Print Report
CEGL006557 Pinus rigida - Quercus coccinea / Vaccinium angustifolium Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pitch Pine - Scarlet Oak / Lowbush Blueberry Woodland
Colloquial Name: Low- to Mid-Elevation Ridgetop Pitch Pine - Scarlet Oak Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open oak-pine woodland community occurs on well-drained, nutrient-poor shallow soils on dry ridges and bedrock ledges in the Central Appalachians. Soils are dry, sandy, and acidic. Pinus rigida contributes between 25 and 75% relative cover. Pinus pungens or Pinus resinosa may also occur on some sites. Hardwood associates include Quercus montana, Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, Nyssa sylvatica, Sassafras albidum, Betula lenta, Betula populifolia, and Acer rubrum. The shrub layer may be entirely composed of low shrubs, including Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium pallidum, Comptonia peregrina, and Gaylussacia baccata, or may have an additional layer of taller shrubs such as Kalmia latifolia, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Quercus ilicifolia. Herbaceous species include Pteridium aquilinum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Danthonia spicata, Epigaea repens, Gaultheria procumbens, Melampyrum lineare, Carex pensylvanica, Carex communis, Oryzopsis spp., and Aralia nudicaulis. Lichens such as Cladonia spp. are abundant in some areas.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community at New River Gorge lacks the global nominal shrub species for this association, Vaccinium angustifolium, which, in West Virginia, is mostly confined to higher elevations. Additional species listed in the global description which are lacking here include Betula populifolia, Comptonia peregrina, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Quercus ilicifolia. This community at New River Gorge may be more similar to ~Pinus pungens - Pinus rigida - (Quercus montana) / Kalmia latifolia - Vaccinium pallidum Woodland (CEGL007097)$$, but Pinus pungens is not known from the park.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This mixed woodland has a short (5-15 m) open canopy. Pinus rigida contributes between 25 and 75% relative cover. Pinus pungens, Pinus virginiana, or Pinus resinosa may also occur on some sites. Hardwood associates include Quercus montana, Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, Nyssa sylvatica, Sassafras albidum, Betula lenta, Betula populifolia, Nyssa sylvatica, and Acer rubrum. In the southern portion of the range, Oxydendrum arboreum may be an associate. The shrub layer may be entirely composed of low shrubs, including Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium pallidum, Comptonia peregrina, and Gaylussacia baccata, or may have an additional layer of taller shrubs such as Kalmia latifolia, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Quercus ilicifolia. Rhododendron catawbiense may be present in the southern portion of the range. The herb layer includes Pteridium aquilinum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Danthonia spicata, Epigaea repens, Gaultheria procumbens, Melampyrum lineare, Carex pensylvanica, Carex communis, Oryzopsis spp., and Aralia nudicaulis. Leucobryum glaucum is a common moss. Lichens such as Cladonia spp. are abundant in some areas.
Dynamics: Evidence of past fires was observed in plots, and this association is likely to be fire-adapted. Patches on less severe sites may be successional following fire, but in cliff edge positions this association is probably an edaphic climax.
Environmental Description: This open oak-pine woodland community occurs on nutrient-poor shallow soils on exposed, dry ridges and bedrock ledges. Soils are extremely shallow and rapidly drained, often consisting of a just a few centimeters of needles and duff over bedrock. Textures of mineral soils where they occur are sand or sandy loams. Slopes range from nearly level to steep.
Geographic Range: This association is centered in the Central Appalachians ecoregion from Pennsylvania to West Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: PA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688348
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4Q
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.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M502 | 1.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.2.g Table Mountain Pine - Virginia Pine - Pitch Pine Woodland & Barrens Group | G905 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Alliance | A0677 Table Mountain Pine - Pitch Pine - Chestnut Oak Woodland Alliance | A0677 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Association | CEGL006557 Pitch Pine - Scarlet Oak / Lowbush Blueberry Woodland | CEGL006557 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
Concept Lineage: LAS 10-09: CEGL006563 concept covered by CEGL006557 and CEGL0065116.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus rigida - Quercus coccinea / Gaultheria procumbens / Epigaea repens woodland (Vanderhorst 2002b)
= Pinus rigida - Quercus coccinea / Gaylussacia baccata woodland (Vanderhorst 2001b)
< Pitch Pine - Mixed Hardwood Woodland (Fike 1999)
= Pinus rigida - Quercus coccinea / Gaylussacia baccata woodland (Vanderhorst 2001b)
< Pitch Pine - Mixed Hardwood Woodland (Fike 1999)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Vanderhorst, J. 2001b. Plant communities of the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia: Northern and southern thirds. Non-game Wildlife and Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Elkins. 146 pp.
- Vanderhorst, J. 2002b. Two cliff top pine communities in the north section of New River Gorge National River, West Virginia. USDI National Park Service, New River Gorge National River, West Virginia. Order P4780010401. 16 pp.
- Vanderhorst, J. P., J. Jeuck, and S. C. Gawler. 2007. Vegetation classification and mapping of New River Gorge National River, West Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR-2007/092. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 396 pp.
- WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.