Print Report

CEGL003886 Smilax glauca - Toxicodendron radicans Vine-Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Cat Greenbrier - Eastern Poison-ivy Vine-Shrubland

Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Coastal Plain Dune Vine

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is best described as vine-covered maritime sand dunes. Generally confined to barrier beach systems of the North Atlantic, this vegetation is composed of dense vines that cover the crests of dunes exposed to wind, salt spray and periodic overwash by storm tides. Very little soil development occurs, and the water table is well below 1 m in depth. The dominant species of any single dune may be one of several vine species such as Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Vitis rotundifolia, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, or Toxicodendron radicans. In some cases, the vines are shallowly rooted in sand or growing over older vine stems or other living or dead shrubs such as Morella pensylvanica. Scattered dune grassland species may be present such as Ammophila breviligulata, Lechea maritima, Solidago sempervirens, and Hudsonia tomentosa. Diagnostic species are Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. The vegetation is generally low to the ground (less than half a meter tall) and generally covers 70-80% of the surface of the ground, the remainder being exposed sand. This vegetation is not widely described in the literature, but is likely to occur in New England south to Maryland.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: The dominant species of any single dune may be one of several vine species such as Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Vitis rotundifolia, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, or Toxicodendron radicans. In some cases, the vines are shallowly rooted in the sand or grow over older vine stems or other living or dead shrubs such as Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica) and Prunus serotina. Scattered dune grassland species may be present such as Ammophila breviligulata, Lechea maritima, Solidago sempervirens, and Hudsonia tomentosa. The vegetation is generally low to the ground (less than half a meter tall) and generally covers 70-80% of the surface of the ground, the remainder being exposed sand. Invasive species, including Lonicera japonica and Celastrus orbiculatus, may also be present.

Dynamics:  Vegetation of this association stabilizes dunes. It also grades into maritime shrubland and dune grassland vegetation.
Environmental Description:  This community occurs on maritime sand dunes, generally of barrier beach systems, where vegetation is exposed to wind, salt spray and periodic overwash by storm tides. Vegetation is shallowly rooted in sand or draped over living or dead shrubs. Very little soil development occurs, and the water table is well below 1 m in depth (Martin 1959b).
Geographic Range: This type is likely to occur in New England south to Maryland.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2

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 CEGL003886 Cat Greenbrier - Eastern Poison-ivy Vine-Shrubland CEGL003886 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: = Smilax glauca - Toxicodendron radicans Vine-Shrubland (Bowman 2000)
? Coastal dune community (Rawinski 1984a)
> Greenbrier thicket (Martin 1959b) [New Jersey.]
Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon and A. Berdine

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

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-02-13
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