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CEGL007078 Pinus echinata / Vaccinium (pallidum, stamineum) - Kalmia latifolia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine / (Blue Ridge Blueberry, Deerberry) - Mountain Laurel Forest
Colloquial Name: Appalachian Shortleaf Pine Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These forests occur in the lower elevations (below 730 m [2400 feet]) of the southern Appalachian Mountains on ridges and upper slopes, typically with southern to western exposures. This association includes forest vegetation with greater than 75% of the canopy cover of Pinus echinata, occurring over a shrub stratum dominated by ericaceous species, typically Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Kalmia latifolia. Deciduous species make-up less than 25% of the canopy coverage and may include Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, or, in the southern part of this association''s range, Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica. This community often has a midstory tree stratum with Oxydendrum arboreum, Carya pallida, Cornus florida, or Diospyros virginiana. Other characteristic species include Smilax glauca, Silphium compositum, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Scleria oligantha, Piptochaetium avenaceum, and Tephrosia virginiana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Includes successional forests with a hardwood shrub/sapling stratum.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The closed canopy is dominated by Pinus echinata. Deciduous species make up less than 25% of the canopy coverage and may include Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, or, in the southern part of this association''s range, Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica. This community often has a midstory tree stratum with Oxydendrum arboreum, Carya pallida, Cornus florida, or Diospyros virginiana. The shrub stratum is dominated by ericaceous species, typically Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Kalmia latifolia. Other characteristic species include Smilax glauca, Silphium compositum, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Scleria oligantha, Piptochaetium avenaceum, and Tephrosia virginiana. In a sample from the Southern Blue Ridge in Union County, Georgia (Chattahoochee National Forest), Pinus echinata occupies 75-95% of the canopy which also occasionally includes Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, and Pinus strobus. The subcanopy is codominated by Acer rubrum, Oxydendrum arboreum, and Cornus florida. The open shrub layer is characterized by Ilex opaca, Cornus florida, Vaccinium pallidum, Diospyros virginiana, Prunus serotina, Sassafras albidum, and Viburnum dentatum. The sparse herb layer includes Coreopsis major, Chimaphila maculata, Maianthemum racemosum, Lespedeza violacea (= Lespedeza intermedia), and Trillium catesbaei.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests occur in the lower elevations (below 730 m [2400 feet]) of the southern Appalachian Mountains on ridges and upper slopes, typically with southern to western exposures, possibly ranging into the adjacent Piedmont.
Geographic Range: These forests occur in the lower elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains and possibly the adjacent Piedmont.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, KY, NC, SC, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689027
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?
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.g Table Mountain Pine - Virginia Pine - Pitch Pine Woodland & Barrens Group | G905 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Alliance | A3269 Shortleaf Pine - Table Mountain Pine - Chestnut Oak Appalachian Woodland Alliance | A3269 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Association | CEGL007078 Shortleaf Pine / (Blue Ridge Blueberry, Deerberry) - Mountain Laurel Forest | CEGL007078 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IA6a. Dry Shortleaf Pine - Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
? Shortleaf pine/heath forest of dry, acidic steep slopes (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
? Shortleaf pine/heath forest of dry, acidic steep slopes (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
- 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.
- CAP [Central Appalachian Forest Working Group]. 1998. Central Appalachian Working group discussions. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
- Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- 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.