Print Report

CEGL006117 Pinus rigida / Hudsonia tomentosa Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pitch Pine / Woolly Beach-heather Woodland

Colloquial Name: Pitch Pine Maritime Dune Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This maritime pitch pine woodland occurs on coastal sand dunes from southern Maine to Cape Henlopen, Delaware. The community occurs on stabilized backdunes influenced by wind and salt spray. Substrate is dry, acidic, nutrient-poor sand. Active sand movement occurs with storm activity, causing the boundaries of the community to migrate over time. There is generally significant cover of bare sand, but where more stabilized, species diversity tends to increase. Pinus rigida dominates the canopy. Canopy associates are few but include Juniperus virginiana, and occasionally Sassafras albidum, with scattered individuals of Quercus velutina in the northern part of the range, and Quercus falcata and Pinus virginiana to the south. The shrub layer, if present, may include Hudsonia tomentosa, Morella pensylvanica, Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, Vaccinium pallidum, and occasionally Hudsonia ericoides, or Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides. Vines may be present but scarce and include Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax glauca, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Toxicodendron radicans. The herbaceous layer is sparse but can include Aralia nudicaulis, Dichanthelium ovale var. addisonii, Solidago odora, Chimaphila maculata, Lechea maritima, Pteridium aquilinum, and Trientalis borealis, Maianthemum canadense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex lucorum, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi in the north. Lichens are common, especially Cladonia spp.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Floristically this community is similar in composition to maritime shrub forests which lack a tree canopy. Occurrences are patchy within its distributional range and are part of a coastal zone mosaic of communities.

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

Floristics: There is generally significant cover of bare sand, but where more stabilized, species diversity tends to increase. Pinus rigida dominates the canopy and averages 10-15 m in height, but is quite variable, ranging from 1 m in an unusual shrub form in Delaware to over 20 m. Canopy associates are few but include Juniperus virginiana, and occasionally Sassafras albidum, with scattered individuals of Quercus velutina in the northern part of the range, and Quercus falcata and Pinus virginiana to the south. At Cape Henlopen, the subcanopy is sparse but may also include Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, Nyssa sylvatica, and Prunus serotina. The shrub layer, if present, may include Hudsonia tomentosa, Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, Vaccinium pallidum, and occasionally Hudsonia ericoides, or Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides (= Viburnum cassinoides). Vines may be present but scarce and include Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax glauca, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Toxicodendron radicans. The herbaceous layer is sparse but can include Aralia nudicaulis, Dichanthelium ovale var. addisonii, Solidago odora, Chimaphila maculata, Lechea maritima, Pteridium aquilinum, and Trientalis borealis, Maianthemum canadense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex lucorum, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi in the north. Lichens are common; at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, species included Cladonia strepsilis, Cladonia terrae-novae (= Cladina terrae-novae), and Cladonia squamosa. This community may contain Carex silicea which is uncommon in Maine.

Dynamics:  Active sand movement occurs with storm activity, causing the boundaries of the community to migrate over time.
Environmental Description:  The community occurs on backdunes that are more stabilized than foredunes. Active sand movement occurs with storm activity, causing the boundaries of the community to migrate over time. This community occurs on stabilized, parabolic dunes. The substrate is wind- and wave-deposited sand which is characteristically excessively well-drained and nutrient-poor. Maritime occurrences are subjected to a number of environmental stresses such as high winds, "sand-blasting " by salt spray, shifting substrate and both water and nutrient stress. All of these factors appear to be important in structuring the form and composition of the community.
Geographic Range: This association occurs along the North Atlantic Coast from southern Maine to Cape Henlopen, Delaware.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  DE, MA, ME, NJ, NY, RI?


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3

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.9 Pitch Pine - oak spp. - American Holly North Atlantic Forest Macrogroup M525 1.B.2.Na.9
Group 1.B.2.Na.9.c Pitch Pine - American Beech / Northern Bayberry Maritime Forest Group G893 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Alliance A3105 Pitch Pine - Loblolly Pine Maritime Forest & Woodland Alliance A3105 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Association CEGL006117 Pitch Pine / Woolly Beach-heather Woodland CEGL006117 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Dune Forest (Trudeau et al. 1977)
? Maritime forest, dune subtype (Rawinski 1984a)
= Pine forest (McDonnell 1979)
? Pine forest (Johnson 1985b)
= Pitch Pine Dune Woodland (Bowman 2000)
= Pitch Pine Dune Woodland (Clancy 1996)
Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon

Author of Description: M. Anderson and S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-09-02
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