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CEGL004302 Vittaria appalachiana - Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora - Houstonia serpyllifolia / Plagiochila spp. Cliff Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Appalachian Shoestring Fern - Little-flower Alumroot - Appalachian Bluet / Liverwort species Cliff Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Southern Blue Ridge Spray Cliff
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community includes herbaceous vegetation on rock substrates associated with the spray of cascades and waterfalls in the Southern Blue Ridge and adjacent portions of the Piedmont. It is found in southwestern North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina, and northeastern Georgia, in the escarpment gorges of the Southern Blue Ridge and west of the escarpment in eastern Tennessee. It occurs on saturated rock outcrops, on nearly vertical rock surfaces and ledges, slopes, and crevices with shallow soils which are constantly saturated. Vegetative coverage is sparse to moderate with 50-75% unvegetated surface (bedrock) possible. Vegetation grows in cracks and on organic accumulations on ledges. It is characterized by a variable but unique assemblage of vascular herbs, algae, and bryophytes, many of which are endemic to this community. Composition of this community varies from location to location, in part due to its insular nature. Characteristic species include liverworts (Bazzania denudata, Conocephalum conicum, Oxalis montana, Pellia epiphylla, Pellia neesiana, Plagiochila austini, Plagiochila caduciloba, Plagiochila retrorsa, Plagiochila spp., Plagiochila sullivantii, Riccardia multifida); mosses (Bryocrumia vivicolor, Dichodontium pellucidum, Fissidens osmundioides, Hyophila involuta, Mnium marginatum, Oncophorus raui, Plagiomnium ciliare, Plagiomnium carolinianum, Pseudotaxiphyllum distichaceum, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum quinquefarium, Thalictrum spp., Thamnobryum alleghaniense); ferns (Adiantum pedatum, Asplenium monanthes, Asplenium montanum, Asplenium trichomanes ssp. trichomanes, Cystopteris protrusa, Grammitis nimbata, Hymenophyllum tayloriae, Polypodium virginianum, Trichomanes boschianum, Trichomanes intricatum, Vittaria appalachiana); and other vascular species (Galax urceolata, Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Huperzia porophila, Hydrocotyle americana, Impatiens capensis, Phegopteris connectilis, Saxifraga careyana, Saxifraga caroliniana, Carex biltmoreana). This community varies in composition with no consistent dominant species. Nominal species are either constant or regional endemics. South and west of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, this association is less diverse than those occurrences in the central portion of the range.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Zartman and Pittillo (1998) found Thuidium delicatulum, Atrichum oerstedianum, Houstonia serpyllifolia, and Plagiomnium ciliare to be the most constant species in spray cliff communities sampled from the Chattooga River Watershed, in northern Georgia, western North Carolina, and northwestern South Carolina.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association consists of a variable collection of mosses, liverworts, algae, vascular herbs, and occasional shrubs (generally less than 10%), most of them requiring constantly moist substrate and very high relative humidity. Many of the typical species of this community are bryophytes and ferns disjunct from tropical regions, endemic bryophytes, and ferns disjunct from boreal regions. Shrubs include Rhododendron maximum and Kalmia latifolia. Herb species include Huperzia porophila, Asplenium montanum, Asplenium trichomanes, Asplenium rhizophyllum, Asplenium monanthes, Cystopteris protrusa, Polypodium appalachianum, Trichomanes boschianum, Grammitis nimbata, Vittaria appalachiana, Hymenophyllum tayloriae, Trichomanes intricatum, Phegopteris connectilis, Adiantum pedatum, Saxifraga careyana, Saxifraga caroliniana, Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora, Circaea alpina ssp. alpina, Impatiens capensis, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Hydrocotyle americana, Thalictrum spp., Oxalis montana, Carex biltmoreana, and Galax urceolata. Bryophyte species, many of them nearly or entirely limited to this community, include Sphagnum quinquefarium, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Plagiomnium carolinianum, Plagiomnium ciliare (= Mnium affine), Mnium marginatum, Pseudotaxiphyllum distichaceum (= Isopterygium distichaceum), Bryocrumia vivicolor, Flakea papillata (dominant and diagnostic), Hookeria acutifolia, Thamnobryum alleghaniense, Oncophorus raui, Hyophila involuta, Dichodontium pellucidum, Radula spp., Plagiochila retrorsa (= Plagiochila sharpii ssp. sharpii), Plagiochila caduciloba, Plagiochila sullivantii, Plagiochila austini, Fissidens osmundioides, Bazzania denudata, Conocephalum conicum, Pellia epiphylla, Pellia neesiana, and Riccardia multifida. Mosses include Bryocrumia vivicolor, Dichodontium pellucidum, Fissidens osmundioides, Hyophila involuta, Mnium marginatum, Oncophorus raui, Plagiomnium ciliare (= Plagiomnium affine), Plagiomnium carolinianum, Pseudotaxiphyllum distichaceum, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum quinquefarium, Thalictrum spp., Thamnobryum alleghaniense); ferns (Adiantum pedatum, Asplenium monanthes, Asplenium montanum, Asplenium trichomanes ssp. trichomanes, Cystopteris protrusa, Grammitis nimbata (= Micropolypodium nimbatum), Hymenophyllum tayloriae, Polypodium virginianum, Trichomanes boschianum, Trichomanes intricatum, Vittaria appalachiana); and other vascular species (Galax urceolata, Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Huperzia porophila, Hydrocotyle americana, Impatiens capensis, Phegopteris connectilis, Saxifraga careyana, Saxifraga caroliniana, Carex biltmoreana).
Examples vary considerably, depending on amount and dependability of spray, elevation, rock type, orientation of rocks, degree of shading, and past and present climate. Some examples have well-developed herb or bryophyte mats, while others are nearly barren. The most diverse occurrences are found in the Blue Ridge Escarpment gorges of Transylvania, Jackson, and Macon counties, North Carolina, and Oconee and Pickens counties, South Carolina.
Examples vary considerably, depending on amount and dependability of spray, elevation, rock type, orientation of rocks, degree of shading, and past and present climate. Some examples have well-developed herb or bryophyte mats, while others are nearly barren. The most diverse occurrences are found in the Blue Ridge Escarpment gorges of Transylvania, Jackson, and Macon counties, North Carolina, and Oconee and Pickens counties, South Carolina.
Dynamics: These communities occur in unusually stable and equitable environments. The humidity is high and moisture supply is essentially constant. Temperatures are moderated by water, rock, and sheltering from sun and wind, resulting in only rare freezes or high temperatures. Potential disturbances include extreme droughts or freezes that may result in some die-off of sensitive species. Floods or rock falls may damage some parts, but in general this community is well sheltered from physical disturbance.
Environmental Description: The hydrology of this community is supplied by constant spray from waterfalls. The community consists of nearly vertical rock surfaces and ledges, slopes, and crevices with shallow soils which are constantly saturated by spray from adjacent waterfalls. Freezing occurs very rarely, and flooding damage very seldom or never. Small pockets or mats of mineral or organic matter are interspersed with bare rock, and may or may not have seepage as well.
These communities occur in unusually stable and equitable environments. The humidity is high, and moisture supply is essentially constant. Temperatures are moderated by water, rock, and sheltering from sun and wind, resulting in only rare freezes or high temperatures. Potential disturbances include extreme droughts or freezes that may result in some die-off of sensitive species. Floods or rock falls may damage some parts, but in general spray cliffs are well sheltered from physical disturbance. This community type is considered distinct from other cliff communities (even those wetted by seepage), because of the very distinctive flora, featuring many endemic or tropically disjunct pteridophytes and bryophytes. Spray cliffs differ from cliffs with seepage in having a more constant water supply, higher humidity in the air, and a more strongly moderated climate.
These communities occur in unusually stable and equitable environments. The humidity is high, and moisture supply is essentially constant. Temperatures are moderated by water, rock, and sheltering from sun and wind, resulting in only rare freezes or high temperatures. Potential disturbances include extreme droughts or freezes that may result in some die-off of sensitive species. Floods or rock falls may damage some parts, but in general spray cliffs are well sheltered from physical disturbance. This community type is considered distinct from other cliff communities (even those wetted by seepage), because of the very distinctive flora, featuring many endemic or tropically disjunct pteridophytes and bryophytes. Spray cliffs differ from cliffs with seepage in having a more constant water supply, higher humidity in the air, and a more strongly moderated climate.
Geographic Range: It is found in southwestern North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina, and northeastern Georgia, in the escarpment gorges of the Southern Blue Ridge and west of the escarpment in eastern Tennessee.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, NC, SC, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686958
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D051 | 6.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Na.1 Shrubby Fivefingers - Rock Polypody / Cup Lichen species Eastern North American Cliff & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M111 | 6.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Na.1.c Appalachian Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G840 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3915 Appalachian Wet Cliff Alliance | A3915 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL004302 Appalachian Shoestring Fern - Little-flower Alumroot - Appalachian Bluet / Liverwort species Cliff Vegetation | CEGL004302 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IID5a. Wet Acidic Cliff (Allard 1990)
= Spray Cliff (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
= Spray Cliff (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
- 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.
- Anderson, L. E., H. A. Crum, and W. R. Buck. 1990. List of mosses of North America north of Mexico. The Bryologist 93:448-499.
- Dellinger, B. 1992. Natural areas survey, Nantahala National Forest, Highlands Ranger District: Site survey reports. Unpublished data. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
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- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Stotler, R., and B. Crandall-Stotler. 1977. A checklist of liverworts and hornworts of North America. The Bryologist 80:405-428.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.
- Weakley, A. S., and M. P. Schafale. 1994. Non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Blue Ridge: Diversity in a threatened ecosystem. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 77:359-383.
- Weakley, A. S., compiler. 1993. Natural Heritage Program list of the rare plant species of North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program. Raleigh. 79 pp.
- Wharton, C. H. 1978. The natural environments of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. 227 pp.
- Zartman, C. E., and J. D. Pittillo. 1998. Spray cliff communities of the Chattooga Basin. Castanea 63(3):217-240.