neid, L.A. Sneddon, E. Largay

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-26-07
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