Print Report
CEGL006161 (Morella pensylvanica) / Schizachyrium littorale - Aristida tuberculosa Shrub Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Northern Bayberry) / Shore Little Bluestem - Seaside Three-awn Shrub Grassland
Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Coast Backdune Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association comprises diverse grasslands of stabilized interdunes and backdunes along the northern Atlantic coast. It occurs on deep stabilized sands within the influence of offshore winds and salt spray. The vegetation is variable but generally dominated by bunchgrasses and forbs. Common species include Aristida tuberculosa, Schizachyrium littorale, Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata, Lechea maritima, Toxicodendron radicans, Cenchrus tribuloides, Polygonella articulata, Solidago sempervirens, Liatris scariosa var. novae-angliae, Eragrostis spectabilis, Opuntia humifusa, Spartina patens, Cirsium horridulum, Pityopsis falcata, Lathyrus japonicus, Cyperus grayi, Carex silicea, Oenothera parviflora, Triplasis purpurea, Trichostema dichotomum, and others. On Cape Cod, Deschampsia flexuosa is characteristic. Hudsonia tomentosa and Ammophila breviligulata may occur with very low cover. Shrubs and stunted trees may be scattered throughout, including Morella pensylvanica, Prunus maritima, Pinus rigida, and Juniperus virginiana.
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: This grassland is dominated by bunchgrasses and forbs that occur in a mosaic with variable dominance. Common species include Aristida tuberculosa, Schizachyrium littorale, Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata (= Artemisia caudata), Lechea maritima, Toxicodendron radicans, Cenchrus tribuloides, Polygonella articulata, Solidago sempervirens, Liatris scariosa var. novae-angliae, Eragrostis spectabilis, Opuntia humifusa (= Opuntia compressa), Spartina patens, Cirsium horridulum, Pityopsis falcata, Lathyrus japonicus, Cyperus grayi, Carex silicea, Oenothera parviflora, Triplasis purpurea, Trichostema dichotomum, and others. On Cape Cod, Deschampsia flexuosa is characteristic. Hudsonia tomentosa and Ammophila breviligulata may occur with very low cover. Shrubs and stunted trees may be scattered throughout, including Morella pensylvanica, Prunus maritima, Pinus rigida, and Juniperus virginiana.
Dynamics: These backdune grasslands occur on more stabilized sands behind primary backdunes dominated by Ammophila breviligulata. There is much higher species diversity in the stabilized areas relative to the adjacent primary dunes that have active sand accumulation.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on deep stabilized sands of old leveled interdunes and backdunes. It usually occurs within the influence of offshore winds and salt spray.
Geographic Range: This community occurs along the northern Atlantic coast from New York to Massachusetts and possibly to Maine.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, ME?, NJ, NY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687092
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup | M057 | 2.B.4.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.2.c Northern Bayberry - American Beachgrass - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group | G493 | 2.B.4.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A4470 <i>Ammophila breviligulata - Schizachyrium littorale - Spartina patens</i> Dune Grassland | A4470 | 2.B.4.Na.2.c |
| Association | CEGL006161 (Northern Bayberry) / Shore Little Bluestem - Seaside Three-awn Shrub Grassland | CEGL006161 | 2.B.4.Na.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Interdune (McDonnell 1979)
= Seaside threeawn - Field sage (Aristida tuberculosa - Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata) forb vegetation (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Seaside threeawn - Field sage (Aristida tuberculosa - Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata) forb vegetation (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Edinger, G. J., A. L. Feldmann, T. G. Howard, J. J. Schmid, E. Eastman, E. Largay, and L. A. Sneddon. 2008a. Vegetation classification and mapping at Gateway National Recreation Area. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/107. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 283 pp.
- Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
- Gwilliam, E. 1998. Unpublished data. USDI National Park Service, Cape Cod National Seashore, MA.
- McDonnell, M. J. 1979. The flora of Plum Island, Essex County, Massachusetts. University of New Hampshire, Agricultural Experiment Station. Station Bulletin No. 513. Durham, NH. 110 pp.
- Metzler, K., and J. Barrett. 2006. The vegetation of Connecticut: A preliminary classification. State Geological and Natural History Survey, Report of Investigations No. 12. Connecticut Natural Diversity Database, Hartford, CT.
- NRCS [Natural Resources Conservation Service]. 2001b. Soil survey of Gateway National Recreation Area, New York and New Jersey. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and USDI National Park Service, Gateway National Recreation Area in partnership with Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station and New York City Soil and Water Conservation District.
- Reschke, C. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY. 96 pp.
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2014. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 2.0. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/nhesp/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]
- Walz, K. S., K. H. Anderson, L. C. Kelly, A. G. Windisch, and M. C. Wong. 2008. New Jersey ecological community crosswalk: A tool for the identification of habitats across jurisdictional boundaries. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, Office of Natural Lands Management, Natural Heritage Program, Trenton.