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CEGL002309 Interior Highlands Sandstone Talus Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Interior Highlands Sandstone Talus Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Interior Highlands Sandstone Talus
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sandstone talus community is found in the Ozark and Ouachita regions of the United States. Stands occur at the bases of steep cliffs along larger streams or rivers, or strongly dissected valleys. Aspect is variable, and they can be relatively moist or relatively dry. Soils are generally absent. Parent material is sandstone with a mixture of rock fragments and large boulders. The vegetation is generally sparse but may vary depending on degree of slope, exposure (open versus shaded) and rock type. The composition of the type may be heavily influenced by adjacent forested stands. Vascular plants are generally very sparse, absent, or limited to marginal areas. Vines and viney shrubs are characteristic of this community (at least its margins), because their habit allows them to exploit the combination of abundant available light and scarce rooting opportunities. Characteristic vines and shrubs can include Ribes spp., Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Philadelphus pubescens. Characteristic herbaceous species can include the annual composite Polymnia canadensis and the ferns Dryopteris marginalis and Polypodium virginianum. Sassafras albidum seems to be a particularly characteristic tree species of the margins of this community; Cornus alternifolia is also reported from Missouri occurrences. Foliose, crustose, and umbilicate lichens are common.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The concept of the type is taken from the Missouri state type - Sandstone Talus (Nelson 1985); however, Missouri sandstone talus is so uncommon and small that the type may be dropped (M. Leahy pers. comm. 2000). Occurrences at relatively high elevations and in more mountainous terrain of the Ozarks and Ouachitas should be further assessed for their similarity to Missouri Ozarks stands. In Arkansas excellent examples of the blocky sandstone type occur at Mount Magazine State Park and along Talamena Drive, near the Oklahoma border. The possible occurrence of this community in the Interior Low Plateau should be checked. Related vegetation with substantial tree cover and better soil development (such as mesic sandstone forests) is classified elsewhere.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is generally sparse but may vary depending on degree of slope, exposure (open versus shaded) and rock type. The composition of the type may be heavily influenced by adjacent forested stands. Vascular plants are generally very sparse, absent, or limited to marginal areas. Vines and viney shrubs are characteristic of this community (at least its margins), because their habit allows them to exploit the combination of abundant available light and scarce rooting opportunities. Characteristic vines and shrubs can include Ribes spp., Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Philadelphus pubescens. Characteristic herbaceous species can include the annual composite Polymnia canadensis and the ferns Dryopteris marginalis and Polypodium virginianum. Sassafras albidum seems to be a particularly characteristic tree species of the margins of this community; Cornus alternifolia is also reported from Missouri occurrences. Foliose, crustose, and umbilicate lichens are common. (Nelson 1985, M. Pyne pers. comm. 1998)
Dynamics: Disturbances include falling rock fragments from adjacent cliffs and slumping of rock material (Nelson 1985).
Environmental Description: Stands occur at the bases of steep cliffs along larger streams or rivers, or strongly dissected valleys. Aspect is variable, and they can be relatively moist or relatively dry. Soils are generally absent. Parent material is sandstone with a mixture of rock fragments and large boulders (Nelson 1985).
Geographic Range: This sandstone talus community is found in the Ozark and Ouachita regions of the United States, particularly in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, MO, OK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687641
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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.d Central Midwest-Interior Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G841 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Alliance | A4228 Central Midwest-Interior Acidic Talus Alliance | A4228 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002309 Interior Highlands Sandstone Talus Sparse Vegetation | CEGL002309 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
Concept Lineage: This now includes the community formerly called Toxicodendron radicans / (Polymnia canadensis) Vine-Shrubland and placed in Class III (Shrubland)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sandstone Interior Highlands Talus Sparse Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Sandstone Talus (Nelson 1985)
= Sandstone Talus (Nelson 1985)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Hop, K., M. Pyne, T. Foti, S. Lubinski, R. White, and J. Dieck. 2012a. National Park Service vegetation inventory program: Buffalo National River, Arkansas. Natural Resource Report NPS/HTLN/NRR--2012/526. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 340 pp.
- Leahy, Mike. Personal communication. Missouri Natural Heritage Database, Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- Pyne, Milo. Personal communication. Southeast Regional Ecologist. NatureServe, Southeast Regional Office, Durham, NC.