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CEGL003590 Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis - Quercus geminata / Rhynchospora megalocarpa Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak - Sand Live Oak / Sandy-field Beaksedge Woodland
Colloquial Name: Atlantic Coastal Plain Xeric Sandhill Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These are extremely xeric longleaf pine sandhills, typically with a very sparse Pinus palustris canopy (5-25%) that are restricted to northern South Carolina and North Carolina. The scrub oak layer is sparse to dense, consisting of mostly Quercus laevis, but also often with Quercus hemisphaerica and Quercus geminata, in contrast to other sand barrens, which are dominated only by Quercus laevis. Stands of this type are so xeric that Aristida stricta is either sparse or absent. Species diversity in the herb layer is generally very low and consists primarily of extreme xerophytes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This type can be distinguished from other sandhill types because it is extremely xeric, has a very sparse canopy cover of Pinus palustris, and has an extremely species-poor and undeveloped herbaceous layer. In contrast to other sand barrens, it is found exclusively in the outer Coastal Plain and hence coastal species, such as Quercus geminata and Quercus hemisphaerica are diagnostic.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Description changed based on 4 plots from the Carolina Vegetation Survey (http://vegbank.org\cite\VB.ds.199638.CEGL003590). This association is a broad and vague community type of xeric sands occurring on the coastal fringe, but also in the Fall-line Sandhills of both central South Carolina and Fort Benning, Georgia. The revised description is essentially equivalent to Schafale''s (2011) Sand Barren (Coastal Fringe Subtype). The geographic scope has been narrowed, excluding sites south of northern South Carolina which are more closely associated with ~Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis - Quercus geminata / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL007125)$$ and ~Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis / Schizachyrium scoparium - Stipulicida setacea Woodland (CEGL007844)$$. The name has been revised to put more emphasis on coastal fringe indicators.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This type has a sparse overstory canopy of Pinus palustris. The subcanopy/shrub layer is dominated by Quercus laevis, but Quercus geminata and Quercus hemisphaerica are also common and diagnostic. Other common species in the understory layer include Cnidoscolus urens var. stimulosus (= Cnidoscolus stimulosus), Stipulicida setacea, Euphorbia ipecacuanhae, Galactia sp., Rhynchospora megalocarpa, Selaginella acanthonota, Opuntia humifusa, and Polygonella polygama. Aristida stricta is often present, but typically sparse (<5% cover).
Dynamics: Fire frequencies are naturally low in this vegetation because of lack of fuel.
Environmental Description: This association is restricted to extremely xeric sandhills in North Carolina and South Carolina and has been documented on the following soil types: Spodic Quartzipsamments, Aericalaquods, and Typic Quartzipsamments.
Geographic Range: This association is found in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain of North Carolina and South Carolina. Plot occurrences are located in New Hanover County, North Carolina, and Horry County, South Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688578
Confidence Level: High
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D006 | 1.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Na.1 Longleaf Pine / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Macrogroup | M007 | 1.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.1.c Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak Xeric Woodland Group | G154 | 1.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A4074 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Alliance | A4074 | 1.B.1.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL003590 Longleaf Pine / Turkey Oak - Sand Live Oak / Sandy-field Beaksedge Woodland | CEGL003590 | 1.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: > Pinus palustris / Quercus laevis / Aristida purpurascens - Stipulicida setacea - (Rhynchospora megalocarpa, Selaginella acanthonota) Woodland (Peet 2006) [1.1.1]
< IB6b. Southeastern Coastal Plain Xeric Sandhill (Allard 1990)
< IB6b. Southeastern Coastal Plain Xeric Sandhill (Allard 1990)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- 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.
- Palmquist, K. A., R. K. Peet, and S. C. Carr. 2016. Xeric longleaf pine vegetation of the Atlantic and East Gulf Coast Coastal Plain: An evaluation and revision of associations within the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. Proceedings of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. [in press]
- Peet, R. K. 2006. Ecological classification of longleaf pine woodlands. Pages 51-93 in: S. Jose, E. J. Jokela, and D. L. Miller, editors. The Longleaf Pine Ecosystem: Ecology, Silviculture, and Restoration. Springer Science Business Media, LLC, New York.
- Schafale, M. P. 1994. Inventory of longleaf pine natural communities. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 230 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.