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CEGL007018 Pinus palustris / Rhus aromatica / Salvia urticifolia - Piptochaetium avenaceum Basic Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Fragrant Sumac / Nettleleaf Sage - Blackseed Speargrass Basic Woodland
Colloquial Name: Georgia Piedmont Longleaf Pine Basic Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is characterized by an open canopy of Pinus palustris and Pinus echinata patchily distributed over low shrubs, dense grasses, and sparse forbs, occurring along the eastern end of Pine Mountain in the Piedmont of Georgia (in the vicinity of Sprewell Bluff on the Flint River). This community occurs on upper slopes and ridgetops over basic soils that are presumed to have influence from pockets of calcium-rich biotite gneiss within an area that is more typically characterized by sterile soils developed over Hollis quartzite. Quercus margarettae and other sandhill scrub oaks are common to sparse in the subcanopy (Quercus laevis and Quercus incana). A patchy low-shrub layer is typified by Rhus aromatica and Yucca filamentosa. The occurrence of scattered Ptelea trifoliata is also diagnostic of this type. Dominant or characteristic graminoids and forbs include Piptochaetium avenaceum, Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Salvia urticifolia, Eryngium yuccifolium, Eupatorium album, Lathyrus venosus, Baptisia bracteata, Liatris sp., and Delphinium carolinianum. This community includes related open gladelike graminoid vegetation that is floristically related but with little to very sparse woody cover (primarily patchy Prunus umbellata) and with scattered exposed biotite gneiss boulders and outcroppings.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is apparently endemic to the Georgia Piedmont and is known from a local area north of Sprewell Bluff on the Flint River. Pinus echinata and Quercus margarettae are other secondary nominal species that were removed for brevity.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is characterized by an open canopy of Pinus palustris and Pinus echinata patchily distributed over low shrubs, dense grasses, and sparse forbs. Other species found occasionally in the canopy include Carya pallida and less frequently Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus). Quercus margarettae and other sandhill scrub oaks are common to sparse in the subcanopy (Quercus laevis, Quercus incana, and sometimes Quercus hemisphaerica). The tall-shrub layer is very sparse with Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Prunus alabamensis as the most typical. A patchy low-shrub layer is typified by Rhus aromatica and Yucca filamentosa; Ptelea trifoliata is also sometimes a minor component. Dominant or characteristic graminoids and forbs include Piptochaetium avenaceum, Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Sorghastrum elliottii, Sporobolus junceus, Salvia urticifolia, Tragia urticifolia, Tephrosia virginiana, Eryngium yuccifolium, Lathyrus venosus, Baptisia bracteata, Liatris sp., Eupatorium album, and Delphinium carolinianum. Other herbaceous species known from this association include Aristida purpurascens, Packera anonyma, Oxalis violacea, Solidago odora, Nothoscordum bivalve, Apocynum cannabinum, Tephrosia virginiana, Salvia azurea, Asclepias verticillata, Nuttallanthus canadensis, Hypericum gentianoides, and Ruellia caroliniensis. This community includes related open gladelike areas that are floristically related but with little to very sparse woody cover (patchy Prunus umbellata).
Dynamics: This vegetation depends on frequent, low-intensity, growing-season fires to control understory vegetation and for the reproduction of Pinus palustris.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on upper slopes and ridgetops over soils that are presumed to have mafic influence within an area that is largely characterized by sterile soils developed over Hollis quartzite. Soils are believed to be developed from inclusions of amphibolite with a biotite gneiss matrix within the quartzite. Fire has historically played an important part in maintaining the longleaf pine component, and the mafic soils may also help in maintaining the open structure. This community includes related open gladelike areas that are floristically related but with little to very sparse woody cover (patchy Prunus umbellata and more included outcroppings).
Geographic Range: This association is endemic to the Georgia Piedmont and is known from a local area north of Sprewell Bluff on the Flint River in Meriwether County.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.861491
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M016 | 1.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.1.b Shortleaf Pine - Southern Red Oak - Post Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G012 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3272 Longleaf Pine - Shortleaf Pine - Chestnut Oak Interior Woodland Alliance | A3272 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL007018 Longleaf Pine / Fragrant Sumac / Nettleleaf Sage - Blackseed Speargrass Basic Woodland | CEGL007018 | 1.B.2.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Serpentine Subxeric Longleaf Woodland (Peet and Allard 1993)
- GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
- Peet, R. K., and D. J. Allard. 1993. Longleaf pine vegetation of the Southern Atlantic and Eastern Gulf Coast regions: A preliminary classification. Pages 45-81 in: S. M. Hermann, editor. The Longleaf Pine Ecosystem: Ecology, restoration and management. Proceedings of the eighteenth Tall Timbers fire ecology conference. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Wharton, C. H. 1978. The natural environments of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. 227 pp.