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CEGL008516 Quercus montana - Quercus rubra - Carya ovalis / Carex pensylvanica - (Calamagrostis porteri) Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak - Northern Red Oak - Red Hickory / Pennsylvania Sedge - (Porter''s Reedgrass) Forest

Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Montane Oak - Hickory Forest (Acidic Type)

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is currently known from the southern part of the Central Appalachians, on the northern Virginia Blue Ridge and higher ridges of the Ridge and Valley in western Virginia and adjacent West Virginia. Occurrences in western Maryland and central and western Pennsylvania should be sought. This association usually occupies middle to upper slopes and narrow ridge crests underlain by various sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, including sandstone, quartzite, siltstone, metasiltstone, phyllite, acidic shale, and rarely amphibolite. Among 53 Virginia plot samples, elevation ranges from 550-1270 m (2000-4160 feet), but the type is most common between 760 and 1100 m (2500-3600 feet). The moisture potential of plot-sampling sites was assessed as submesic or subxeric. Slopes vary from steep to sublevel, with aspects ranging from northeast to west. This association has an open, mixed canopy dominated by several oaks and hickories. Trees tend to be slightly stunted (often <20 m tall) on the drier and more exposed sites. Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, and Carya ovalis are the most abundant canopy species, but Quercus alba is a constant minor associate that becomes more abundant and replaces Quercus montana at the highest elevations. Carya ovata, Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus velutina are minor overstory associates. The subcanopy tends to be strongly dominated by Carya ovalis. Lower understory layers tend to be open or sparse with scattered Ostrya virginiana, Crataegus macrosperma, Amelanchier arborea, Acer pensylvanicum, and tree saplings. Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Rosa carolina, and Spiraea corymbosa commonly form a patchy low-shrub layer. The herb layer is open but moderately diverse with drought-tolerant graminoids and forbs.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Although it has a similar canopy, this association differs significantly from ~Quercus rubra - Quercus montana - Carya ovalis / (Cercis canadensis) / Solidago caesia Forest (CEGL008514)$$ in its understory and herbaceous composition. It occupies drier, steeper sites and lacks (or nearly so) many characteristic low-elevation and mesophytic species of CEGL008514, e.g., Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus alba, Cercis canadensis, Asimina triloba, Actaea racemosa, Solidago caesia, Desmodium glutinosum, etc. Conversely, this type contains a number of montane and xerophytic species that are absent or unimportant in CEGL008514. This type occurs in the same region, at similar elevations, and on similar topographic positions as ~Quercus rubra - Carya ovata - Fraxinus americana / Actaea racemosa - Hydrophyllum virginianum Forest (CEGL008518)$$. The latter, however, is associated with richer, more mesic, deeper-soiled sites over calcareous and mafic rocks. Its herb layer contrasts sharply with the dry, graminoid-dominated herb layer of this association (CEGL008516) in being dominated by large, leafy, nutrient-demanding forbs.

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

Floristics: This association has an open, mixed canopy dominated by several oaks and hickories. Trees tend to be slightly stunted (often <20 m tall) on the drier and more exposed sites. Quercus rubra, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), and Carya ovalis are the most abundant canopy species, but Quercus alba is a constant minor associate that becomes more abundant and replaces Quercus montana at the highest elevations. Carya ovata, Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus velutina are minor overstory associates. The subcanopy tends to be strongly dominated by Carya ovalis. Lower understory layers tend to be open or sparse with scattered Ostrya virginiana, Crataegus macrosperma, Amelanchier arborea, Acer pensylvanicum, and tree saplings. Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Rosa carolina, and Spiraea corymbosa (= Spiraea betulifolia var. corymbosa) commonly form a patchy low-shrub layer. The herb layer is open but moderately diverse with drought-tolerant graminoids and forbs. Many stands have strong patch-dominance by sedges and grasses, among which the most important species are Carex pensylvanica, Calamagrostis porteri, Dichanthelium boscii, Festuca subverticillata, and Deschampsia flexuosa. Among the most abundant forbs are Ageratina altissima var. altissima, Solidago ulmifolia, Solidago arguta var. arguta, Houstonia longifolia, Uvularia perfoliata, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Paronychia canadensis, and Galium latifolium. Forbs tend to be patchy or scattered but may dominate on straight or concave slopes. Additional herbs occurring more-or-less frequently include Symphyotrichum undulatum (= Aster undulatus), Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), Agrostis perennans, Helianthus divaricatus, Heuchera americana, Scrophularia lanceolata, Doellingeria infirma (= Aster infirmus), Eupatorium sessilifolium, Asclepias quadrifolia, Penstemon canescens, Arabis laevigata, Cunila origanoides, Carex virescens, Silene stellata, Carex laxiflora, Pycnanthemum incanum, Potentilla canadensis, Polygonum scandens var. cristatum, Vicia caroliniana, Carex cephalophora, Galium circaezans, Bromus pubescens, and Danthonia spicata. Many other herbs occur at low constancy and cover. Species richness of 53 plot-sampled stands ranges from 30 to 103 taxa per 400 m2 (mean = 62).

Dynamics:  Fire (at least historically), windthrow, ice storms, herbivory by white-tailed deer, and periodic drought stress are natural disturbances that probably influence this community type. The frequent structure exhibited by this association (open understory and dense graminoid herb layer) could possibly be an artifact of frequent historical fires and/or livestock grazing, but such disturbances ceased a considerable time ago on most sites. Oak recruitment is generally poor on most sites, but hickory recruitment is abundant. On the more mesic sites (concave slopes, etc.), the understory often contains Acer rubrum and other shade-tolerant mesophytic trees, which have probably invaded following a period of fire exclusion.
Environmental Description:  Occurrences are strongly associated with middle- to higher-elevation upper slopes and ridge crests underlain by various sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, including sandstone, quartzite, siltstone, metasiltstone, phyllite, acidic shale, and rarely amphibolite. Among 54 Virginia plot samples, elevation ranges from 550-1270 m (1800-4160 feet), but the type is most common between 760 and 1100 m (2500-3600 feet). The type usually occupies middle to upper slopes and narrow ridge crests. The moisture potential of plot-sampling sites was assessed as submesic or subxeric. Slopes tend to be convex and vary from steep to sublevel (mean = 16°), with aspects ranging from northeast to west. Surface cover of outcrops and boulders averages about 5%, and loose channery is abundant at sites underlain by siltstone, metasiltstone, and shale. Substantial areas of exposed mineral soil are often present. Soil samples collected from plots are strongly to extremely acidic, with moderately low base cation levels, except manganese.
Geographic Range: This community is currently known from the southern part of the Central Appalachians, on the northern Virginia Blue Ridge and higher ridges of the Ridge and Valley in western Virginia and adjacent West Virginia. A few small occurrences have been documented on the northern edges of both the Southern Blue Ridge and Cumberlands and Southern Ridge and Valley ecoregions. Occurrences in western Maryland and central and western Pennsylvania should be sought. Within the known range, this unit can be a large-patch community type in localities of optimal habitat.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MD?, VA, WV


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.c White Oak - Chestnut Oak - Pignut Hickory Forest & Woodland Group G650 1.B.2.Na.2.c
Alliance A4436 White Oak - Pignut Hickory - White Ash Forest Alliance A4436 1.B.2.Na.2.c
Association CEGL008516 Chestnut Oak - Northern Red Oak - Red Hickory / Pennsylvania Sedge - (Porter''s Reedgrass) Forest CEGL008516 1.B.2.Na.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Acer saccharum - Carya glabra - Ostrya virginiana Alliance: Quercus alba - Carya ovata / Carex pensylvanica - Carex woodii Association (Rawinski et al. 1996)
> Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Carya ovalis / Elymus hystrix Forest (Fleming and Moorhead 2000)
= Quercus montana - Quercus rubra - Carya ovalis / Vaccinium stamineum / Solidago ulmifolia Forest (Young et al. 2007a)
? Quercus prinus - Quercus rubra - Carya ovalis / Cornus florida / Desmodium nudiflorum Association: Helianthus divaricatus - Carex pensylvanica - Dichanthelium boscii - Arabis laevigata Subassociation, pro parte (Rawinski et al. 1996) [see CEGL008515.]
> Quercus prinus - Quercus rubra - Carya ovalis / Solidago (ulmifolia, arguta) - Galium latifolium Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
= Quercus prinus - Quercus rubra - Carya ovalis / Solidago (ulmifolia, arguta) - Galium latifolium Forest (Young et al. 2006)
> Quercus rubra - Quercus alba - Carya (ovata, ovalis) / Ostrya virginiana / Carex pensylvanica Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
< White Oak - Black Oak - Northern Red Oak: 52 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): G.P. Fleming and P.P. Coulling (2001)

Author of Description: G.P. Fleming

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-23-10
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
  • 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., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. 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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  • Rawinski, T. J., K. N. Hickman, J. Waller-Eling, G. P. Fleming, C. S. Austin, S. D. Helmick, C. Huber, G. Kappesser, F. C. Huber, Jr., T. Bailey, and T. K. Collins. 1996. Plant communities and ecological land units of the Glenwood Ranger District, George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report 96-20. Richmond. 65 pp. plus appendices.
  • WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.
  • Young, J., G. Fleming, P. Townsend, and J. Foster. 2006. Vegetation of Shenandoah National Park in relation to environmental gradients. Final Report (v.1.1). Research technical report prepared for USDI, National Park Service. USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. 92 pp. plus appendices.
  • Young, J., G. Fleming, P. Townsend, and J. Foster. 2007a. Vegetation of Shenandoah National Park in relation to environmental gradients. Final Report, volume 1.1. Unpublished report submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. 103 pp. plus appendices and GIS products.
  • 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.