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A1061 Chrysoma pauciflosculosa - Schizachyrium maritimum Dune Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Examples of this vegetation are usually strongly dominated by Chrysoma pauciflosculosa, often with a mixture of Paronychia erecta. These are evergreen shrublands found on sugar sands of stabilized coastal dunes in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States from southern Mississippi to Panhandle Florida.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Woody-goldenrod - Gulf Bluestem Dune Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Woody-goldenrod - Gulf Bluestem Dune Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Examples of this vegetation are usually strongly dominated by Chrysoma pauciflosculosa, often with a mixture of Paronychia erecta. Other characteristic species include Galactia microphylla (within its range), Polygonella gracilis, Polygonella polygama, and Schizachyrium maritimum. Cladonia leporina is a typical lichen component. These are evergreen shrublands found on sugar sands of stabilized coastal dunes in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States from southern Mississippi to Panhandle Florida. More chronically or recently disturbed dunes support communities dominated by herbaceous species, and later successional dunes are dominated by Ceratiola ericoides. The ideal long-term natural successional pathway is from grasslands dominated by Schizachyrium maritimum, to dwarf-shrublands dominated by Chrysoma pauciflosculosa, to shrublands dominated by Ceratiola ericoides. This pathway is often interrupted by hurricane events.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance includes evergreen shrublands of coastal sands of stabilized dunes in the East Gulf Coastal Plain. It is usually strongly dominated by Chrysoma pauciflosculosa, often with a mixture of Paronychia erecta.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The short-statured vegetation ranges from fairly dense to open (sometimes less than 25% shrub cover), but all are placed here.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are evergreen shrublands of short-statured vegetation that ranges from fairly dense to open (sometimes less than 25% shrub cover).

Floristics: Examples of this vegetation are usually strongly dominated by Chrysoma pauciflosculosa, often with a mixture of Paronychia erecta. Low coverage of Uniola paniculata and Schizachyrium maritimum is typical. Other characteristic species include Galactia microphylla (within its range), Polygonella gracilis, Polygonella polygama, Schizachyrium maritimum, and Smilax auriculata. Cladonia leporina is a typical lichen component.

Dynamics:  The ideal long-term natural successional pathway is from grasslands dominated by Schizachyrium maritimum, to dwarf-shrublands dominated by Chrysoma pauciflosculosa, to shrublands dominated by Ceratiola ericoides. This pathway is often interrupted by hurricane events. This type represents a later successional phase of upland dune vegetation in northwestern Florida occurring especially in Bay, Escambia, and Okaloosa counties, but also found in Franklin and Gulf counties, and in some areas of southern Mississippi.
Environmental Description:  These evergreen shrublands are found on sugar sands of stabilized coastal dunes in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States from southern Mississippi to Panhandle Florida. More chronically or recently disturbed dunes support communities dominated by herbaceous species, and later successional dunes are dominated by Ceratiola ericoides.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is restricted to near-coastal stabilized dunes of the Florida Panhandle, Mississippi, and possibly adjacent Alabama.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL?, FL, MS


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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D026 2.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup M057 2.B.4.Na.2
Group 2.B.4.Na.2.a Wax-myrtle - Sea-oats - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group G494 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Alliance A1061 Woody-goldenrod - Gulf Bluestem Dune Scrub Alliance A1061 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Association CEGL003947 Woody-goldenrod - Square-flower Dwarf-shrubland CEGL003947 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Concept Lineage: The one association in this alliance comes from the old alliance A.1061 (one of two), representing the coastal dune portion of A.1061.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Coastal Scrub (FNAI 1992a)
Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by A. S. Weakley.

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1992a. Natural communities. Unpublished document. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 6 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.
  • Johnson, A. F., J. W. Muller, and K. A. Bettinger. 1992a. An assessment of Florida''s remaining coastal upland natural communities: Panhandle. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 12 pp. plus appendices.
  • Johnson, A. F., and J. W. Muller. 1993a. An assessment of Florida''s remaining coastal upland natural communities: Final summary report. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 37 pp.