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A0250 Quercus montana - Quercus rubra Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes dry-mesic oak forests codominated by Quercus montana and Quercus rubra at moderate elevations in the Central and Southern Appalachians.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Dry-Mesic Acidic Chestnut Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes dry-mesic oak forests codominated by Quercus montana and Quercus rubra at moderate elevations in the Central and Southern Appalachians. Many forests in this alliance occur in areas previously dominated by Castanea dentata, and chestnut sprouts are common in the understory. The canopy of forests in this alliance tend to be dominated by Quercus rubra and/or Quercus montana, although other mesic hardwood species can codominate or be present in the canopy and subcanopy. Typical tree associates include Acer rubrum, Carya glabra, Carya ovalis, Carya ovata, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, and Sassafras albidum. Typical understory trees include Acer pensylvanicum, Cornus florida, or Oxydendrum arboreum. Shrub layers are often dense and dominated by ericaceous species, including Gaylussacia spp., Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron maximum (especially on northerly aspects), Rhododendron minus, and Vaccinium spp. Other shrubs may include Hamamelis virginiana. Herbaceous coverage tends to be inversely proportional to the shrub coverage. Typical herbaceous species include Chimaphila maculata, Galax urceolata, Gaultheria procumbens, Houstonia purpurea, Lysimachia quadrifolia, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Thelypteris noveboracensis, and Uvularia spp.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominance by Quercus montana and/or Quercus rubra. Occurs on dry-mesic settings with one or more species, such as Hamamelis virginiana, Houstonia purpurea, Lysimachia quadrifolia, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Thelypteris noveboracensis.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Forests in this alliance are closed-canopy deciduous forests. Some associations may have a well-developed subcanopy. Shrub cover is variable but may be very dense and dominated by ericaceous species, and herbaceous coverage tends to be inversely proportional to the shrub coverage.

Floristics: Forests in this alliance have deciduous canopies most often dominated by the oaks Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) and Quercus rubra, although other mesic hardwood species can be present or even codominate in the canopy and subcanopy. Typical tree associates include Acer rubrum, Carya glabra, Carya ovalis, Carya ovata, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, and Sassafras albidum. Typical understory trees include Acer pensylvanicum, Cornus florida, or Oxydendrum arboreum. Shrub layers are often dense and dominated by ericaceous species, including Gaylussacia spp., Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron maximum (especially on northerly aspects), Rhododendron minus, and Vaccinium spp. Other shrubs may include Hamamelis virginiana. Herbaceous coverage tends to be inversely proportional to the shrub coverage. Typical herbaceous species include Chimaphila maculata, Galax urceolata, Gaultheria procumbens, Houstonia purpurea, Lysimachia quadrifolia, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Thelypteris noveboracensis, and Uvularia spp. Other herbs typical of these forests include Carex pensylvanica, Desmodium nudiflorum, Dichanthelium spp. (Dichanthelium boscii, Dichanthelium commutatum, Dichanthelium dichotomum), Galium latifolium, Gentiana decora, Prenanthes altissima, Sanicula trifoliata, and Solidago curtisii.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  In montane landscapes, these forests occur on intermediate positions of elevation and aspect, on protected, often rocky slopes. Forests in this alliance are also found on sandstone boulderfields and outcrops in Virginia''s Ridge and Valley. In the Southern Blue Ridge, these forests occur at moderate elevations, from 790-1220 m (2600-4000 feet), on protected, often rocky slopes. In the central Ridge and Valley of Virginia, these forest occur on submesic to subxeric, often very bouldery slopes from the lowest elevations up to approximately 1100 m (3600 feet).
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from the Southern Blue Ridge, north through the Ridge and Valley, and High Alleghenies of Virginia, and into some areas of the northern Piedmont. This alliance may possibly range into the upper Piedmont and into the eastern fringes of the Cumberland Mountains and Appalachian Plateau of Kentucky.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, NJ, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

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.a Chestnut Oak - Hickory species / American Chestnut Forest Group G015 1.B.2.Na.2.a
Alliance A0250 Chestnut Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest Alliance A0250 1.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL003890 Summer Grape Vine-Scrub CEGL003890 1.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL004817 Northern Red Oak - Chestnut Oak - (Cucumber-tree, Mountain Magnolia) / Striped Maple Forest CEGL004817 1.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL006286 Chestnut Oak - Northern Red Oak / Great Laurel / Beetleweed Forest CEGL006286 1.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL007267 Chestnut Oak - (Northern Red Oak) - Hickory species / Sourwood - Flowering Dogwood Forest CEGL007267 1.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL007268 Chestnut Oak - Shagbark Hickory - Northern Red Oak / Sugar Maple Forest CEGL007268 1.B.2.Na.2.a
Association CEGL007993 Chestnut Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest CEGL007993 1.B.2.Na.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Quercus prinus - Quercus rubra / Acer pensylvanicum Association (Fleming and Moorhead 1996)
>< Chestnut Oak: 44 (Eyre 1980)
= Chestnut oak - hickory (Johnson and Ware 1982)
>< Red oak - chestnut oak association (Airola and Buchholz 1982)
Concept Author(s): T.M. Airola and K. Buchholz (1982); G.P. Fleming and W.H Moorhead (1996)

Author of Description: D.J. Allard, S. Simon, K.D. Patterson, J. Teague, L. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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