Print Report

A1049 Juniperus virginiana - Rhus aromatica Alkaline Bedrock Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This shrubland alliance includes Berchemia scandens, Forestiera ligustrina, Frangula caroliniana, Hypericum frondosum, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Rhus aromatica var. aromatica, Sideroxylon lycioides, and stunted individuals of Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Quercus austrina, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus shumardii, and Ulmus alata, occurring on calcareous glades and rocky cliffs in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Red-cedar - Fragrant Sumac Alkaline Bedrock Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Fragrant Sumac - Sumac Glade Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These are shrubland zones of calcareous glades and rocky cliffs. Characteristic shrubs include Berchemia scandens, Forestiera ligustrina, Frangula caroliniana, Hypericum frondosum, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Rhus aromatica var. aromatica, Sideroxylon lycioides, and stunted individuals of Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Quercus austrina (in Bibb County, Alabama, examples), Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus shumardii (in Tennessee examples), and Ulmus alata. Typically grades into open, herbaceous-dominated glades or into woodlands or forests commonly dominated by Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus quadrangulata, Quercus muehlenbergii, and/or Quercus stellata. This alliance is a zonal component of calcareous glades; it occupies deeper soil zones around herbaceous-dominated flatrock glades. It may occur as islands in herbaceous-dominated areas or as a marginal zone varying from 5-30 m in width. Examples are known from the limestone glades of the Central Basin of Tennessee, limestone outcrops of the Alabama Cumberland Plateau, dolostone glades associated with the Cahaba River in Bibb County, Alabama, and the Moulton Valley glade systems of northern Alabama.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrub vegetation associated with calcareous glades in the south-central United States. Characteristic shrubs include Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana and Rhus aromatica var. aromatica.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance does not include vegetation associated with cliffs, which is placed in ~Laurentian-Acadian-Great Lakes Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group (G839)$$, ~Appalachian Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group (G840)$$, ~Central Midwest-Interior Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group (G841)$$, or ~Southeast Coastal Plain Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group (G842)$$. There currently is one extremely rare association developed for this alliance that occurs in Alabama and contains Croton alabamensis var. alabamensis, Forestiera ligustrina, Frangula caroliniana, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Phyllanthopsis phyllanthoides, Rhus aromatica var. aromatica, and other species.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Shrublands with typical shrubs Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana and Rhus aromatica var. aromatica.

Floristics: Characteristic shrubs include Berchemia scandens, Forestiera ligustrina, Frangula caroliniana, Hypericum frondosum, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Rhus aromatica var. aromatica, Sideroxylon lycioides, and stunted individuals of Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Quercus austrina (in Bibb County, Alabama, examples), Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus shumardii (in Tennessee examples), and Ulmus alata. Typically grades into open, herbaceous-dominated glades or into woodlands or forests commonly dominated by Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus quadrangulata, Quercus muehlenbergii, and/or Quercus stellata.

Dynamics:  These thin-soil areas are prone to drought which can limit tree growth and survival. Rooting is limited due to shallow soil.
Environmental Description:  This alliance, encompassing shrubland zones of calcareous glades and rocky cliffs, is a zonal component of these systems; it occupies deeper soil zones around herbaceous-dominated flatrock glades or exposed areas at the tops of cliffs. It may occur as islands in herbaceous-dominated areas or as a marginal zone varying from 5-30 m in width.
Geographic Range: It occurs in the south-central United States, including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Examples of this alliance are known from the limestone glades of the Central Basin of Tennessee, limestone outcrops of the Alabama Cumberland Plateau, dolostone glades associated with the Cahaba River in Bibb County, Alabama, the Moulton Valley glade systems of northern Alabama, or rocky limestone cliffs in central Kentucky.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, GA, KY, TN


Confidence Level: Low

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.3 Little Bluestem - Dropseed species Central Interior Calcareous Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M508 2.B.2.Nc.3
Group 2.B.2.Nc.3.b Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Diamond-flowers Central Glade & Barrens Group G179 2.B.2.Nc.3.b
Alliance A1049 Eastern Red-cedar - Fragrant Sumac Alkaline Bedrock Shrubland Alliance A1049 2.B.2.Nc.3.b
Association CEGL003937 Eastern Red-cedar - Alabama Croton - Missouri Maidenbush / Bristleleaf Sedge Shrubland CEGL003937 2.B.2.Nc.3.b
Association CEGL003938 Eastern Red-cedar - Upland Swamp-privet - Fragrant Sumac - Cedar Glade St. John''s-wort Shrubland CEGL003938 2.B.2.Nc.3.b
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.1049 with edits

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Eastern Redcedar: 46 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): J.R. Allison, A.R. Schotz, A.S. Weakley, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: based on work by J.R. Allison, A.R. Schotz, and A.S. Weakley

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 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.
  • Quarterman, E. 1950a. Major plant communities of Tennessee cedar glades. Ecology 31:234-254.