Print Report
A0580 Pinus rigida Swamp Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance comprises acidic wetlands, usually peaty, dominated by Pinus rigida usually over an ericaceous understory; it ranges from West Virginia north to Quebec, but is best developed in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts where there are extensive pine barrens.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pitch Pine Swamp Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Pitch Pine Swamp Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance comprises acidic wetlands, usually peaty, dominated by an open canopy of Pinus rigida usually over an ericaceous understory. In addition to Pinus rigida, canopy associates of this alliance include Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Betula populifolia. The shrub layer may be dominated by Chamaedaphne calyculata, or made up of Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, Kalmia angustifolia, Rhododendron canadense, and Vaccinium corymbosum. The herbaceous stratum is generally characterized by Calopogon tuberosus, Eriophorum virginicum, and Scirpus and/or Schoenoplectus spp. Northern occurrences may contain Cornus canadensis, Gaultheria procumbens, Scheuchzeria palustris, and Vaccinium macrocarpon, while woodlands in the southern part of the main range support species such as Arethusa bulbosa, Calamovilfa brevipilis, Gentiana autumnalis, Helonias bullata, Lophiola aurea, Muhlenbergia torreyana, Orontium aquaticum, Xerophyllum asphodeloides, and Xyris spp. In the New Jersey Pine Barrens, additional species include Leiophyllum buxifolium and Polygala lutea. These wetlands are "boggy" in nature, generally with saturated acidic soils and extensive peat accumulation. They form in poorly drained depressions or deeper basins, interdunal swales, and on stream flats (not flooded except in very rare events), and sometimes have a floating bog mat. This alliance ranges from Virginia north to Quebec, but is best developed in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts where there are extensive pine barrens.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Acidic wetland dominated by Pinus rigida.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Deciduous trees such as Acer rubrum and Nyssa sylvatica can make up to 50% of the canopy.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The canopy is usually open to widely dispersed coniferous trees over a dense ericaceous shrub layer. Deciduous hardwoods can make up to 50% of the canopy. The herbaceous layer may be well-developed where shrubs are lacking or sparse, and may be dominated by graminoids.
Floristics: Communities of this alliance are characterized by an open canopy of Pinus rigida, with an understory of ericaceous shrubs over a mat of Sphagnum moss. Canopy associates of this alliance include Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Betula populifolia. The shrub layer may be dominated by Chamaedaphne calyculata, or made up of Clethra alnifolia, Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa (= var. frondosa), Kalmia angustifolia, Rhododendron canadense, Rhododendron viscosum, and Vaccinium corymbosum. The herbaceous stratum is generally characterized by Calopogon tuberosus, Eriophorum virginicum, and Scirpus and/or Schoenoplectus spp. Northern occurrences may contain Cornus canadensis, Gaultheria procumbens, Scheuchzeria palustris, and Vaccinium macrocarpon, while woodlands in the southern part of the main range support species such as Arethusa bulbosa, Calamovilfa brevipilis, Gentiana autumnalis, Helonias bullata, Lophiola aurea, Muhlenbergia torreyana, Orontium aquaticum, Xerophyllum asphodeloides, and Xyris spp. In the New Jersey Pine Barrens, additional species include Leiophyllum buxifolium and Polygala lutea.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These wetlands are "boggy" in nature, generally with saturated acidic soils and extensive peat accumulation. They form in poorly drained depressions or deeper basins, and on stream flats (not flooded except in very rare events), and sometimes have a floating bog mat.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from Virginia north to Quebec, but is best developed in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts where there are extensive pine barrens.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, DC?, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, QC, RI?, VA, VT, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.871069
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.580 equivalent
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Pinus rigida - Leucothoe racemosa (Olsson 1979)
< Low or wet pine barren facies (Harshberger 1916)
? Pitch Pine - Blueberry Peat Swamp (NYNHP 2013n)
> Pitch Pine Lowland (Undifferentiated) (PL) (Windisch 2014a)
? Pitch pine woodland bog (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
< Low or wet pine barren facies (Harshberger 1916)
? Pitch Pine - Blueberry Peat Swamp (NYNHP 2013n)
> Pitch Pine Lowland (Undifferentiated) (PL) (Windisch 2014a)
? Pitch pine woodland bog (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- 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. 1916. The vegetation of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Reprinted 1970. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. 329 pp.
- NYNHP [New York Natural Heritage Program]. 2013n. Online conservation guide for Pitch Pine-Blueberry Peat Swamp. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY. [http://www.acris.nynhp.org/guide.php?id=9909] (Accessed December 10, 2013)
- Olsson, H. 1979. Vegetation of the New Jersey Pine Barrens: A phytosociological classification. Pages 245-263 in: R. T. T. Forman, editor. Pine Barrens: Ecosystem and landscape. Academic Press, New York.
- Reschke, C. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY. 96 pp.
- Robichaud, B., and M. F. Buell. 1973. Vegetation of New Jersey. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ. 340 pp.
- Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2000. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.
- Windisch, A .G. 2014a. Pinelands ecological communities and higher level groups with crosswalk / proposed 2008 revisions to NVC. November 16, 2014 draft. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton.
- Windisch, A. G. 1995b. Natural community inventory of Fort Dix, New Jersey. The Nature Conservancy report. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Office of Natural Lands Management. Trenton, NJ. 81 pp.