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CEGL006490 Quercus montana / Deschampsia flexuosa - Solidago bicolor Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak / Wavy Hairgrass - White Goldenrod Forest
Colloquial Name: Chesapeake Bay River Bluff Chestnut Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs on river-fronting slopes composed of unconsolidated sediments on the Inner Coastal Plain of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Sites include both very steep, erosive, bluff-like slopes and more stable, gently convex upper slopes and bluff-tops underlain by coarse gravel deposits. In either case, the ground surface typically has a substantial amount of exposed mineral substrate, and soils are sandy, extremely acidic, and infertile. This vegetation is an open, somewhat stunted forest with strong overstory dominance by Quercus montana. Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus stellata are variably present, minor associates. Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Sassafras albidum, Amelanchier arborea, and Fagus grandifolia are characteristic understory species. Isolated, individual shrubs of Kalmia latifolia often occur, but this species does not form dense stands. Patches of Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Gaylussacia baccata are typical in the open shrub layer, along with Viburnum acerifolium, scrambling vines of Smilax rotundifolia and young recruitment of Quercus montana. The herb layer is species-poor, with Deschampsia flexuosa common and Solidago bicolor frequent at low cover. Additional herbs may include Danthonia spicata, Polygonatum biflorum, Carex tonsa, Carex pensylvanica, Hieracium venosum, Viola pedata, and Carex virescens.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This vegetation type has been observed frequently by ecologists in both the Maryland and Virginia Natural Heritage Programs, but very little quantitative documentation exists. Nevertheless, the type is immediately and unambiguously recognizable in the field, and the three available plots performed as a tight, discrete group in quantitative analysis of more than 200 Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia oak / heath forest plots conducted for the NCR vegetation mapping project.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This is usually an open, somewhat stunted forest. Isolated, individual shrubs of Kalmia latifolia often occur, but this species does not form dense stands. The herb layer is species-poor. The ground surface typically has a substantial amount of exposed mineral substrate, and soils are sandy, extremely acidic, and infertile.
Floristics: This is usually an open, somewhat stunted forest with strong overstory dominance by Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus). Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus stellata are variably present, minor associates. Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Sassafras albidum, Amelanchier arborea, and Fagus grandifolia are characteristic understory species. Isolated, individual shrubs of Kalmia latifolia often occur, but this species does not form dense stands. Patches of Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Gaylussacia baccata are typical in the open shrub layer, along with Viburnum acerifolium, scrambling vines of Smilax rotundifolia and young recruitment of Quercus montana. The herb layer is species-poor, with Deschampsia flexuosa common and Solidago bicolor frequent at low cover. Additional herbs may include Danthonia spicata, Polygonatum biflorum, Carex tonsa, Carex pensylvanica, Hieracium venosum, Viola pedata, and Carex virescens. In Virginia, some occurrences of this vegetation can be substantial (>20 ha in aggregate).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs on river-fronting slopes on Coastal Plain estuarine deposits of Cretaceous, Tertiary, or Quaternary age. Some stands, such as those described by Lea (2004), occur on very steep (up to 60%), bluff-like slopes where toeslope erosion maintains constant colluvial movement. More typically, the type occurs on stable, gently convex upper slopes and bluff-tops underlain by coarse gravel deposits. In either case, the ground surface typically has a substantial amount of exposed mineral substrate, and soils are sandy, extremely acidic, and infertile.
Geographic Range: Small to medium-sized patches of this vegetation occur on bluffs bordering rivers and estuarine tidal wetlands throughout the inner northern Coastal Plain of Virginia, and Maryland. This vegetation has also been observed in Delaware (P. Bowman, DNHP, pers. comm.). In Virginia, stands are known from the Potomac, Rappahannock, Pamunkey, and James rivers.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: DC, DE, MD, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.802079
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.9 Pitch Pine - oak spp. - American Holly North Atlantic Forest Macrogroup | M525 | 1.B.2.Na.9 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.9.b Black Oak - American Beech - Pitch Pine Coastal Plain Forest Group | G894 | 1.B.2.Na.9.b |
| Alliance | A4209 Black Oak - Southern Red Oak - Pitch Pine Coastal Plain Forest Alliance | A4209 | 1.B.2.Na.9.b |
| Association | CEGL006490 Chestnut Oak / Wavy Hairgrass - White Goldenrod Forest | CEGL006490 | 1.B.2.Na.9.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus prinus / Deschampsia flexuosa - Solidago bicolor Forest (Lea 2004)
- Coxe, R. 2009. Guide to Delaware vegetation communities. Spring 2009 edition. State of Delaware, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna.
- 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/]
- 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.
- Lea, C. 2004. Draft vegetation types in National Capital Region Parks. Edited by S.C. Gawler and J. Teague. Working draft for review by NatureServe, Virginia Natural Heritage, West Virginia Natural Heritage, Maryland Natural Heritage, and National Park Service. July 2004. 157 pp.