Print Report

CEGL008540 Quercus montana - Pinus virginiana - (Pinus pungens) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Dichanthelium depauperatum Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: The chestnut oak - virginia pine woodland occurs on exposed and convex slopes in the Central Appalachians; the tree canopy is dominated by Quercus montana and Pinus virginiana, with Quercus rubra, Pinus pungens, and Carya glabra.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak - Virginia Pine - (Table Mountain Pine) / Little Bluestem - Starved Witchgrass Woodland

Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Chestnut Oak - Virginia Pine Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is a mixed oak-pine woodland with a canopy of stunted, often gnarled trees, varying from semi-open to very open. It occurs on steep convex slopes, ridge spurs, and clifftops which have high solar exposure. Most are on moderate to steep slopes with much exposed mineral soil. Sites are confined to lower elevations (<770 m [2500 feet]), are distinctly xeric, and usually have southeast to southwest aspects. Underlying bedrock includes quartzite, metasandstone and sandstone, granite, shale, and other acidic rocks. Surface cover of outcrops and loose stones is relatively high. Soils are extremely acidic. The canopy is typically codominated by Quercus montana and Pinus virginiana in variable proportions; in some slightly more mesic occurrences, Quercus rubra may occur with or in place of Quercus montana. Pinus pungens is an important, even dominant, associate in a minority of stands. Minor but relatively constant tree associates include Carya glabra, Amelanchier arborea, and Sassafras albidum. Minor, inconstant tree associates include Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica, Quercus alba, Carya tomentosa, Carya ovata, Juniperus virginiana, Pinus strobus, and Fraxinus americana. The shrub layer varies from moderately dense to sparse, with Vaccinium pallidum and Vaccinium stamineum the most constant and abundant species. Quercus ilicifolia, Kalmia latifolia, Rhus copallinum, Rhus aromatica, Rosa carolina, Castanea pumila, Viburnum acerifolium, and Toxicodendron pubescens are inconstant, but occasionally common, in the type. Herbaceous composition and density vary with shrub density. Graminoid-rich openings dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium, Dichanthelium depauperatum, Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, and Dichanthelium commutatum are frequent. Also present is a surprising variety of low-cover forbs, among the most characteristic of which are Hieracium venosum, Solidago erecta, Potentilla canadensis, Campanula divaricata, Viola sagittata, Houstonia longifolia, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Aureolaria laevigata, Helianthus divaricatus, Cunila origanoides, Symphyotrichum undulatum, Coreopsis verticillata, Tephrosia virginiana, Lespedeza frutescens, Polygonatum biflorum var. biflorum, Taenidia integerrima, Asplenium platyneuron, and Clitoria mariana.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The classification of this type is supported by analysis of 28 Virginia, 3 Maryland, and 8 West Virginia plot samples. Additional inventory and data collection are needed to clarify the geographic range, classification, and environmental context of this type. The known range of this community is limited to the Northern Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, Cumberlands, and Piedmont in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, but geologic substrates and site conditions similar to those supporting the known examples occur elsewhere in the Central Appalachians, and a broader geographic range seems likely. Recent data indicating possible rock chemistry and compositional gradients may result in future splitting of the type, or expansion of the concept (G. Fleming pers. comm. 2009).

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

Floristics: The canopy cover of stunted, often gnarled trees varies from semi-open to very open. Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) and Pinus virginiana are usually codominant in variable proportions; in some slightly more mesic occurrences, Quercus rubra may occur with or in place of Quercus montana. Pinus pungens is an important, even dominant, associate in a minority of stands. Minor but relatively constant tree associates include Carya glabra, Amelanchier arborea, and Sassafras albidum. Minor, inconstant tree associates include Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica, Quercus alba, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya ovata, Juniperus virginiana, Pinus strobus, and Fraxinus americana. The shrub layer varies from moderately dense to sparse, with Vaccinium pallidum and Vaccinium stamineum the most constant and abundant species. Quercus ilicifolia, Kalmia latifolia, Rhus copallinum, Rhus aromatica, Rosa carolina, Castanea pumila, Viburnum acerifolium, and Toxicodendron pubescens are inconstant, but occasionally common, in the type. Herbaceous composition and density vary with shrub density. Graminoid-rich openings dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium, Dichanthelium depauperatum, Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, and Dichanthelium commutatum are frequent. Occasional stands feature patch-dominance by Sorghastrum nutans or Andropogon gerardii. Also present is a surprising variety of low-cover forbs, among the most characteristic of which are Hieracium venosum, Solidago erecta, Potentilla canadensis, Campanula divaricata, Viola sagittata, Houstonia longifolia, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Aureolaria laevigata, Helianthus divaricatus, Cunila origanoides, Symphyotrichum undulatum (= Aster undulatus), Coreopsis verticillata, Tephrosia virginiana, Lespedeza frutescens, Polygonatum biflorum var. biflorum, Taenidia integerrima, Asplenium platyneuron, and Clitoria mariana. Additional herbs occurring less frequently include Lespedeza hirta, Solidago odora, Deschampsia flexuosa, Coreopsis major, Solidago puberula var. puberula, Solidago bicolor, Solidago arguta var. caroliniana, Solidago sphacelata, Hypericum hypericoides ssp. multicaule (= Hypericum stragulum), Lysimachia quadrifolia, Asclepias amplexicaulis, Sericocarpus asteroides, Dicentra eximia, Paronychia fastigiata, Sericocarpus linifolius, Ionactis linariifolius, Symphyotrichum laeve, Phlox subulata, Pellaea atropurpurea, Polygonum scandens var. cristatum, Viola x palmata, Arabis laevigata, and Zizia trifoliata. Vascular plant species richness of plot-sampled stands ranges from 17 to 56 taxa per 400 m2 (mean = 37). Nonvascular cover tends to be sparse and characterized by fruticose lichens, including Cladonia arbuscula.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on steep convex slopes, ridge spurs, and clifftops which have high solar exposure. Most habitats are characterized by moderate to steep (mean = 24°) slopes with much exposed mineral soil. Sites are confined to lower elevations (<770 m [2500 feet]), are distinctly xeric, and usually have southeast to southwest aspects. Underlying bedrock at plot-sampling sites in VA, MD, and WV includes Antietam quartzite, ferruginous metasandstone of the Harper''s Formation, acidic granites, acidic phases of Catoctin metabasalt, schistose metasedimentary rocks of the Mather Gorge Formation, shales and sandstones of the Hinton formation in the Mauch Chunk group, and ancient alluvium composed of quartzitic cobbles. Surface cover of outcrops and loose stones is relatively high (mean = 38% in MD and VA plots). Soils are extremely acidic (mean pH = 4.4) and very low in base status, except for high aluminum levels and sometimes relatively high potassium levels. One somewhat anomalous site is located on massive alluvial fans that overlie the floor of the Great Valley of Virginia along the foot of the Blue Ridge in Augusta County. Here, stands occupy barren, elevated cobble terraces bordering a stream and representing the floodplain level of an earlier erosional cycle.
Geographic Range: The known range of this community is limited to the Northern Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, and western Piedmont in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, but geologic substrates and site conditions similar to those supporting the known examples occur elsewhere in the Central Appalachians, and a broader geographic range seems likely.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MD, VA, WV


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?

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.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup M502 1.B.2.Na.2
Group 1.B.2.Na.2.h Pitch Pine - Virginia Pine - Bear Oak Woodland & Barrens Group G906 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Alliance A3312 Virginia Pine - Chestnut Oak Acidic Shale Woodland Alliance A3312 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Association CEGL008540 Chestnut Oak - Virginia Pine - (Table Mountain Pine) / Little Bluestem - Starved Witchgrass Woodland CEGL008540 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Pinus pungens - Pinus rigida / Quercus ilicifolia / Gaylussacia baccata Association: Andropogon scoparius - Coreopsis verticillata - Dichanthelium depauperatum Subassociation, pro parte (Rawinski et al. 1996) [see CEGL008526.]
= Quercus prinus - Pinus virginiana - (Pinus pungens) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Dichanthelium depauperatum Woodland (Fleming and Patterson 2009a)
= Quercus prinus - Pinus virginiana - Quercus (marilandica, stellata) / Dichanthelium depauperatum Woodland (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
Concept Author(s): G.P. Fleming and P.P. Coulling (2001)

Author of Description: G.P. Fleming, P.P. Coulling, S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-24-10
  • Braunschweig, S. H., E. T. Nilsen, and T. F. Wieboldt. 1999. The mid-Appalachian shale barrens. Pages 83-98 in: R. C. Anderson, J. S. Fralish, and J. M. Baskin. Savannas, barrens, and rock outcrop plant communities of North America. Cambridge University Press, NY.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Fleming, G. P., A. Belden, Jr., K. E. Heffernan, A. C. Chazal, N. E. Van Alstine, and E. M. Butler. 2007a. A natural heritage inventory of the rock outcrops of Shenandoah National Park. Unpublished report submitted to the National Park Service. Natural Heritage Technical Report 07-01. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 433 pp. plus appendixes.
  • 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/]
  • Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2003. Preliminary vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2003. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
  • Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009a. A vegetation classification for the Appalachian Trail: Virginia south to Georgia. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. In-house analysis, March 2009.
  • Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009b. Classification of selected Virginia montane wetland groups. In-house analysis, December 2009. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
  • Fleming, G. P., and K. Taverna. 2006. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, western region. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2006. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
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  • Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
  • Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
  • Lea, C. 2004. Draft vegetation types in National Capital Region Parks. Edited by S.C. Gawler and J. Teague. Working draft for review by NatureServe, Virginia Natural Heritage, West Virginia Natural Heritage, Maryland Natural Heritage, and National Park Service. July 2004. 157 pp.
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  • Vanderhorst, J. P., B. P. Streets, J. Jeuck, and S. C. Gawler. 2008. Vegetation classification and mapping of Bluestone National Scenic River, West Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/106. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA.
  • WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.
  • Young, J., G. Fleming, W. Cass, and C. Lea. 2009. Vegetation of Shenandoah National Park in relation to environmental gradients, Version 2.0. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2009/142. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 389 pp.