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A0144 Tsuga caroliniana Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These forests have dense to open canopies dominated by Tsuga caroliniana with Pinus pungens, Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, Quercus montana, Quercus rubra, and Tsuga canadensis.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Carolina Hemlock Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Carolina Hemlock Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These forests have dense to open canopies dominated by Tsuga caroliniana. Occurrences in gorges sometimes have a substantial admixture of Tsuga canadensis. Other associated species may include Pinus pungens, Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, Quercus montana, and Quercus rubra. The shrub stratum is dense and dominated by ericaceous species, such as Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron maximum, and Vaccinium spp. Trees may be wind-shorn, gnarled and twisted in exposed situations. These forests occur mostly on cliffs, rocky slopes and ridges, and less commonly on more gentle slopes and flat areas in valleys. Soils are usually nutrient-poor and rocky, with much exposed rock surface. Occurrences of these forests tend to be small and have distinct boundaries. Tsuga caroliniana is an Appalachian endemic with a very limited range, scattered in the Southern Blue Ridge and occasional in the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Tsuga caroliniana is an Appalachian endemic with a very limited range, scattered in the Southern Blue Ridge and occasional in the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley. Tsuga caroliniana communities, in general, have a restricted range, occurring in the Southern Blue Ridge with scattered outliers in the upper Piedmont and Ridge and Valley. The main distribution is centered in North Carolina, with a few examples in adjacent states. Occurrences are typically small and restricted to rocky bluff habitats. All occurrences are threatened by fire suppression and the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an exotic pest which causes tree decline and ultimately death in Tsuga canadensis and Tsuga caroliniana.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this alliance are dominated by Tsuga caroliniana. Occurrences in gorges sometimes have a substantial admixture of Tsuga canadensis. Other associated species may include Pinus pungens, Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), and Quercus rubra. The shrub stratum is dense and dominated by ericaceous species, such as Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron maximum, and Vaccinium spp. The herbaceous stratum is sparse, with typical species including Chimaphila maculata, Galax urceolata, Gaultheria procumbens, Mitchella repens, and Xerophyllum asphodeloides. Lichens, including Cladonia rangiferina (= Cladina rangiferina) and Cladonia subtenuis (= Cladina subtenuis), can be abundant.
Dynamics: All occurrences are threatened by fire suppression and the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an exotic pest which causes tree decline and ultimately death in Tsuga canadensis and Tsuga caroliniana.
Environmental Description: Forests in this alliance occur mostly on cliffs, rocky slopes and ridges, and less commonly on more gentle slopes and flat areas in valleys. Soils are usually nutrient-poor and rocky, with much exposed rock surface. Occurrences of these forests tend to be small and have distinct boundaries.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Tsuga caroliniana is a Southern Appalachian endemic with a very limited range, scattered in the Southern Blue Ridge and occasional in the Piedmont.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, SC, TN, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.898966
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.g Table Mountain Pine - Virginia Pine - Pitch Pine Woodland & Barrens Group | G905 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Alliance | A0144 Carolina Hemlock Woodland Alliance | A0144 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Association | CEGL006178 Carolina Hemlock - (Pitch Pine, Table Mountain Pine, Virginia Pine) Forest | CEGL006178 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Association | CEGL007138 Carolina Hemlock - (Eastern Hemlock) / Great Laurel Forest | CEGL007138 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
| Association | CEGL007139 Carolina Hemlock / Mountain Laurel - Catawba Rosebay Forest | CEGL007139 | 1.B.2.Na.2.g |
Concept Lineage: All three associations of A.144
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? IA6g. Carolina Hemlock Bluff Forest (Allard 1990)
? Oligotrophic Forest (Rawinski 1992)
? Oligotrophic Forest (Rawinski 1992)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- 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.
- Humphrey, L. D. 1989. Life history traits of Tsuga caroliniana Engelm. (Carolina hemlock) and its role in community dynamics. Castanea 54:172-190.
- McLeod, D. E. 1988. Vegetation patterns, floristics, and environmental relationships in the Black and Craggy mountains of North Carolina. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 222 pp.
- Newell, C. L., and R. K. Peet. 1995. Vegetation of Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina. Unpublished report. to USDA Forest Service. University of North Carolina, Department of Biology, Chapel Hill. 211 pp.
- Rawinski, T. J. 1992. A classification of Virginia''s indigenous biotic communities: Vegetated terrestrial, palustrine, and estuarine community classes. Unpublished document. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report No. 92-21. Richmond, VA. 25 pp.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Weakley, A. S., L. A. Mehrhoff, III, and L. Mansberg. 1979. Natural area inventory--Master plan for Bluff Mountain, Ashe County, North Carolina. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, North Carolina Field Office, Carrboro. 225 pp.