Print Report
CEGL007720 Quercus montana - Juniperus virginiana - (Pinus virginiana) / Philadelphus hirsutus - Celtis occidentalis Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak - Eastern Red-cedar - (Virginia Pine) / Streambank Mock Orange - Common Hackberry Woodland
Colloquial Name: Blue Ridge Calcareous Shale Slope Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These mixed or deciduous, edaphically-maintained woodlands are known from the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, possibly ranging into the adjacent Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Mountains. They occur as small-patch openings on steep slopes, below 915 m (3000 feet) elevation, over outcrops of moderately calcareous shales, siltstones and sandstones. Habitats are extremely steep and rocky, with some parts mantled by thin soil over bedrock, and other parts covered by loose gravel-sized shale fragments. Trees are sparse and stunted, generally 2-10 m tall. Primary species include Quercus montana, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Pinus virginiana, and Acer rubrum. Some stands have Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Fraxinus americana, Quercus rubra, Ulmus alata, and Acer saccharum as important canopy associates. Shrubs include Philadelphus hirsutus, Ostrya virginiana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Celtis occidentalis, Celtis tenuifolia, Acer leucoderme, Cornus florida, Staphylea trifolia, Chionanthus virginicus, Ulmus rubra, Ptelea trifoliata, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, and Rhus copallinum var. latifolia. Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans and Parthenocissus quinquefolia are common scrambling vines. Herbs include Sedum ternatum, Solidago spp., Danthonia sericea, Danthonia spicata, Andropogon virginicus, Carex pensylvanica, Paronychia argyrocoma, Selaginella rupestris, Houstonia longifolia, Amsonia tabernaemontana, Dichanthelium boscii, Muhlenbergia tenuifolia, Packera obovata, Asclepias quadrifolia, Erigeron pulchellus, Polygala paucifolia, Arabis laevigata, Campanula divaricata, and Aristolochia serpentaria. Some openings are very grassy and include species such as Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon gerardii, Muhlenbergia capillaris, Panicum sp., Coreopsis major, Baptisia tinctoria, Lechea racemulosa, Liatris sp., and Penstemon sp. Additional herbs from stands assigned here from the Ocoee River Gorge (Tennessee) include Chasmanthium latifolium, Solidago sphacelata, Carex purpurifera, and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (these dominant to frequent), as well as Asplenium platyneuron, Carex laxiflora, Carex pensylvanica, Cheilanthes lanosa, Dichanthelium sp., Euphorbia corollata, Geum sp., Heuchera sp., Oxalis grandis, Rudbeckia triloba, Sedum nevii, Senna marilandica, Tradescantia sp., Verbesina occidentalis, and Verbesina virginica.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In a regional analysis for the Southern Appalachian portion of the Appalachian Trail (Fleming and Patterson 2009a), a small group of three plots was determined to be conceptually and floristically consistent with this association. All three plots were formerly assigned to the all-deciduous type (former Carya glabra - Fraxinus americana - Quercus prinus / Ostrya virginiana / Philadelphus hirsutus Woodland (CEGL004995)), and a decision was made to merge that type into this one.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Trees are sparse and stunted, generally 2-10 m tall. Primary species include Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Pinus virginiana, and Acer rubrum. Some stands have Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Fraxinus americana, Quercus rubra, Ulmus alata, and Acer saccharum as important canopy associates. Shrubs include Philadelphus hirsutus, Ostrya virginiana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Celtis occidentalis, Celtis tenuifolia, Acer leucoderme, Cornus florida, Staphylea trifolia, Chionanthus virginicus, Ulmus rubra, Ptelea trifoliata, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, and Rhus copallinum var. latifolia. Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans and Parthenocissus quinquefolia are common. Herbs include Sedum ternatum, Solidago spp., Danthonia sericea, Danthonia spicata, Andropogon virginicus, Carex pensylvanica, Paronychia argyrocoma, Selaginella rupestris, Houstonia longifolia (= var. compacta), Amsonia tabernaemontana, Dichanthelium boscii, Muhlenbergia tenuifolia, Packera obovata (= Senecio obovatus), Asclepias quadrifolia, Erigeron pulchellus, Polygala paucifolia, Arabis laevigata, Campanula divaricata, and Aristolochia serpentaria. Some openings are very grassy, and include species such as Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon gerardii, Muhlenbergia capillaris, Panicum sp., Coreopsis major, Baptisia tinctoria, Lechea racemulosa, Liatris sp., and Penstemon sp. Additional herbs from stands assigned here from the Ocoee River Gorge (Tennessee) include Chasmanthium latifolium, Solidago sphacelata, Carex purpurifera, and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (= Aster oblongifolius) (these dominant to frequent), as well as Asplenium platyneuron, Carex laxiflora, Carex pensylvanica, Cheilanthes lanosa, Dichanthelium sp., Euphorbia corollata, Geum sp., Heuchera sp., Oxalis grandis, Rudbeckia triloba, Sedum nevii, Senna marilandica, Tradescantia sp., Verbesina occidentalis, and Verbesina virginica.
Stands included here from shale slopes above the French Broad River (Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee) are open stands on "sub-calcareous" shales. The vegetation has an open canopy of Quercus montana with scattered examples of other woody plants. Other trees include Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus alata, Quercus rubra, Carya pallida, and Pinus virginiana. These are primarily deciduous stands, but with some pine. The stand in Virginia is a deciduous, apparently edaphically-maintained woodland dominated by stunted (6-10 m tall) Quercus montana and Carya glabra, with less common associates of Fraxinus americana, Carya ovata, Quercus rubra, and Acer saccharum. Shrub cover varies from moderately to very dense and is dominated by patchy thickets of Philadelphus hirsutus. Associated small trees and shrubs include Ostrya virginiana and Amelanchier arborea. The herb layer is sparse on the steeper, more erosive slopes, becoming denser and more grass-dominated on the stabilized upper slope.
Stands included here from shale slopes above the French Broad River (Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee) are open stands on "sub-calcareous" shales. The vegetation has an open canopy of Quercus montana with scattered examples of other woody plants. Other trees include Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus alata, Quercus rubra, Carya pallida, and Pinus virginiana. These are primarily deciduous stands, but with some pine. The stand in Virginia is a deciduous, apparently edaphically-maintained woodland dominated by stunted (6-10 m tall) Quercus montana and Carya glabra, with less common associates of Fraxinus americana, Carya ovata, Quercus rubra, and Acer saccharum. Shrub cover varies from moderately to very dense and is dominated by patchy thickets of Philadelphus hirsutus. Associated small trees and shrubs include Ostrya virginiana and Amelanchier arborea. The herb layer is sparse on the steeper, more erosive slopes, becoming denser and more grass-dominated on the stabilized upper slope.
Dynamics: This community appears to be edaphically-maintained, but may also be maintained by periodic fires. The exotic grass Microstegium vimineum can be invasive in stands of this association.
Environmental Description: This community is associated with steep slopes of the Southern Blue Ridge, below 915 m (3000 feet) elevation, over outcrops of moderately calcareous shales, siltstones and sandstones. Habitats are extremely steep and rocky, with some parts mantled by thin soil over bedrock, and other parts covered by loose gravel-sized shale fragments. Known stands are located on slopes fronting rivers and large streams, where downcutting over geological time has resulted in continual mass-wasting of the relatively soft shales. Quantitative soil chemistry data are not available, but the presence of some obligate nutrient-demanding species (e.g., Philadelphus hirsutus, Acer leucoderme, Packera obovata, Solidago sphacelata) and a conspicuous absence of ericaceous shrubs at every site is indicative of at least moderately calcareous soils. At the Virginia site, on a steep, southwest-facing sideslope along Whitetop Laurel Creek, calciphilic species tend to be concentrated on the lower, more erosive soils of the occurrence, and less common on more stable, upper slopes where bases have probably been leached. Bedrock is mapped as the Unicoi Formation, which here consists of conglomeratic sandstone and phyllite, with minor interbedded basalt. Numerous shaley-appearing outcrops and loose boulders cover about 50% of the slope where this community occurs. About 30% of the remaining surface substrate consists of exposed, dark-colored, clay-loam mineral soil with substantial coverage by mosses and lichens.
Geographic Range: This shale woodland is limited to the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Known stands are from the Hot Springs Window in North Carolina, the French Broad River and Ocoee River Gorge in Tennessee, and along Whitetop Laurel Creek near Damascus, Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, TN, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687856
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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 | A3274 White Ash - Pignut Hickory - Eastern Red-cedar Piedmont-Appalachian Woodland Alliance | A3274 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL007720 Chestnut Oak - Eastern Red-cedar - (Virginia Pine) / Streambank Mock Orange - Common Hackberry Woodland | CEGL007720 | 1.B.2.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: CEGL004995 merged into CEGL007720.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carya glabra - Fraxinus americana - Quercus prinus / Ostrya virginiana / Philadelphus hirsutus Woodland (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009a. A vegetation classification for the Appalachian Trail: Virginia south to Georgia. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. In-house analysis, March 2009.
- Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulling. 2001. Ecological communities of the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Preliminary classification and description of vegetation types. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 317 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- 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.
- 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.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.