Print Report
CEGL004184 Crataegus punctata - Crataegus flabellata Ruderal Forest
Type Concept Sentence: Stands of this ruderal orchard-like open to closed-canopy woodland are dominated by Crataegus punctata and Crataegus flabellata.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Dotted Hawthorn - Fanleaf Hawthorn Ruderal Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern & Central Appalachian Ruderal Hawthorn Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: Stands of this ruderal orchard-like open to closed-canopy woodland are dominated by Crataegus punctata and Crataegus flabellata. In addition, Amelanchier laevis and Prunus pensylvanica may be present in the canopy. Some dominant tall herbs include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Angelica triquinata, Helenium autumnale, and Solidago puberula. Open-canopied stands may have Rubus allegheniensis or shrubs beneath.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type has increased in its cover and abundance because of the reduction of fire frequency and grazing intensity. Stands only seem to be found where the grazing effects are particularly strong, where grazing was unusually heavy, prolonged, or recent. For conservation target purposes, it can be treated as a complex with the other shrub and grass bald types with which it typically co-occurs, or conversely as a component of the adjacent northern hardwoods forest.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this forest are dominated by Crataegus punctata and Crataegus flabellata. The tree and tall-shrub stratum is 5 to 15 m tall and ranges from approximately 25-60% cover. In addition, Amelanchier laevis and Prunus pensylvanica may be present in the canopy. Some dominant tall herbs include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Angelica triquinata, Helenium autumnale, and Solidago puberula. If stands have an open canopy, they may have Rubus allegheniensis or shrubs beneath; or they may have residual grasses and graminoids, either Danthonia compressa, Agrostis perennans, Carex pensylvanica, and/or Phleum pratense. Some other dominant tall forbs include Eurybia chlorolepis and/or Oclemena acuminata.
Dynamics: This vegetation is transitional between, and located adjacent to, high-elevation northern red oak forests and grass/shrub balds. It is distinctive from either of these, having a composition different from northern red oak forests, and a physiognomy distinctive from grass and shrub balds. It may arise from the relaxation of grazing pressure and other management actions in the grassy balds, or it could have arisen from removal of northern red oak, under which an understory of Crataegus may occur.
Environmental Description: The environment of this association is essentially similar to that of high-elevation northern red oak forests of the Southern Appalachians and southern portion of the Central Appalachians, at elevations of 1000-1525 m (3200-5000 feet). Vegetation typically occurs over well-drained, loamy soils underlain by Precambrian gneisses, schists and granites. These soils are classified as Typic, Umbric, or Lithic Dystrochrepts, and Typic Haplumbrepts (Golden 1974). Vegetation could occur on most of the major mountain ranges within its range, on broad ridges and mid to upper slopes. Moisture regimes are typically dry-mesic to mesic.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is found on the higher elevations of major mountain ranges in the Southern and Central Appalachians.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, TN, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.856597
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Black Locust - Tuliptree - Norway Maple Ruderal Forest Macrogroup | M013 | 1.B.2.Na.90 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.90.a Eastern Red-cedar - Tuliptree / Tatarian Honeysuckle Ruderal Forest Group | G030 | 1.B.2.Na.90.a |
| Alliance | A3228 Tuliptree - Black Walnut - Black Locust Ruderal Forest Alliance | A3228 | 1.B.2.Na.90.a |
| Association | CEGL004184 Dotted Hawthorn - Fanleaf Hawthorn Ruderal Forest | CEGL004184 | 1.B.2.Na.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Golden, M. S. 1974. Forest vegetation and site relationships in the central portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 275 pp.
- Govus, Tom. Personal communication. Ecologist. Ellijay, GA.
- Kartesz, J. T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: J. T. Kartesz and C. A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC.
- Schafale, Mike P. Personal communication. Ecologist, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Weakley, A. S. 2010. Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and surrounding areas. Unpublished working draft. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. [http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm]
- Weakley, Alan, PhD. Personal communication. Curator, UNC Herbarium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Formerly Chief Ecologist, NatureServe, Southeast Region, Durham, NC.
- Young, J., G. Fleming, W. Cass, and C. Lea. 2009. Vegetation of Shenandoah National Park in relation to environmental gradients, Version 2.0. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2009/142. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 389 pp.