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G582 Solidago sempervirens - Juniperus horizontalis - Rhodiola rosea Coastal Rocky Headland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group comprises sparsely vegetated sea cliffs of northeastern Maine and adjacent Canada; vegetation is characterized by Solidago sempervirens, Plantago maritima, Campanula rotundifolia, and others.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Seaside Goldenrod - Creeping Juniper - Roseroot Stonecrop Coastal Rocky Headland Group
Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Coastal Rocky Headland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group encompasses sparsely vegetated cliffs and shoreline outcrops along the North Atlantic Coast, primarily northeast of Penobscot Bay (Maine). Common species include Achillea millefolium, Campanula rotundifolia, Festuca rubra, Plantago maritima, Prenanthes trifoliolata, Primula laurentiana, and Solidago sempervirens. Juniperus horizontalis occurs in some locations and is indicative of the exposed coastal environment. In many locations, subarctic lithophilic plant species occur; these include Euphrasia randii, Iris setosa, Lomatogonium rotatum, Rhodiola rosea, and Sagina nodosa ssp. borealis. From Cobscook Bay east, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda is also characteristic. Settings range from steep cliffs to nearly flat expanses of bedrock, all influenced by salt spray, frequent fog, and exposure to wind. Other sites include thin-soil areas, or cold-stressed sites. Dwarf heath-grassland is dominated by Festuca rubra, Aronia melanocarpa, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, among others. Low coastal shrublands are Gaylussacia baccata- or Gaylussacia dumosa-dominated. Tall shrublands are dominated by Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, Ilex mucronata, Aronia x prunifolia, Prunus pensylvanica, and Viburnum nudum. Gaylussacia baccata and Morella pensylvanica occur in the understory. Common herbs include Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Trientalis borealis, and Maianthemum canadense.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparsely vegetated expanses of shoreline bedrock with some combination of Solidago sempervirens, Plantago maritima, Achillea millefolium, Campanula rotundifolia, and Prenanthes trifoliolata, along with other species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group is primarily Canadian and is not currently well-described. Sean Basquill (pers. comm. 2015) suggests that rocky headlands could be a distinct macrogroup. That is, there is more ecological separation between coastal dunes and coastal (glacial) shrubland than there is between dunes (M057) and beaches (M060).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These shoreline outcrops support only sparse and patchy vegetation. Composition is mostly forb- and graminoid-dominated, with occasional dwarf-shrubs.
Floristics: Common species include Solidago sempervirens, Plantago maritima, Achillea millefolium, Campanula rotundifolia, Prenanthes trifoliolata, and Festuca rubra. Juniperus horizontalis occurs in some locations and is indicative of the exposed coastal environment. In many locations, subarctic lithophilic plant species occur; these include Rhodiola rosea, Iris setosa, Lomatogonium rotatum, Sagina nodosa ssp. borealis, and Euphrasia randii. From Cobscook Bay east, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda is also characteristic. Sea cliff plants noted from Labrador (Harshberger 1913) include Cochlearia groenlandica (= Cochlearia officinalis), Ligusticum scoticum, Plantago maritima, Primula laurentiana, Puccinellia spp., and Rhodiola rosea (= Sedum roseum). Other sites include thin-soil areas, or cold-stressed sites. Dwarf heath-grassland is dominated by Festuca rubra, Aronia melanocarpa (= Photinia melanocarpa), Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, among others. Low coastal shrublands are Gaylussacia baccata- or Gaylussacia dumosa-dominated. Tall shrublands are dominated by Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, Ilex mucronata (= Nemopanthus mucronatus), Aronia x prunifolia (= Photinia floribunda), Prunus pensylvanica, and Viburnum nudum. Gaylussacia baccata and Morella pensylvanica occur in the understory. Common herbs include Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Trientalis borealis, and Maianthemum canadense (S. Basquill pers. comm. 2015).
Dynamics: Rocky sea cliffs and headlands experience high winds, salt spray, and occasional wave overwash during storms. Rocky sea cliffs experience erosion at the base by mechanical abrasion, and over the long term, can result in slumping. At higher latitudes, cold temperatures can cause frost-wedging of rock and eventual slumping (Emery and Kuhn 2013).
Environmental Description: Vegetation is exposed to wind, salt spray, fog, and direct sun. Soil development is minimal and limited to rock crevices where plants are rooted. Sites may also occur on thin soil, till.
Geographic Range: This group ranges from central Maine east through the Canadian Maritimes.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: ME, NS, QC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.857621
Confidence Level: Low
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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup | M057 | 2.B.4.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.2.b Seaside Goldenrod - Creeping Juniper - Roseroot Stonecrop Coastal Rocky Headland Group | G582 | 2.B.4.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3933 Eastern North American Coastal Cliff & Outcrop Alliance | A3933 | 2.B.4.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Sea cliff formation (Harshberger 1913)
= Seaside Goldenrod - Goosetongue Open Headland (Gawler and Cutko 2010)
= Seaside Goldenrod - Goosetongue Open Headland (Gawler and Cutko 2010)
- Emery, K. O., and G. G. Kuhn. 1982. Sea cliffs: Their processes, profiles, and classification. Geological Society of America Bulletin 93(7):644-654.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Fernald, M. L., and K. M. Wiegand. 1910. A summer''s botanizing in eastern Maine and western New Brunswick. Rhodora 12:101-146.
- Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.
- Harshberger, J. W. 1913. Phytogeographic survey of North America. Bulletin of the American Geographical Society 45(1):38-42.
- Olday, F. C., S. Gawler, and B. Vickery. 1983. Seven unusual sub-arctic plants of the Maine coast. A report prepared for the critical areas program, Maine State planning office.