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CEGL003993 Pinus (virginiana, taeda) / Juniperus virginiana - Chionanthus virginicus - Ulmus alata Granitic Flatrock Border Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pinus (virginiana, taeda) / Eastern Red-cedar - White Fringetree - Winged Elm Granitic Flatrock Border Woodland
Colloquial Name: Granitic Flatrock Pine Border Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This granitic flatrock border woodland occurs on shallow soils over exfoliated granitic bedrock, on the margins of Piedmont Fall-line granite outcrops (some of which are actually found east of the fall-line in the Coastal Plain). Stands are generally associated with open granitic flatrock communities. Stands of this association are somewhat open forests or woodlands. The closure of stands may be variable, and many would fall below the 60% forest/woodland threshold, but this association is placed in a "forest" alliance. The canopy is typically dominated by Pinus virginiana or Pinus taeda. Other canopy species, which also may form an open understory, include Juniperus virginiana, Ulmus alata, Carya glabra, Chionanthus virginicus, and Quercus stellata. Frequent shrubs include Vaccinium arboreum and Rhus copallinum. Other shrubs include Vaccinium stamineum and Rhus aromatica. Woody vines, especially Vitis rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Smilax bona-nox, and Smilax rotundifolia, are often abundant. Herb cover is generally low to moderate and usually includes only small amounts of the species of the open rock. Grasses, including Schizachyrium scoparium, Piptochaetium avenaceum, or Danthonia spicata, may be common. Xerophytic species such as Opuntia humifusa or Yucca filamentosa are often present, as are typical forest species such as Chimaphila maculata and Asplenium platyneuron. The understories of stands of this type may become invaded by the exotic species Ligustrum sinense, Lonicera japonica, Microstegium vimineum, or Stellaria media.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: A forest that borders granite outcroppings in Virginia includes a deciduous association also known as Piedmont Hardpan Forest (CEGL003714), which is somewhat floristically similar to the forest described here, but much more diverse.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this association are somewhat open forests or woodlands. The canopy is typically dominated by Pinus virginiana or Pinus taeda. Other canopy species, which also may form an open understory, include Juniperus virginiana, Quercus stellata, Ulmus alata, Carya glabra, Carya tomentosa, Quercus marilandica, Quercus alba, and Chionanthus virginicus. Frequent shrubs include Vaccinium arboreum and Rhus copallinum. Other shrubs include Vaccinium stamineum and Rhus aromatica. Woody vines, especially Vitis rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Smilax bona-nox, and Smilax rotundifolia, are often abundant. Herb cover is generally low to moderate and usually includes only small amounts of the species of the open rock. Grasses, including Schizachyrium scoparium, Piptochaetium avenaceum, or Danthonia spicata, may be common. Xerophytic species such as Opuntia humifusa (= var. humifusa) or Yucca filamentosa are often present, as are typical forest species such as Chimaphila maculata and Asplenium platyneuron. The understories of stands of this type may become invaded by the exotic species Ligustrum sinense, Lonicera japonica, Microstegium vimineum, or Stellaria media.
Dynamics: The dynamics of these communities are not well known, but appear to be distinctive. Examples tend to have younger-looking trees and more ruderal species composition, compared to typical Piedmont dry forests. They are also more prone to invasion by exotic species. It is likely they are chronically disturbed naturally. The thin soil and underlying bedrock without crevices presumably make the canopy trees more susceptible to both windthrow and drought-caused mortality. On the edges of the open rock outcrops and in isolated patches within the rock, they probably expand and contract with variation in natural disturbances. In the surrounding areas, fire spreading from adjacent forests likely also once played a role. It is possible that these communities have expanded at the expense of open rock outcrop vegetation with the suppression of fire.
Environmental Description: Examples of this association are found on the margins of granitic flatrock communities, along the fall-line of the Piedmont of the southeastern United States, from Alabama north to North Carolina.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to the Piedmont of the southeastern United States, from Alabama north to North Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, GA, NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688864
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M506 | 2.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.1.d Wretched Sedge - Michaux''s Saxifrage - Highbush Blueberry Appalachian Rocky Outcrop Group | G670 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.d |
| Alliance | A3960 Chestnut Oak - Shortleaf Pine / Little Bluestem Scrub Alliance | A3960 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.d |
| Association | CEGL003993 <i>Pinus (virginiana</i>, <i>taeda)</i> / Eastern Red-cedar - White Fringetree - Winged Elm Granitic Flatrock Border Woodland | CEGL003993 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- McManamay, R. H. 2015. Vegetation mapping at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2015/1088. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 278 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.
- 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.