Print Report
CEGL007240 Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Carya ovata / Cercis canadensis - Juniperus virginiana Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Shagbark Hickory / Eastern Redbud - Eastern Red-cedar Forest
Colloquial Name: Ridge & Valley Dry-Mesic White Oak - Hickory Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry-mesic late-successional Appalachian forest occurs on slopes with southerly aspects and well-drained upland soils. The canopy is dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Carya ovata, and Carya tomentosa. Other Quercus species are common in the canopy (Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus muehlenbergii, and Quercus velutina). Other canopy species can include Pinus virginiana, Pinus echinata, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Quercus montana, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Fraxinus americana. A mixture of calciphilic and acidophilic trees are present in the subcanopy, including Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Acer leucoderme, Nyssa sylvatica, Cornus florida, Acer rubrum, and Oxydendrum arboreum. Acer saccharum, Acer nigrum, or Acer leucoderme are sometimes present in the canopy and are often common in the lower strata (subcanopy, tall-shrub, and low-shrub). Other species in the shrub strata include Cornus florida, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Ulmus alata, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium arboreum, Viburnum rufidulum, Frangula caroliniana, and Ostrya virginiana. The herbaceous layer can be moderately dense to somewhat sparse. Possible herbaceous species are Polystichum acrostichoides, Hexastylis arifolia var. ruthii, Dioscorea quaternata, Galium circaezans, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Zizia aptera, Chamaelirium luteum, Desmodium nudiflorum, Desmodium rotundifolium, and other Desmodium species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Described from Tellico Pilot Project (Ridge and Valley of Tennessee, northeastern Monroe County; 50 stands sampled) (Andreu and Tukman 1995). Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana is included in the name to indicate the relative xeric nature of this forest, until more information is available to define understory indicator species. This association is related to ~Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Carya ovalis / Acer saccharum / Polystichum acrostichoides Forest (CEGL007233)$$, a more mesic type described from the Tellico Pilot Project. Related vegetation in Virginia is treated as ~Quercus muehlenbergii - Quercus (shumardii, stellata) / Cercis canadensis / Viburnum rufidulum Forest (CEGL007699)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy is generally closed (>75% cover) with gaps resulting from natural disturbance (i.e., mudslides, fire) and is dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Carya ovata, and Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba). Other Quercus species are common in the canopy (Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus muehlenbergii, and Quercus velutina). Other canopy species can include Pinus virginiana, Pinus echinata, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Liriodendron tulipifera, and Fraxinus americana. A mixture of calciphilic and acidophilic trees are present in the subcanopy, including Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Acer leucoderme, Nyssa sylvatica, Cornus florida, Acer rubrum, and Oxydendrum arboreum. Acer saccharum, Acer nigrum, or Acer leucoderme are sometimes present in the canopy and are often common in the lower strata (subcanopy, tall-shrub, and low-shrub). Other species in the shrub strata include Cornus florida, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Ulmus alata, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium arboreum, Viburnum rufidulum, Frangula caroliniana, and Ostrya virginiana. The herbaceous layer can be moderately dense to somewhat sparse. Possible herbaceous species are Polystichum acrostichoides, Hexastylis arifolia var. ruthii, Dioscorea quaternata, Galium circaezans, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Zizia aptera, Chamaelirium luteum, Desmodium nudiflorum, Desmodium rotundifolium, and other Desmodium species.
Dynamics: Infrequent fires due to the dry conditions were the only observed disturbances affecting this community type in the Tellico study area.
Environmental Description: This dry-mesic late-successional Appalachian forest occurs on slopes with southerly or westerly aspects and well-drained upland soils. This association is not (at this time) explicitly restricted to any particular geological substrates or soil types. This would be valuable information, as the flora seems to be at least somewhat oriented to a circumneutral substrate. This forest is most often found on slopes with elevation ranging from 250-305 m (820-1000 feet) with a westerly aspect. Topographical position ranges from low slope to high slope. Slopes range from gentle to very steep (0-40+°). These stands are underlain by soils weathered from calcareous shale and calcareous sandstone of the Middle Ordovician. These soils are slightly to very acidic and well-drained. Soil series of this type are Dandridge (Lithic Ruptic-Alfic Eutrochrepts), Tellico (Typic Rhododults), and Steekee (Ruptic-Ultic Dystrochrepts). These soils are slightly to very acidic and well-drained to very well-drained. Average depth of solum ranges from 43 cm (17 inches) (Dandridge series) to 147 cm (58 inches) (Tellico series). The combination of environmental factors and well-drained soils results in dry-mesic site conditions.
Geographic Range: This association is at least a moderately widespread type, probably present throughout the Ridge and Valley from Alabama to Tennessee and possibly to Virginia, as well as adjacent Southern Blue Ridge. A comprehensive review of related types has not been completed.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, GA, KY, TN, VA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686545
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.a Chestnut Oak - Hickory species / American Chestnut Forest Group | G015 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A4390 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Quercus montana Forest Alliance | A4390 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL007240 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Shagbark Hickory / Eastern Redbud - Eastern Red-cedar Forest | CEGL007240 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Carya ovata / Juniperus virginiana Forest (Andreu and Tukman 1995)
< IA6i. Interior Upland Dry-Mesic Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
< IA6i. Interior Upland Dry-Mesic Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
- 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.
- Andreu, M. G., and M. L. Tukman. 1995. Forest communities of the Tellico Lake Area, East Tennessee. M.F. project report, Duke University, School of the Environment. Durham, NC. 66 pp. plus appendices.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Fleming, Gary P. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- White, R. D., Jr. 2006. Vascular plant inventory and ecological community classification for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 246 pp.