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CEGL006374 Quercus velutina - Quercus coccinea - Quercus montana / Kalmia latifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Oak - Scarlet Oak - Chestnut Oak / Mountain Laurel Forest
Colloquial Name: Coastal Oak / Mountain Laurel Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association comprises coastal oak-laurel forests occurring on sandy and gravelly soils on convex slopes. Characteristic dominants are Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, Quercus montana, and Quercus alba. Pines (Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, or Pinus virginiana) may be present at low cover in some examples. Kalmia latifolia is the dominant shrub forming extensive, dense patches, with other ericaceous shrubs such as Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Gaylussacia baccata contributing low cover. The herbaceous layer is sparse due to the dense Kalmia latifolia and may include Pteridium aquilinum, Gaultheria procumbens, Carex pensylvanica, and Carex albicans.
In New Jersey, oak-pine (and oak) forests with a dense mountain laurel shrub stratum are found on sandy, loamy or ironstone-derived soils on slopes and hilltops in the peripheral Pinelands/Outer Coastal Plain and Inner Coastal Plain. The forests often have a closed to partially-closed canopy characterized by dry-site oaks such as Quercus montana, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus alba. Tree oak cover is typically 50-100%, and shrub oaks are rare or absent. Associate canopy and midstory species can include Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, and/or Pinus virginiana, with covers typically 5-10% (up to 25%). Other canopy and midstory associates can include minor amounts of Sassafras albidum. Fire-sensitive hardwoods such as Fagus grandifolia, Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Ilex opaca are sometimes present with minor covers (<1-5%), especially as young trees and saplings, but not with enough cover to classify within OH and OPHH subgroups. Dense Kalmia latifolia dominates the shrub layer, often with other heath shrubs present, such as Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, and Vaccinium pallidum. Herbs are sparse but may include Gaultheria procumbens and Melampyrum lineare. There is a related type or variant of OPM with little or no pine [see oak-mountain laurel mesic forest (OEM)].
In New Jersey, oak-pine (and oak) forests with a dense mountain laurel shrub stratum are found on sandy, loamy or ironstone-derived soils on slopes and hilltops in the peripheral Pinelands/Outer Coastal Plain and Inner Coastal Plain. The forests often have a closed to partially-closed canopy characterized by dry-site oaks such as Quercus montana, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus alba. Tree oak cover is typically 50-100%, and shrub oaks are rare or absent. Associate canopy and midstory species can include Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, and/or Pinus virginiana, with covers typically 5-10% (up to 25%). Other canopy and midstory associates can include minor amounts of Sassafras albidum. Fire-sensitive hardwoods such as Fagus grandifolia, Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Ilex opaca are sometimes present with minor covers (<1-5%), especially as young trees and saplings, but not with enough cover to classify within OH and OPHH subgroups. Dense Kalmia latifolia dominates the shrub layer, often with other heath shrubs present, such as Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, and Vaccinium pallidum. Herbs are sparse but may include Gaultheria procumbens and Melampyrum lineare. There is a related type or variant of OPM with little or no pine [see oak-mountain laurel mesic forest (OEM)].
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Examples of this forest in New York and New Jersey are 90+ acres in size; a 20-acre minimum size criteria is suggested for this type. The geographic range of this type needs review.
Oak - Mountain Laurel Forest (OEM): Oak-mountain laurel mesic forest (OEM) is related to or a variant of OPM, differing only by a lower pine cover in the canopy. Oak forests with a dense mountain laurel shrub stratum are found on somewhat mesic infrequently burned peripheral areas of the Pinelands/Outer Coastal Plain, and on ironstone cuesta hilltops surrounded by mesic Inner Coastal Plain sediments in sites isolated from Pinelands fire regimes (e.g., Atlantic Highlands, Mount Laurel). The forests often have a closed to partially-closed canopy characterized by dry-site oaks such as Quercus montana, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus alba; also Quercus rubra and Quercus falcata on the Inner Coastal Plain. Tree oak cover is typically 50-100%, and shrub oaks are rare or absent. Pines are rare but can include occasional Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, and/or Pinus virginiana, with covers of <1%. Other canopy and midstory associates can include minor amounts of Sassafras albidum. Fire-sensitive hardwoods such as Fagus grandifolia, Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Ilex opaca are sometimes present with minor covers (<1-5%), especially as young trees and saplings, but not with enough cover to classify within OH and OPHH subgroups. Dense Kalmia latifolia dominates the shrub layer, often with other heath shrubs present, such as Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, and Vaccinium pallidum. Herbs are sparse but may include Gaultheria procumbens and Melampyrum lineare.
Oak - Mountain Laurel Forest (OEM): Oak-mountain laurel mesic forest (OEM) is related to or a variant of OPM, differing only by a lower pine cover in the canopy. Oak forests with a dense mountain laurel shrub stratum are found on somewhat mesic infrequently burned peripheral areas of the Pinelands/Outer Coastal Plain, and on ironstone cuesta hilltops surrounded by mesic Inner Coastal Plain sediments in sites isolated from Pinelands fire regimes (e.g., Atlantic Highlands, Mount Laurel). The forests often have a closed to partially-closed canopy characterized by dry-site oaks such as Quercus montana, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus alba; also Quercus rubra and Quercus falcata on the Inner Coastal Plain. Tree oak cover is typically 50-100%, and shrub oaks are rare or absent. Pines are rare but can include occasional Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, and/or Pinus virginiana, with covers of <1%. Other canopy and midstory associates can include minor amounts of Sassafras albidum. Fire-sensitive hardwoods such as Fagus grandifolia, Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Ilex opaca are sometimes present with minor covers (<1-5%), especially as young trees and saplings, but not with enough cover to classify within OH and OPHH subgroups. Dense Kalmia latifolia dominates the shrub layer, often with other heath shrubs present, such as Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, and Vaccinium pallidum. Herbs are sparse but may include Gaultheria procumbens and Melampyrum lineare.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This coastal oak-laurel forest is dominated by Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), and Quercus alba. Pines (Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, or Pinus virginiana) may be present at low cover in some examples. Kalmia latifolia is the dominant shrub forming extensive, dense patches, with other ericaceous shrubs such as Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Gaylussacia baccata contributing low cover. The herbaceous layer is sparse due to the dense Kalmia latifolia and may include Pteridium aquilinum, Gaultheria procumbens, Carex pensylvanica, and Carex albicans.
Dynamics: This forest is similar to chestnut oak forests of the Appalachian Mountains, but is distinguished by its location on the Coastal Plain. It occurs adjacent to areas that are directly influenced by maritime processes.
Oak-pine-mountain laurel mesic forest (OPM) is maintained by mean fire-return intervals frequent enough to preclude dominance of fire-sensitive hardwoods, maintain tree oak and heath shrub dominance, and maintain some low pine cover (perhaps 80-100+ years), but not frequent.
Oak-pine-mountain laurel mesic forest (OPM) is maintained by mean fire-return intervals frequent enough to preclude dominance of fire-sensitive hardwoods, maintain tree oak and heath shrub dominance, and maintain some low pine cover (perhaps 80-100+ years), but not frequent.
Environmental Description: These forests occur on sandy, gravelly soils of moraine and glacial outwash plains. The soils may have a higher clay content than other coastal forests. They commonly occur on convex slopes.
Geographic Range: The distribution of this type is centered in New Jersey and Long Island, New York. It may also occur in surrounding states.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CT?, DE, MD?, NH, NJ, NY, RI?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688806
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.9 Pitch Pine - oak spp. - American Holly North Atlantic Forest Macrogroup | M525 | 1.B.2.Na.9 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.9.b Black Oak - American Beech - Pitch Pine Coastal Plain Forest Group | G894 | 1.B.2.Na.9.b |
| Alliance | A4209 Black Oak - Southern Red Oak - Pitch Pine Coastal Plain Forest Alliance | A4209 | 1.B.2.Na.9.b |
| Association | CEGL006374 Black Oak - Scarlet Oak - Chestnut Oak / Mountain Laurel Forest | CEGL006374 | 1.B.2.Na.9.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Coastal Oak - Laurel Mesic Forest (OEM) (Windisch 2014a)
= Mixed oak - mt. laurel - azalea - heath mesic forest (Windisch 1995b) [found at Fort Dix.]
= Oak - Mountain Laurel Forest (Greller 1977)
> Oak - Pine - Laurel Mesic Forest (OPM) (Windisch 2014a)
> Pine - Oak - Laurel Mesic Forest (OPM, variant of OPM and OEM) (Windisch 2014a)
= Mixed oak - mt. laurel - azalea - heath mesic forest (Windisch 1995b) [found at Fort Dix.]
= Oak - Mountain Laurel Forest (Greller 1977)
> Oak - Pine - Laurel Mesic Forest (OPM) (Windisch 2014a)
> Pine - Oak - Laurel Mesic Forest (OPM, variant of OPM and OEM) (Windisch 2014a)
- Breden, T. F. 1989. A preliminary natural community classification for New Jersey. Pages 157-191 in: E. F. Karlin, editor. New Jersey''s rare and endangered plants and animals. Institute for Environmental Studies, Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ. 280 pp.
- Breden, T. F., Y. R. Alger, K. S. Walz, and A. G. Windisch. 2001. Classification of vegetation communities of New Jersey: Second iteration. Association for Biodiversity Information and New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Office of Natural Lands Management, Division of Parks and Forestry, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton.
- Coxe, R. 2009. Guide to Delaware vegetation communities. Spring 2009 edition. State of Delaware, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
- Greller, A. M. 1977. A classification of mature forests on Long Island, New York. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 104:376-382.
- Hunt, D. 1997a. Long Island oak forest project: Classification justification. Unpublished materials. New York Natural Heritage Program, Latham, NY.
- NatureServe. 2009. Vegetation of the E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA. U.S.A. Data current as of 1 December 2009.
- Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.
- Windisch, A .G. 2014a. Pinelands ecological communities and higher level groups with crosswalk / proposed 2008 revisions to NVC. November 16, 2014 draft. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton.
- Windisch, A. G. 1995b. Natural community inventory of Fort Dix, New Jersey. The Nature Conservancy report. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Office of Natural Lands Management. Trenton, NJ. 81 pp.