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CEGL006440 Juniperus virginiana - Pinus virginiana / Smilax rotundifolia Serpentine Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Red-cedar - Virginia Pine / Roundleaf Greenbrier Serpentine Forest

Colloquial Name: Red-cedar - Virginia Pine / Greenbrier Serpentine Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This serpentine plant community of Pennsylvania and Maryland is associated with soils derived from weathered serpentine bedrock and typically occurs on the upper portions of moderate to steep slopes (typically 5-25°) commonly with a northerly and/or easterly aspect. Soils are typically well-drained and somewhat moist to dry. Soil texture is characteristically silt loam or clay loam and may be stony to stone-free. Soil depth varies from 4 cm to >30 cm but is typically 10 to 20 cm deep. The dominant canopy trees are Pinus virginiana and Juniperus virginiana. Sassafras albidum and Acer rubrum also are present but are not abundant in the canopy. The low-shrub layer is sparse and consists mainly of occasional hardwood seedlings. The dense shade of the conifer overstory and the accumulation of needle litter have produced a depauperate herbaceous layer. Smilax rotundifolia is the dominant species in the herbaceous layer and also acts as a liana, climbing into the conifer canopy and forming an often impenetrable curtain. Characteristic herbaceous species include Microstegium vimineum, Danthonia spicata, and Polystichum acrostichoides.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This and a number of other serpentine vegetation community types were described by Podniesinski et al. (1999); subsequently, former Pinus rigida / Schizachyrium scoparium - Scleria pauciflora Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL006159) was archived as the type was too broad given the more recent data describing more specific community types occurring within the eastern serpentine barrens.

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

Floristics: The dominant canopy trees are Pinus virginiana and Juniperus virginiana. Sassafras albidum and Acer rubrum also are present but are not abundant in the canopy. The low-shrub layer is sparse and consists mainly of occasional hardwood seedlings. The dense shade of the conifer overstory and the accumulation of needle litter have produced a depauperate herbaceous layer. Smilax rotundifolia is the dominant species in the herbaceous layer and also acts as a liana, climbing into the conifer canopy and forming an often impenetrable curtain. Characteristic herbaceous species include Microstegium vimineum, Danthonia spicata, and Polystichum acrostichoides.

Dynamics:  This plant community is adapted to the weathering of serpentine bedrock. It was once thought that the lack of canopy cover was maintained by the unique edaphic features of the chrome series soils, but in the last 20 years, many sites have been invaded by dense Pinus virginiana (Tyndall 1992a). In this community, Virginia pine and eastern red-cedar are the canopy dominants. This phenomenon dramatically alters the light regime and promotes substantial soil development (up to 10 cm in 20 years). Under these conditions, an entirely different community develops as the influence of the bedrock is buffered by the soil/litter accumulation. This closed-canopy serpentine forest exhibits a dense understory of Smilax rotundifolia. Some of the characteristic herbaceous serpentine species apparently persist in the ground layer as scattered non-flowering individuals; other populations appear to die out but may persist in the seed bank. Selective cutting has been effective in restoring degraded sites to their previous composition and structure, but most researchers believe that without regular burning to prevent soil development the serpentine plant communities will not persist. There is substantial evidence that most of the existing areas were regularly burned by Native Americans (Marye 1920, 1955a, 1955b, 1955c) and perhaps maintained by grazing after European settlement.
Environmental Description:  This serpentine plant community is associated with soils derived from weathered serpentine bedrock and typically occurs on the upper portions of moderate to steep slopes (typically 5-25°) commonly with a northerly and/or easterly aspect. Soils are typically well-drained and somewhat moist to dry. Soil texture is characteristically silt loam or clay loam and may be stony to stone-free. Soil depth varies from 4 cm to >30 cm but is typically 10 to 20 cm deep.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in serpentine barrens located within Chester and Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania and Cecil County in Maryland.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MD, PA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2

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 A3311 Pitch Pine - Virginia Pine - Blackjack Oak Serpentine Woodland Alliance A3311 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Association CEGL006440 Eastern Red-cedar - Virginia Pine / Roundleaf Greenbrier Serpentine Forest CEGL006440 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Concept Lineage: CEGL006159 was split into several distinct serpentine barrens types.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Smith''s Eastern Serpentine Barren (Podniesinski et al. 1999)
Concept Author(s): G. Podniesinski, A. Leimanis, and J. Ebert (1999)

Author of Description: G. Podniesinski, A. Leimanis, J. Ebert, M. Anderson

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-20-05
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 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.
  • Marye, W. B. 1920. The old Indian road. Maryland Historical Magazine 15:107-124, 208-229, 345-395.
  • Marye, W. B. 1955a. The great Maryland barrens I. Maryland Historical Magazine 50:11-23.
  • Marye, W. B. 1955b. The great Maryland barrens II. Maryland Historical Magazine 50:124-142.
  • Marye, W. B. 1955c. The great Maryland barrens III. Maryland Historical Magazine 50:234-253.
  • Podniesinski, G., A. Leimanis, and J. Ebert. 1999. Serpentine plant community classification. Unpublished data. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, PA. 14 pp.
  • Smith, T. L. No date (a). Natural ecological communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory, East, Harrisburg, PA. 97 pp.
  • Tyndall, R. W. 1989. Aerial photo analysis of woody plant succession in eight Delmarva bays. Unpublished report for The Nature Conservancy. MD. 10 pp.
  • Tyndall, R. W. 1992a. Historical considerations of conifer expansion in Maryland serpentine "barrens." Castanea 57:123-131.
  • Tyndall, R. W., and P. M. Farr. 1989. Vegetation structure and flora of a serpentine pine-cedar savanna in Maryland. Castanea 54:191-199.