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CEGL004415 Quercus montana - Quercus alba / Oxydendrum arboreum / Kalmia latifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak - White Oak / Sourwood / Mountain Laurel Forest
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Chestnut Oak / Heath Bluff
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on steep, typically north-facing bluffs in the Piedmont of the Carolinas, ranging south to Alabama and possibly north to Virginia. The canopy is dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus montana, Quercus rubra, and Acer rubrum var. rubrum. The subcanopy is strongly dominated by Oxydendrum arboreum. Other canopy and subcanopy trees may include Quercus coccinea, Quercus stellata, Quercus velutina, Cornus florida, Pinus echinata, and Pinus virginiana. The shrub stratum is characteristically dense, and is dominated by Kalmia latifolia; other shrubs may include Symplocos tinctoria, Gaylussacia frondosa, Vaccinium stamineum, and Amorpha schwerinii. The herb stratum is sparse and of low diversity, though typical herbs and subshrubs include Epigaea repens, Hexastylis virginica, Chimaphila maculata, Monotropa hypopitys, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Iris verna var. verna. This community occurs on more-or-less steep slopes, over acidic soils (pH 4.2) with low nutrient availability.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is actually a type of monadnock vegetation, not properly a "heath bluff" (M. Schafale pers. comm.) and needs to be revised. The following comment was moved here from CEGL004539: A. Schotz (pers. comm.) states: "This association is represented by two examples in Alabama which occur on steep rocky slopes along Hatchet Creek in Coosa County (Piedmont Ecoregion). The canopy is relatively open (ranging from 30-60% closure) with Quercus montana serving as the principal species. Other characteristic canopy species include Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Pinus echinata, Pinus palustris, and occasionally Carya tomentosa, Quercus stellata, and Oxydendrum arboreum. The shrub layer is represented by a very dense ericaceous component dominated by Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron minus, and to a lesser degree, Symplocos tinctoria and Vaccinium spp. Herbs are generally very sparse with Galax urceolata, Tiarella cordifolia, Hexastylis arifolia, and Polystichum acrostichoides appearing most prominent. Elsewhere in the vicinity, particularly along Hatchet Creek, are similar examples. However, these areas contain a greater prominence of the foregoing canopy species (50-80% closure)." The most closely related vegetation in Virginia is treated as ~Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba / Kalmia latifolia - (Rhododendron catawbiense) / Galax urceolata Forest (CEGL004539)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy of stands of this association is typically dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Quercus rubra, and Acer rubrum var. rubrum. The subcanopy is strongly dominated by Oxydendrum arboreum. Other canopy and subcanopy trees may include Quercus coccinea, Quercus stellata, Quercus velutina, Cornus florida, Pinus echinata, and Pinus virginiana. The shrub stratum is characteristically dense, and is dominated by Kalmia latifolia; other shrubs may include Symplocos tinctoria, Gaylussacia frondosa (= var. frondosa), Vaccinium stamineum, and Amorpha schwerinii. The herb stratum is sparse and of low diversity, though typical herbs and subshrubs include Epigaea repens, Hexastylis virginica, Chimaphila maculata, Monotropa hypopitys, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Iris verna var. verna. An Alabama example is dominated by Quercus montana. Magnolia macrophylla is a significant canopy and/or subcanopy component in two plots taken from Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Other characteristic canopy species include Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Pinus echinata, Pinus palustris, and occasionally Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Quercus stellata, and Oxydendrum arboreum. The shrub layer is represented by a very dense ericaceous component dominated by Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron minus, and to a lesser degree, Symplocos tinctoria and Vaccinium spp. Herbs are generally very sparse with Galax urceolata, Tiarella cordifolia, Hexastylis arifolia, and Polystichum acrostichoides appearing most prominent (A. Schotz pers. comm.).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs on steep, typically north-facing bluffs in the Piedmont. This community occurs on more-or-less steep slopes, over acidic soils (pH 4.2) with low nutrient availability.
Geographic Range: This association occurs on steep, typically north-facing bluffs in the Piedmont of North Carolina, south to Alabama.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA, NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687818
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.a White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Water Oak Forest Group | G165 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A4438 Chestnut Oak - White Oak Piedmont Dry Forest Alliance | A4438 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL004415 Chestnut Oak - White Oak / Sourwood / Mountain Laurel Forest | CEGL004415 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Chestnut Oak - Mountain Laurel (Radford and Martin 1975)
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Radford, A. E., and D. L. Martin. 1975. Potential ecological natural landmarks: Piedmont region, eastern United States. University of North Carolina, Department of Botany, Chapel Hill. 249 pp.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Wells, E. F. 1970c. A vascular flora of the Uwharrie Wildlife Management Area, Montgomery County, North Carolina. M.S. thesis, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 85 pp.
- Wells, E. F. 1974. A vascular flora of the Uwharrie Wildlife Management Area, Montgomery County, North Carolina. Castanea 39:39-57.
- White, Jr., R. D., and T. Govus. 2005. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Kings Mountain National Military Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 178 pp.