Print Report

CEGL005094 Vaccinium angustifolium - Sorbus americana / Sibbaldiopsis tridentata Dwarf-shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Lowbush Blueberry - American Mountain-ash / Shrubby Fivefingers Dwarf-shrubland

Colloquial Name: Blueberry Granite Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This northern or high-elevation acidic rock heath barren occurs in the glaciated northeastern states on rocky ridges, outcrops and summits. It includes patches of shrub dominance as well as areas of bedrock-dominated sparse vegetation. The soils are shallow, well-drained, dry, acidic, coarse sands. Expanses of exposed bedrock are typical, with minimal soil development restricted to crevices or shelter areas. Elevations of known examples range from almost sea level on the Maine coast to about 825 m (2700 feet) inland. The physiognomy of this community is patchy and variable, ranging from woodland to shrubland to sparsely vegetated rock. A tree canopy is absent or poorly developed, usually consisting of scattered and stunted trees with less than 10% cover. Tall shrubs are scattered, mostly in somewhat protected areas. Dwarf-shrubs are the most extensive layer, with up to 75% cover. Herbs are sparse and confined to rock crevices and depressions. The bryoid layer varies from sparse to well-developed, with both lichens and mosses represented. Tree species include Picea rubens, Abies balsamea, Quercus rubra, Pinus strobus, Betula papyrifera, Betula populifolia, or Acer rubrum. Scattered tall shrubs include Sorbus americana, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Ilex mucronata, Aronia melanocarpa, Comptonia peregrina, or Amelanchier spp. Prominent dwarf heath shrubs include Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia baccata, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Kalmia angustifolia. The sparse herb layer includes graminoids such as Deschampsia flexuosa, Danthonia spicata, Carex lucorum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Piptatheropsis pungens, and the forbs Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Solidago simplex var. randii, Minuartia glabra, Maianthemum canadense, Gaultheria procumbens, Trientalis borealis, and Pteridium aquilinum. Abundant mosses and lichens form a bryophyte layer characterized by Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Dicranum polysetum, and Cladonia lichens. These heath balds are distinguished by the presence of boreal species such as Sorbus americana and Sibbaldiopsis tridentata combined with temperate species such as Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, Carex pensylvanica, Carex lucorum, and Betula populifolia. They can be floristically similar to ~(Pinus strobus, Quercus rubra) / Danthonia spicata Acidic Bedrock Scrub Grassland (CEGL005101)$$, but those have more (albeit scattered) trees and graminoids more abundant than dwarf-shrubs.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community is phytogeographically intermediate between the more boreal ~(Picea mariana, Abies balsamea) / Kalmia angustifolia - Ledum groenlandicum Dwarf-shrubland (CEGL006031)$$ and the more Central Appalachian ~Vaccinium (angustifolium, myrtilloides, pallidum) Central Appalachian Dwarf-shrubland (CEGL003958)$$.

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

Floristics: The physiognomy of this community is patchy and variable, ranging from woodland to shrubland to sparsely vegetated rock. A tree canopy is absent or poorly developed, usually consisting of scattered and stunted trees with less than 10% cover. Tall shrubs are scattered, mostly in somewhat protected areas. Dwarf-shrubs are the most extensive layer, with up to 75% cover. Herbs are sparse and confined to rock crevices and depressions. The bryoid layer varies from sparse to well-developed, with both lichens and mosses represented. Tree species include Picea rubens, Abies balsamea, Quercus rubra, Pinus strobus, Betula papyrifera, Betula populifolia, or Acer rubrum. Scattered tall shrubs include Sorbus americana, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Ilex mucronata (= Nemopanthus mucronatus), Aronia melanocarpa, Comptonia peregrina, or Amelanchier spp. Prominent dwarf heath shrubs include Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia baccata, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Kalmia angustifolia. The sparse herb layer includes graminoids such as Deschampsia flexuosa, Danthonia spicata, Carex lucorum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Piptatheropsis pungens (= Oryzopsis pungens), and the forbs Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Solidago simplex var. randii, Minuartia glabra, Maianthemum canadense, Gaultheria procumbens, Trientalis borealis, and Pteridium aquilinum. Abundant mosses and lichens form a bryophyte layer characterized by Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Dicranum polysetum, and Cladonia lichens.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This northern or high-elevation acidic rock heath barren occurs in the glaciated northeastern states on rocky ridges, outcrops and summits. It includes patches of shrub dominance as well as areas of bedrock-dominated sparse vegetation. The soils are shallow, well-drained, dry, acidic, coarse sands. Expanses of exposed bedrock are typical, with minimal soil development restricted to crevices or shelter areas. Elevations of known examples range from almost sea level on the Maine coast to about 825 m (2700 feet) inland.
Geographic Range: This heath barren occurs in the glaciated northeastern states from Maine to Pennsylvania and in Ontario, Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, PA?, QC?, VT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

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.4 Laurentian -Acidic Rocky Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M505 2.B.2.Nc.4
Group 2.B.2.Nc.4.a Laurentian-Acadian Acidic Scrub & Grassland Group G788 2.B.2.Nc.4.a
Alliance A4110 <i>Vaccinium angustifolium - Vaccinium pallidum</i> Northern Rocky Heath Alliance A4110 2.B.2.Nc.4.a
Association CEGL005094 Lowbush Blueberry - American Mountain-ash / Shrubby Fivefingers Dwarf-shrubland CEGL005094 2.B.2.Nc.4.a
Concept Lineage: This OC type is now covered here

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Vaccinium angustifolium dwarf-shrublands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Blueberry-mountain ash summit shrub heath (NAP pers. comm. 1998)
? SNE Acidic Rocky Summit/Rock Outcrop Community (Rawinski 1984a)
= Three-toothed Cinquefoil - Blueberry Low Summit Bald (Gawler 2002)
Concept Author(s): S.C. Gawler (2002)

Author of Description: S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-23-06
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