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CEGL003979 Piedmont Acidic Cliff Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: This cliff association occurs in the Piedmont of the southeastern United States, on steep to vertical outcrops of acidic substrates and in topographically low settings such as river bluffs that are not subject to flood scouring.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Piedmont Acidic Cliff Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Cliff (Acidic Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparsely vegetated cliff association occurs in the Piedmont of the southeastern United States. Examples are found on steep to vertical outcrops of acidic substrates, in topographically low settings such as river bluffs that are not subject to flood scouring. Substrates may include various felsic igneous or metamorphic rocks, acidic saprolite, and occasionally unconsolidated acidic sediments. Vegetation is low in cover, and is confined to lichens and plants growing on bare rock and to sparse herbs, shrubs, and trees rooted in local pockets of deeper soil. The flora is a mix that usually includes drought-tolerant, shade-intolerant species, species shared with surrounding forests, and sometimes local occurrences of wetland species associated with small seepage zones. Most of the species are acid-tolerant, and more basophilic species are largely absent. Lichens and bryophytes may be abundant or scarce.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: A cliff may be defined as a vertical or near-vertical rock face at least 3 m high. A dry versus moist cliff distinction is not needed in this case. There is an equivalent mafic type. Related things in the adjacent Coastal Plain were formerly placed here but now have their own association (CEGL004388).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetative cover is low in stands of this type, and is confined to lichens and plants growing on bare rock, and to sparse herbs, shrubs, and trees rooted in local pockets of deeper soil. The flora is a mix that usually includes drought-tolerant, shade-intolerant species, species shared with surrounding forests, and sometimes local occurrences of wetland species associated with small seepage zones. Most of the species are acid-tolerant, and more basophilic species are largely absent. Lichens and bryophytes may be abundant or scarce. Frequent herbs include Danthonia spicata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Hieracium venosum, Asplenium platyneuron, Pleopeltis polypodioides (= Polypodium polypodioides), Opuntia humifusa, Tephrosia virginiana, Cheilanthes lanosa, and Cheilanthes tomentosa. Frequent woody species include Vaccinium arboreum, Kalmia latifolia, Vaccinium pallidum, Diospyros virginiana, Chionanthus virginicus, Carya glabra, Quercus stellata, Pinus virginiana, and Juniperus virginiana.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Examples of this association are found on steep to vertical outcrops of acidic substrates, in topographically low settings such as river bluffs that are not subject to flood scouring. Substrates may include various felsic igneous or metamorphic rocks, acidic saprolite, and occasionally unconsolidated acidic sediments.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the Piedmont of the southeastern United States, probably from Alabama to Delaware, and possibly farther north. Its northern limit is not known. Related things in the adjacent Coastal Plain were formerly placed here but now have their own association.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, GA, NC, SC, VA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688372
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.c Appalachian Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G840 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A2071 Appalachian Acidic Cliff Alliance | A2071 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL003979 Piedmont Acidic Cliff Vegetation | CEGL003979 | 6.B.1.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.
- 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.