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CEGL008530 (Pinus virginiana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Eriogonum allenii Wooded Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Virginia Pine) / Little Bluestem - Shale Barren Buckwheat Wooded Grassland
Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Shale Ridge Prairie/Bald
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These rocky ridge balds are found on upper slopes and ridge crests in a small area of west-central Virginia. Sites for this association include broad, gently to steeply sloping, south- to west-facing spur ridge crests and middle to upper, convex sideslopes. Elevations range from 400 to 900 m. Physiognomy of this shale barren community varies from entirely herbaceous to sparse scrub or woodland. Woody strata, when present, are dominated by scattered Pinus virginiana and/or Juniperus virginiana <10 m tall. Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, and Celtis tenuifolia are minor, inconstant woody components. Rhus aromatica and Rosa carolina are occasional shrubs. The herb layer is typically rather dense and graminoid-dominated, often giving stands a prairie-like aspect. Schizachyrium scoparium and Carex pensylvanica are consistently dominant herbs, while Danthonia spicata and Dichanthelium linearifolium are constant, locally codominant associates. Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans are abundant in a few stands. The shale barren endemic Eriogonum allenii is the most constant and abundant forb. Other relatively constant herbs are Paronychia montana, Houstonia longifolia, Asplenium platyneuron, Allium cernuum, Sedum glaucophyllum, Trifolium virginicum, Cheilanthes lanosa, Polygonum tenue, Scutellaria ovata, Cunila origanoides, and Polygonum scandens var. cristatum. Several other shale barren endemics (or near-endemics) may occasionally occur in this type as well, including Antennaria virginica, Arabis serotina, Clematis albicoma, Clematis viticaulis, Oenothera argillicola, Packera antennariifolia, and Trifolium virginicum. This association is distinguished from other shale barrens by its more open physiognomy (often with few or no trees), low importance or absence of Fraxinus americana and Quercus montana, and high frequency and often high cover of Schizachyrium scoparium. This association occurs only on Devonian and Silurian shale geology. It is most closely related to the circumneutral-calcareous shale barrens and endemic-rich barrens, and differs to a greater degree from the more depauperate acidic shale barren associations. Besides Eriogonum, indicators include Sedum glaucophyllum, Polygonum tenue, Scutellaria ovata, Clematis viticaulis, and Woodsia obtusa.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Some examples of this community type, occurring on spur ridge crests, have been referred to colloquially as "shale ridge balds." Although it shares many species with the more widespread "southern" Central Appalachian shale barren community, ~Pinus virginiana - Quercus montana / Packera antennariifolia - Phlox subulata Woodland (CEGL006562)$$, this association can be distinguished by its more stable habitats on upper slopes and crests, higher soil fertility, and dense, often prairie-like stands of perennial grasses. Among the shale barren endemics, Eriogonum allenii is most constant and abundant in this type, while Packera antennariifolia is most characteristic of CEGL006562.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Physiognomy of this shale barren community varies from entirely herbaceous to sparse scrub or woodland. Woody strata, when present, are dominated by scattered Pinus virginiana and/or Juniperus virginiana <10 m tall. Quercus rubra, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), and Carya glabra are minor, inconstant woody components. Rhus aromatica and Rosa carolina are occasional shrubs. The herb layer is typically rather dense and graminoid-dominated, often giving stands a prairie-like aspect. Schizachyrium scoparium and Carex pensylvanica are consistently dominant herbs, while Danthonia spicata and Dichanthelium linearifolium are constant, locally codominant associates. Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans are abundant in a few stands. The shale barren endemic Eriogonum allenii is the most constant and abundant forb. Other relatively constant herbs include shale barren endemics Paronychia montana and Scutellaria ovata, along with the more widely distributed species Houstonia longifolia, Asplenium platyneuron, Allium cernuum, Sedum glaucophyllum, Trifolium virginicum, Cheilanthes lanosa, Polygonum tenue, Cunila origanoides, Woodsia obtusa, and Polygonum scandens var. cristatum. Species richness (mean = 27 taxa per 100 m2 and 33 taxa per 400 m2) appears to be somewhat limited by the dense cover of tussock-forming, warm-season grasses. Rare species associated with this community include Arabis serotina, Bromus kalmii, and Clematis viticaulis. Endemic or near-endemic shale barren plants recorded in stands of this type are Eriogonum allenii, Oenothera argillicola, Packera antennariifolia, and Trifolium virginicum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Sites for this association include broad, gently to steeply sloping, south- to west-facing spur ridge crests and middle to upper, convex sideslopes. These habitats are located entirely away from, or at the upslope edges of, ongoing erosional processes produced by stream incision. This association occurs only on Devonian and Silurian shale geology. Although characterized by high surface cover of rock fragments, soil environments are more stabilized than those occupied by ~Pinus virginiana - Quercus montana / Packera antennariifolia - Phlox subulata Woodland (CEGL006562)$$. In addition, soil fertility is considerably greater, with moderately high mean calcium (1500 ppm) and magnesium (175 ppm) levels in samples collected from plots.
Geographic Range: This community appears to be endemic to a small area in the Ridge and Valley region of west-central Virginia (Bath, Alleghany, Highland, Augusta, and Rockbridge counties),where shale barrens are most numerous and rich in endemic and near-endemic flora.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688918
Confidence Level: Low
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.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.h Pitch Pine - Virginia Pine - Bear Oak Woodland & Barrens Group | G906 | 1.B.2.Na.2.h |
| Alliance | A3312 Virginia Pine - Chestnut Oak Acidic Shale Woodland Alliance | A3312 | 1.B.2.Na.2.h |
| Association | CEGL008530 (Virginia Pine) / Little Bluestem - Shale Barren Buckwheat Wooded Grassland | CEGL008530 | 1.B.2.Na.2.h |
Concept Lineage: CEGL006541 is an herbaceous patch-type that can occur within many shale barrens, but it was decided that it did not make sense to segregate it as its own association. Vegetation patches resembling CEGL006541 could be found as part of CEGL006037, CEGL006562, CEGL006288, CEGL008530.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = (Pinus virginiana, Juniperus virginiana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Eriogonum allenii Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
= (Pinus virginiana, Juniperus virginiana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Eriogonum allenii Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Patterson 2009b)
= (Pinus virginiana, Juniperus virginiana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Eriogonum allenii Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Patterson 2009b)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009b. Classification of selected Virginia montane wetland groups. In-house analysis, December 2009. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulling. 2001. Ecological communities of the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Preliminary classification and description of vegetation types. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 317 pp.