Print Report

CEGL003898 Hamamelis vernalis - Cornus obliqua - Hypericum prolificum Riverscour Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ozark Witch-hazel - Pale Dogwood - Shrubby St. John''s-wort Riverscour Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Witch-hazel - Dogwood Gravel Wash

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This witch-hazel - dogwood gravel wash occurs in the Ozarks-Ouachita region of the United States. This shrubland occurs as narrow strips (1-10 m wide) in the upper scour zones of small to medium-sized streams. It is typically found in a substrate of loose cobble, but on larger streams and rivers may occur on bedrock shelves or alluvial silt, where it intergrades with other vegetation types. Hamamelis vernalis, Cornus obliqua, and Hypericum prolificum are common and characteristic. Several other species may be locally abundant in the diverse microhabitats of this shrubland, including Salix caroliniana in more open streambeds, Phyllanthopsis phyllanthoides in drier scour zones, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana in upper scour zones, Ilex vomitoria on bedrock and boulders on larger streams, and Alnus serrulata and Cephalanthus occidentalis in low, wet areas. On more stable substrates Platanus occidentalis, Acer rubrum, and Liquidambar styraciflua may be locally abundant. Other shrub and tree species that may occur include Amorpha fruticosa, Amorpha ouachitensis, Betula nigra, Crataegus spp., Diospyros virginiana, Ulmus alata, Hypericum prolificum, Ilex decidua, Styrax grandifolius, and Vaccinium virgatum. Herbaceous species include Amsonia illustris, Amsonia hubrichtii, Ambrosia spp., Apios americana, Boltonia diffusa, Chasmanthium latifolium, Commelina erecta, Diodia virginiana, Eutrochium fistulosum, Ludwigia decurrens, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Vernonia lettermannii, Panicum virgatum, Panicum anceps, and Perilla frutescens (exotic). Trachelospermum difforme is a common vine of this community.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association was defined from a TNC Arkansas Field Office survey in the Ouachita Mountains, Oklahoma and Arkansas, covering areas that are not part of the Ouachita National Forest (J. Campbell pers. comm. 1994, D. Zollner pers. comm. 1994). In Missouri it may be difficult to separate this type from ~Salix caroliniana Ozark Riverscour Shrubland (CEGL007064)$$. See also ~Juniperus virginiana - Phyllanthopsis phyllanthoides - (Quercus nigra, Ilex vomitoria) Riverscour Shrubland (CEGL003942)$$, which may be a zone of this type.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Hamamelis vernalis, Cornus obliqua (= Cornus amomum ssp. obliqua), and Hypericum prolificum are common and characteristic. Several other species may be locally abundant in the diverse microhabitats of this shrubland, including Salix caroliniana in more open streambeds, Phyllanthopsis phyllanthoides (= Andrachne phyllanthoides) in drier scour zones, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana in upper scour zones, Ilex vomitoria on bedrock and boulders on larger streams, and Alnus serrulata and Cephalanthus occidentalis in low, wet areas. On more stable substrates Platanus occidentalis, Acer rubrum, and Liquidambar styraciflua may be locally abundant. Other shrub and tree species that may occur include Amorpha fruticosa, Amorpha ouachitensis, Betula nigra, Crataegus spp., Diospyros virginiana, Ulmus alata, Hypericum prolificum, Ilex decidua, Styrax grandifolius, and Vaccinium virgatum. Herbaceous species include Amsonia illustris, Amsonia hubrichtii, Ambrosia spp., Apios americana, Boltonia diffusa, Chasmanthium latifolium, Commelina erecta, Diodia virginiana, Eutrochium fistulosum (= Eupatorium fistulosum), Ludwigia decurrens, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Vernonia lettermannii, Panicum virgatum, Panicum anceps, and Perilla frutescens (exotic). Trachelospermum difforme is a common vine of this community (J. Campbell pers. comm. 1994, D. Zollner pers. comm. 1994).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This shrubland occurs as narrow strips (1-10 m wide) in the upper scour zones of small to medium-sized streams. It is typically found in a substrate of loose cobble, but on larger streams and rivers may occur on bedrock shelves or alluvial silt, where it intergrades with other vegetation types (J. Campbell pers. comm. 1994, D. Zollner pers. comm. 1994).
Geographic Range: This witch-hazel - dogwood gravel wash occurs in the Ozarks-Ouachita region of the United States, from Missouri to Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, MO, OK


Confidence Level: Low

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.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.4 Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation Macrogroup M881 2.C.4.Nd.4
Group 2.C.4.Nd.4.a Central Interior-Appalachian Riverscour Barrens & Prairie Group G753 2.C.4.Nd.4.a
Alliance A3794 Hazel Alder - Ozark Witch-hazel - Coastal Plain Willow Riverscour Alliance A3794 2.C.4.Nd.4.a
Association CEGL003898 Ozark Witch-hazel - Pale Dogwood - Shrubby St. John''s-wort Riverscour Shrubland CEGL003898 2.C.4.Nd.4.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Hamamelis vernalis - Cornus obliqua - Hypericum prolificum Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
Concept Author(s): J. Campbell and D. Zollner

Author of Description: D. Zollner and J. Campbell

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-01-94
  • Campbell, Julian J. N. Personal communication. Kentucky Field Office, The Nature Conservancy.
  • Chastain, R. A., M.A. Struckhoff, K. W. Grabner, E. D. Stroh, H. He, D. R. Larsen, T. A. Nigh, and J. Drake. 2006. Mapping vegetation communities in Ozark National Scenic Riverways: Final technical report to the National Park Service. Open-File Report 2006-1354. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA. 90 pp. plus appendices.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
  • Hoagland, B. 2000. The vegetation of Oklahoma: A classification for landscape mapping and conservation planning. The Southwestern Naturalist 45(4):385-420.
  • Hoagland, B. W. 1997. Preliminary plant community classification for Oklahoma. Unpublished draft document, version 35629. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 47 pp.
  • Hop, K., M. Pyne, T. Foti, S. Lubinski, R. White, and J. Dieck. 2012a. National Park Service vegetation inventory program: Buffalo National River, Arkansas. Natural Resource Report NPS/HTLN/NRR--2012/526. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 340 pp.
  • Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
  • Nigh, T., C. Buck, J. Grabner, J. Kabrick, and D Meinert. 2000. An ecological classification system for the Current River Hills subsection. Missouri Ecological Classification System and Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership. 44 pp.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Zollner, Douglas. Personal communication. Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock.