Print Report
CEGL007293 (Prunus pensylvanica, Sorbus americana) - Rubus spp. Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Pin Cherry, American Mountain-ash) - Blackberry species Shrubland
Colloquial Name: High-Elevation Pin Cherry - Mountain-ash - Blackberry Thicket
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This vegetation includes early-successional stands of variable physiognomy (typically emergent woody species over Rubus spp.) that occur at high elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. Stands result from severe disturbances such as fire, windthrow, or clearcutting. The emergent trees/shrubs may be primarily a variable mixture of Prunus pensylvanica and Sorbus americana, or a variable combination of high-elevation woody species, including Betula alleghaniensis, Acer spicatum, and Aesculus flava. Common shrub and herbaceous species include Rubus canadensis, Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa, Viburnum lantanoides, Rhus typhina, Aralia nudicaulis, Eurybia macrophylla, Viola spp., Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Dryopteris campyloptera, and Huperzia lucidula. In the Southern Appalachians, Prunus pensylvanica-dominated communities result from severe disturbance in Picea rubens forests or Picea rubens - Abies fraseri forests and sometimes never recover to their original composition. Stands of this type have developed in areas such as Shining Rock Wilderness and parts of the Great Smoky Mountains, where intense fires occurred after logging had taken place. These intense fires, due to the accumulated slash, burned down nearly to mineral soil. These areas do not have as much coarse woody debris from downed spruce or fir and often have a canopy approaching that of a woodland with sparse coverage of Sorbus americana and Prunus pensylvanica.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This vegetation has been treated as a variant of ~Rubus canadensis - (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus) / Athyrium filix-femina - Solidago glomerata Shrubland (CEGL003893)$$. It occurs in areas such as Shining Rock Wilderness and parts of the Great Smoky Mountains where fires were started after logging had taken place. The intensity of the fires due to the accumulated slash burned down nearly to mineral soil. These areas do not have as much coarse woody debris from downed spruce or fir and often have a canopy approaching that of a woodland with sparse coverage of Sorbus americana and Prunus pensylvanica.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This vegetation is successional. There can be a large variation in the structural characteristics of these communities, and in some instances, they may approach (or technically reach) a woodland condition with Prunus pensylvanica and/or Sorbus americana forming a scattered, open canopy (typically emergent over Rubus spp.). Other high-elevation woody species such as Betula alleghaniensis, Acer spicatum, and Aesculus flava can also be important. Standing dead Abies fraseri often tower above the shrubs and herbs, and there is usually much downed woody debris. Prunus pensylvanica forms an open low-canopy shrub or small-tree layer (<50% cover). Sorbus americana, Rhus typhina, Ilex montana, Acer rubrum, Cornus alternifolia, and Vaccinium simulatum are some other woody species that can occur as a part of this sparse canopy or tall-shrub layer. Herbaceous species present include Agrostis perennans, Angelica triquinata, Oclemena acuminata (= Aster acuminatus), Carex brunnescens, Carex crinita, Carex intumescens, Carex debilis, Cinna latifolia, Clintonia borealis, Danthonia compressa, Diervilla sessilifolia, Oxalis montana, Rugelia nudicaulis and Solidago glomerata. Scattered living Picea rubens, Betula alleghaniensis, and Amelanchier laevis may occur. The long-term future of this community is uncertain, but it appears to be fairly stable over periods of several decades.
Dynamics: This is successional vegetation resulting from severe disturbance of spruce-fir forests (including balsam woolly adelgid-affected stands and stands which were severely burned after logging), as well as exposed sites with other frequent, natural disturbances (such as shrub invasion of grazed fire meadows).
Environmental Description: This vegetation occurs at high elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. It is successional vegetation resulting from severe disturbance of spruce-fir forests (including balsam woolly adelgid-affected stands and stands which were severely burned after logging), as well as exposed sites with other frequent, natural disturbances (such as shrub invasion of grazed fire meadows). It occurs on exposed summits and high slopes, typically at elevations over 1830 m (6000 feet).
Geographic Range: This vegetation occurs at high elevations in the Southern Appalachians of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689559
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.b Pennsylvania Sedge - Flattened Oatgrass - Shrubby Fivefingers Southern Appalachian Grass Bald Group | G657 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Alliance | A0930 Allegheny Blackberry - Smooth Blackberry Shrubland Alliance | A0930 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL007293 (Pin Cherry, American Mountain-ash) - Blackberry species Shrubland | CEGL007293 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: This association resurrected (MP 9-08). merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.