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A0237 Prunus serotina - Amelanchier spp. - Juniperus virginiana Maritime Scrub Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes temperate deciduous forests and scrub forests in Atlantic maritime environments from southern Maine to northern Virginia, characterized by Acer rubrum, Amelanchier canadensis, Nyssa sylvatica, Aronia arbutifolia, Prunus serotina var. serotina, and Sassafras albidum in varying proportions.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Cherry - Serviceberry species - Eastern Red-cedar Maritime Scrub Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Maritime Mixed Scrub Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes temperate deciduous forests and scrub forests in Atlantic maritime environments from southern Maine to northern Virginia. These associations are characterized by early-successional species, reflecting the disclimax maintained in this state by the maritime climate and disturbance regime. The physiognomy of this vegetation is highly variable and may range from open woodland to stunted forest to dense nearly impenetrable thicket, and individual trees tend to be wind-pruned and multi-stemmed. The canopy may contain Acer rubrum, Amelanchier canadensis, Nyssa sylvatica, Aronia arbutifolia, Prunus serotina var. serotina, and Sassafras albidum in varying proportions. Pinus taeda, Diospyros virginiana, and Ilex opaca var. opaca may occur locally on the Coastal Plain. Morella pensylvanica is diagnostic of this alliance and differentiates it from more inland early-successional and ruderal forests resulting from anthropogenic changes. Some examples support vines in great abundance, such as Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax glauca, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Toxicodendron radicans. Herbs are of variable cover, depending on the degree of sunlight penetrating the canopy. Herbaceous composition is widely variable and may include both native and exotic species. The substrate varies from pure sand to loamy sands.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Maritime setting; early-successional trees Sassafras albidum, Amelanchier spp., and Prunus serotina in varying proportions. Morella pensylvanica often present.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Although some maritime forests in this alliance also have a history of land clearance, they remain in this disclimax state due to the maritime climate.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The physiognomy of this vegetation is highly variable and may range from open woodland to stunted forest to dense nearly impenetrable thicket. Individual trees tend to be wind-pruned and multiple-stemmed.

Floristics: The physiognomy of this vegetation is highly variable and may range from forest to open woodland to stunted forest to dense nearly impenetrable thicket. In maritime settings, individual trees tend to be wind-pruned and multi-stemmed. The canopy may contain Acer rubrum, Amelanchier canadensis, Juniperus virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica, Prunus serotina var. serotina, and Sassafras albidum in varying proportions. Pinus taeda, Diospyros virginiana, and Ilex opaca var. opaca may occur locally on the Coastal Plain. Shrubs may be present as part of the stunted tree canopy, but usually do not form a distinct stratum. These may include Viburnum recognitum, Viburnum dentatum, and Rosa virginiana. Some examples support vines in great abundance, such as Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax glauca, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Aronia arbutifolia, and Toxicodendron radicans. Herbs are of variable cover, depending on the degree of sunlight penetrating the canopy. These may include Aralia nudicaulis, Euthamia graminifolia, Lechea intermedia, Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata), Oenothera biennis, Panicum virgatum, Sericocarpus asteroides (= Aster paternus), Solidago rugosa, Solidago sempervirens, Spartina patens, and Symphyotrichum novi-belgii.

Dynamics:  Strong maritime influences profoundly impact the vegetation, such as constant marine winds, salt spray, sand blasting, and sporadic coastal storm damage from wave surges, salt water flooding and powerful winds. These habitats are partially to completely isolated from mainland fire regimes, so fires had a minimal role in their development. This alliance is characterized by early-successional species, reflecting the disclimax maintained in this state by the maritime climate and disturbance regime.
Environmental Description:  These scrub forests are associated with barrier islands, spits, exposed ocean/bay water fronts or headland bluffs. The substrate varies from pure sand and loamy sands in coastal regions, or loam in the interior.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in maritime settings from New Hampshire to northern Virginia.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, QC?, RI, VA


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.9 Pitch Pine - oak spp. - American Holly North Atlantic Forest Macrogroup M525 1.B.2.Na.9
Group 1.B.2.Na.9.c Pitch Pine - American Beech / Northern Bayberry Maritime Forest Group G893 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Alliance A0237 Black Cherry - Serviceberry species - Eastern Red-cedar Maritime Scrub Forest Alliance A0237 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Association CEGL006145 Black Cherry - Sassafras - Canadian Serviceberry - Black Oak / Roundleaf Greenbrier Forest CEGL006145 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Association CEGL006212 Eastern Red-cedar / Northern Bayberry Woodland CEGL006212 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Association CEGL006319 Black Cherry / Wax-myrtle / Roundleaf Greenbrier Scrub Forest CEGL006319 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Association CEGL006379 Canadian Serviceberry - Viburnum species - Northern Bayberry Scrub Forest CEGL006379 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Association CEGL006399 Black Cherry - Staghorn Sumac Scrub Forest CEGL006399 1.B.2.Na.9.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < High Xeric Thicket (Martin 1959b)
? Successional Maritime Forest (NYNHP 2013a)
Concept Author(s): W.E. Martin (1959b)

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-31-15
  • Bellis, V. J. 1992. Floristic continuity among the maritime forests of the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Pages 21-29 in: C. A. Cole and F. K. Turner, editors. Barrier island ecology of the mid-Atlantic Coast: A symposium. Technical Report NPS/SERCAHA/NRTR-93/04.
  • Boule, M. E. 1979. The vegetation of Fisherman Island, Virginia. Castanea 44:98-108.
  • Dunlop, D. A., and G. E. Crow. 1985. The vegetation and flora of the Seabrook Dunes with special reference to rare plants. Rhodora 87:471-486.
  • 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.
  • Martin, W. E. 1959b. The vegetation of Island Beach State Park, New Jersey. Ecological Monographs 29:1-46.
  • NYNHP [New York Natural Heritage Program]. 2013a. Online conservation guide for Successional Maritime Forest. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY. [http://www.acris.nynhp.org/guide.php?id=10000] (accessed September 25, 2013).
  • Stalter, R. 1979. The major plant communities of the Fire Island National Seashore. Pages 177-181 in: R. M. Linn, editor. Proceedings of the first conference on Scientific Research in the National Parks. USDI National Park Service, Washington, DC.
  • Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2001. Classification of natural communities of Massachusetts. September 2001 draft. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.
  • Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2011. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 1.4. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]