Print Report
G681 Juniperus communis / Danthonia spicata - Deschampsia cespitosa Northern Alkaline Rocky Outcrop Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group is found in southern Canada from Manitoba east and possibly in the United States in northern Michigan. It occurs on circumneutral to calcareous bedrock with sparse shrub and herbaceous cover but often high cover by nonvascular species.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Juniper / Poverty Oatgrass - Tufted Hairgrass Northern Alkaline Rocky Outcrop Group
Colloquial Name: Northern Alkaline Rocky Outcrop
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group occurs in southern Canada from Manitoba east and is characterized by sparse vascular vegetation, often occurring as patches. Low shrubs (<0.5 m) or scrubby trees can be present along with grasses and forbs and the cover of all combined is generally 2-25%. Mosses and lichens often have high cover. These sparsely vegetated barrens are not well-described but common species include scrubby Juniperus virginiana and Thuja occidentalis, shrubs such as Cornus rugosa, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, and Juniperus communis, and herbaceous species such as Campanula rotundifolia, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Melampyrum lineare. Sites occur on circumneutral to calcareous bedrock with little soil development on the surface.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group occurs in southern Canada from Manitoba east and is characterized by sparse vascular vegetation, often occurring as patches. Low shrubs (<0.5 m) or scrubby trees can be present along with grasses and forbs and the cover of all combined is generally 2-25%. Mosses and lichens often have high cover.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type and all the associations in it are poorly described. The range, species list, etc. may change with more information about the group.
In Nova Scotia, calcareous outcrops are largely associated with gypsum karst. Limestone and dolomite outcrops are present in the province but are much less common and do not always support flora characteristic of basic rock. There is far more limestone in New Brunswick but little gypsum. Unforested gypsum karst includes outcrops, talus, cliffs, and extreme sinkhole (doline) topography. Geomorphic literature indicate the kind of karst in Nova Scotia (with outliers in southern New Brunswick and Newfoundland) is nationally, if not continentally, unique. Characteristic flora include Carex eburnea, Cornus rugosa, Cypripedium arietinum, Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (present but more often in wetlands), Dirca palustris, Erigeron hyssopifolius, Fragaria vesca, Packera paupercula, Polystichum lonchitis (rare), and Shepherdia canadensis (S. Basquill pers. comm. 2015).
In Nova Scotia, calcareous outcrops are largely associated with gypsum karst. Limestone and dolomite outcrops are present in the province but are much less common and do not always support flora characteristic of basic rock. There is far more limestone in New Brunswick but little gypsum. Unforested gypsum karst includes outcrops, talus, cliffs, and extreme sinkhole (doline) topography. Geomorphic literature indicate the kind of karst in Nova Scotia (with outliers in southern New Brunswick and Newfoundland) is nationally, if not continentally, unique. Characteristic flora include Carex eburnea, Cornus rugosa, Cypripedium arietinum, Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (present but more often in wetlands), Dirca palustris, Erigeron hyssopifolius, Fragaria vesca, Packera paupercula, Polystichum lonchitis (rare), and Shepherdia canadensis (S. Basquill pers. comm. 2015).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group is characterized by sparse vascular vegetation, often occurring as patches. Low shrubs (<0.5 m) or scrubby trees can be present along with grasses and forbs and the cover of all combined is generally 2-25%. Mosses and lichens often have high cover.
Floristics: These sparsely vegetated barrens are not well-described but common species include scrubby Juniperus virginiana and Thuja occidentalis, shrubs such as Cornus rugosa, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, and Juniperus communis, and herbaceous species such as Campanula rotundifolia, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia cespitosa, and Melampyrum lineare.
Dynamics: Due to the thin soil common in this group, sites can become droughty quickly.
Environmental Description: This group occurs on circumneutral to calcareous bedrock. Soil is thin and patchy and typically confined to cracks and depressions in the bedrock where it can accumulate. Water retention is generally poor but localized depressions may collect water and stay saturated (if soil is present) or form small pools for some time.
Geographic Range: This group is found in southern Canada from Manitoba east to southern Quebec. It may occur in the United States in northern Michigan and New England.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MI, NB, NF, NS, ON, QC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.881413
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.5 Shrubby-cinquefoil - Bristleleaf Sedge Calcareous Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M507 | 2.B.2.Nc.5 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.5.c Common Juniper / Poverty Oatgrass - Tufted Hairgrass Northern Alkaline Rocky Outcrop Group | G681 | 2.B.2.Nc.5.c |
| Alliance | A4251 Juniper species / Mixed Herb Open Rock Vegetation Alliance | A4251 | 2.B.2.Nc.5.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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]