Print Report
CEGL003758 Quercus muehlenbergii - Carya carolinae-septentrionalis / Acer (floridanum, leucoderme) / Croton alabamensis Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chinquapin Oak - Southern Shagbark Hickory / (Southern Sugar Maple, Chalk Maple) / Alabama Croton Woodland
Colloquial Name: Alabama Ketona Dolomite Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association covers woodlands over Ketona dolomitic limestone, in Bibb County, Alabama, associated with Bibb County glades. Dominant species of the open (though variable) canopy are Quercus muehlenbergii, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, and Quercus alba, with other species including Quercus shumardii, Quercus sinuata (which may be in any woody stratum), Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Gleditsia triacanthos, Ulmus rubra, and Tilia americana var. caroliniana. In addition, Quercus velutina, Fraxinus quadrangulata, Ulmus alata, Pinus palustris, Pinus taeda, Pinus echinata, Carya glabra, and Carya pallida may be present in some examples. Dominant understory trees may include Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus rubra, Acer floridanum, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Acer leucoderme, and Cercis canadensis. Other members of this stratum may include Ulmus alata, Carya glabra, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Viburnum rufidulum, Amelanchier arborea, Aesculus pavia, Cornus florida, Magnolia acuminata, and Diospyros virginiana. Dominant shrubs include Croton alabamensis var. alabamensis, Forestiera ligustrina, and Rhus aromatica var. aromatica. Other shrubs include Acer leucoderme, Asimina parviflora, Callicarpa americana, Celtis laevigata, Celtis tenuifolia, Chionanthus virginicus, Cladrastis kentukea, Euonymus atropurpureus, Frangula caroliniana, Hydrangea arborescens, Hypericum frondosum, Philadelphus hirsutus, Prunus americana, Ptelea trifoliata, Quercus sinuata, Sideroxylon lycioides, and Viburnum rufidulum. The characteristic species Croton alabamensis var. alabamensis is locally dominant and may form dense thickets in the shrub stratum. Toxicodendron radicans and Parthenocissus quinquefolia are common vines. Some other vines include Bignonia capreolata, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax rotundifolia, Cocculus carolinus, Matelea sp., Clematis glaucophylla, and Vitis vulpina. Herbs are very sparse in this community, as the soils are shallow and rocky. Some more abundant herbs may include Chasmanthium latifolium, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Dichanthelium boscii, Solidago auriculata, Solidago caesia, Ageratina altissima, Hexastylis arifolia, and Viola walteri. Additional herbs may include Conoclinium coelestinum, Packera obovata, Mitchella repens, Epigaea repens, Verbesina occidentalis, Verbesina virginica, Polygala boykinii, Euphorbia pubentissima, Solidago auriculata, Galium circaezans, Galium obtusum ssp. filifolium, Lithospermum canescens, Symphyotrichum shortii, Symphyotrichum undulatum, Scutellaria incana var. punctata, Sedum nevii, Asplenium resiliens, and Pellaea atropurpurea.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This rare association is restricted to the Ketona Formation in Bibb County, Alabama. Ketona dolomite glade complexes consist of variable areas consisting of three associations, one herbaceous, one shrubland, and one woodland: ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Sporobolus junceus - Rudbeckia triloba var. pinnatiloba - Onosmodium decipiens Wooded Grassland (CEGL004080)$$, ~Juniperus virginiana - Croton alabamensis - Phyllanthopsis phyllanthoides / Carex eburnea Shrubland (CEGL003937)$$, and ~Quercus muehlenbergii - Carya carolinae-septentrionalis / Acer (floridanum, leucoderme) / Croton alabamensis Woodland (CEGL003758)$$. One apparent variant of this community on a "river terrace" has greater dominance by Quercus alba and Quercus hemisphaerica, with Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Juglans nigra, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Carya glabra, and Fraxinus americana in the canopy. The placement of this vegetation is unclear; it is not included in CEGL003758.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy may be open to closed. Sometimes the canopy and subcanopy grade into one another and are hard to distinguish. Canopy and subcanopy coverage combined may be less than or greater than 60%, but conceptually these are woodlands with incomplete canopy closure. Various oaks, hickories, and other hardwoods, along with Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, dominate the canopy and subcanopy. The dominant canopy species are Quercus muehlenbergii, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, and Quercus alba, with other species including Quercus shumardii, Quercus sinuata (which may be in any woody stratum), Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Gleditsia triacanthos, Ulmus rubra, and Tilia americana var. caroliniana. In addition, Quercus velutina, Fraxinus quadrangulata, Ulmus alata, Pinus palustris, Pinus taeda, Pinus echinata, Carya glabra, and Carya pallida may be present in some examples. Dominant understory trees may include Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus rubra, Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Acer leucoderme, and Cercis canadensis. Other members of this stratum may include Ulmus alata, Carya glabra, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Viburnum rufidulum, Amelanchier arborea, Aesculus pavia, Cornus florida, Magnolia acuminata, and Diospyros virginiana. Dominant shrubs include Croton alabamensis var. alabamensis, Forestiera ligustrina, and Rhus aromatica var. aromatica. Other shrubs include Acer leucoderme, Asimina parviflora, Callicarpa americana, Celtis laevigata, Celtis tenuifolia, Chionanthus virginicus, Cladrastis kentukea, Euonymus atropurpureus, Frangula caroliniana, Hydrangea arborescens, Hypericum frondosum, Philadelphus hirsutus, Prunus americana, Ptelea trifoliata, Quercus sinuata, Sideroxylon lycioides, and Viburnum rufidulum. The characteristic species Croton alabamensis var. alabamensis is locally dominant and may form dense thickets in the shrub stratum. Toxicodendron radicans and Parthenocissus quinquefolia are common vines. Some other vines include Bignonia capreolata, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax rotundifolia, Cocculus carolinus, Matelea sp., Clematis glaucophylla, and Vitis vulpina. Herbs are very sparse in this community, as the soils are shallow and rocky. Some more abundant herbs may include Chasmanthium latifolium, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Dichanthelium boscii, Solidago auriculata, Solidago caesia, Ageratina altissima (= Eupatorium rugosum), Hexastylis arifolia, and Viola walteri. Additional herbs may include Conoclinium coelestinum (= Eupatorium coelestinum), Packera obovata, Mitchella repens, Epigaea repens, Verbesina occidentalis, Verbesina virginica, Polygala boykinii, Euphorbia pubentissima, Solidago auriculata, Galium circaezans, Galium obtusum ssp. filifolium, Lithospermum canescens, Symphyotrichum shortii (= Aster shortii), Symphyotrichum undulatum (= Aster undulatus), Scutellaria incana var. punctata, Sedum nevii, Asplenium resiliens, and Pellaea atropurpurea.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found on Ketona dolomitic limestone, in Bibb County, Alabama. Stands are on slopes, bluffs, and other landforms associated with the Bibb County glades. In these environments, the soils are shallow and rocky.
Geographic Range: This rare association is restricted to the Ketona Formation in the Ridge and Valley province of Bibb County, Alabama.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687012
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M016 | 1.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.1.e Chinquapin Oak - Shumard Oak - Blue Ash Forest & Woodland Group | G601 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
| Alliance | A3273 Chinquapin Oak - Blue Ash - Eastern Red-cedar Woodland Alliance | A3273 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
| Association | CEGL003758 Chinquapin Oak - Southern Shagbark Hickory / (Southern Sugar Maple, Chalk Maple) / Alabama Croton Woodland | CEGL003758 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Alabama Ketona Dolomite Woodland (Allison and Stevens 2001)
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data on file. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Auburn University.
- Allison, J. R., and T. E. Stevens. 2001. Vascular flora of the Ketona dolomite outcrops in Bibb County, Alabama. Castanea 66:154-205.
- 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.