Print Report
CEGL008470 Kalmia latifolia - Gaylussacia (baccata, brachycera) Cumberland Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Laurel - (Black Huckleberry, Box Huckleberry) Cumberland Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Cumberland Sandstone Glade Heath Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sandstone glade-related heath shrub-dominated community occurs on sandstone bedrock exposures in the Cumberlands of Kentucky and Virginia (and possibly adjacent Tennessee) at moderate elevations. The vegetation at these sites is low in stature. The tallest shrub is Vaccinium arboreum and it seldom is over 2 m in height. Scrubby trees, usually Quercus coccinea and Quercus falcata (and/or sometimes Quercus velutina, Quercus marilandica, or Quercus stellata), as well as Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana are seldom are over 3 m. The tree species are dispersed on the landscape with small crowns and little cover. The dominant shrubs are Kalmia latifolia (low to the ground, around 0.6 m or less high), Gaylussacia baccata and/or Vaccinium pallidum. On many, but not all sites, Gaylussacia brachycera is the most dominant low-shrub species. Sometimes Vaccinium stamineum occurs as well. In the most open areas, Epigaea repens, Gaultheria procumbens, Danthonia spicata, Cladonia spp., and in moist pockets, Dicranum scoparium are often dominant. Occasionally Croton michauxii var. ellipticus and Phemeranthus teretifolius occur in the open (nearly rock, thin soil, no shrub) areas. These areas grade into oak-pine or pine-oak woodland with an ericaceous shrub layer (Kalmia latifolia, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia brachycera). Here the Kalmia is 1-2 m high and the sites are somewhat difficult to traverse. These woodlands in turn grade into oak-pine or pine/oak forest, either with a Kalmia / Vaccinium / Gaylussacia layer or more or less leaf litter. This community lacks many of the characteristic southern Appalachian species found in Appalachian heath balds such as Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Eubotrys recurva, Pieris floribunda, and Leiophyllum buxifolium. This association also lacks species of northern affinity (e.g., Ilex mucronata, Vaccinium angustifolium, Lycopodium annotinum, Carex polymorpha, and Oryzopsis asperifolia), which are found in related vegetation of the Central Appalachians which is dominated by Kalmia latifolia and Gaylussacia baccata.
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 vegetation is low in stature. The tallest shrub is Vaccinium arboreum and it seldom is over 2 m in height. Scrubby trees, usually Quercus coccinea and Quercus falcata (and/or sometimes Quercus velutina, Quercus marilandica, or Quercus stellata), as well as Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana are seldom are over 3 m. The tree species are dispersed on the landscape with small crowns and little cover. The dominant shrubs are Kalmia latifolia (low to the ground, around 0.6 m or less high), Gaylussacia baccata, and/or Vaccinium pallidum. On many, but not all sites, Gaylussacia brachycera is the most dominant low-shrub species. Sometimes Vaccinium stamineum occurs as well. In the most open areas, Epigaea repens, Gaultheria procumbens, Danthonia spicata, Cladonia spp., and in moist pockets, Dicranum scoparium are often dominant. Occasionally Croton michauxii var. ellipticus (= Crotonopsis elliptica) and Phemeranthus teretifolius (= Talinum teretifolium) occur in the open (nearly rock, thin soil, no shrub) areas. These areas grade into oak-pine or pine-oak woodland with an ericaceous shrub layer (Kalmia latifolia, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia brachycera). Here the Kalmia is 1-2 m high and the sites are somewhat difficult to traverse. These woodlands in turn grade into oak-pine or pine/oak forest, either with a Kalmia / Vaccinium / Gaylussacia layer or more or less leaf litter. This community lacks many of the characteristic Southern Appalachian species found in Appalachian heath balds such as Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Eubotrys recurva (= Leucothoe recurva), Pieris floribunda, and Leiophyllum buxifolium. This association also lacks species of northern affinity (e.g., Ilex mucronata (= Nemopanthus mucronatus), Vaccinium angustifolium, Lycopodium annotinum, Carex polymorpha, and Oryzopsis asperifolia), which are found in related vegetation of the Central Appalachians which is dominated by Kalmia latifolia and Gaylussacia baccata.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This sandstone glade heath shrubland occurs on acidic bedrock exposures in the Cumberlands of eastern Kentucky, western Virginia, and possibly adjacent Tennessee.
Geographic Range: This sandstone glade heath shrubland occurs in the Cumberlands of Kentucky and Virginia, and adjacent Tennessee.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: KY, TN, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686832
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.2 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M509 | 2.B.2.Nc.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.2.b Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Glade & Barrens Group | G178 | 2.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Alliance | A3474 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass - Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod Cumberland Sandstone Grassland Alliance | A3474 | 2.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Association | CEGL008470 Mountain Laurel - (Black Huckleberry, Box Huckleberry) Cumberland Shrubland | CEGL008470 | 2.B.2.Nc.2.b |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Gaylussacia baccata Community (Perkins 1981)
>< Kalmia latifolia Community (Perkins 1981)
< Sandstone Rock Outcrop (Schmalzer and DeSelm 1982)
>< Kalmia latifolia Community (Perkins 1981)
< Sandstone Rock Outcrop (Schmalzer and DeSelm 1982)
- Perkins, B. E. 1981. Vegetation of sandstone outcrops of the Cumberland Plateau. M.S. thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. xi plus 121 pp.
- Schmalzer, P. A., and H. R. DeSelm. 1982. Vegetation, endangered and threatened plants, critical plant habitats and vascular flora of the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Unpublished report. USDI National Park Service, Obed Wild and Scenic River. 2 volumes. 369 pp.
- 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.