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A2026 Carex pensylvanica - Danthonia compressa - Hypericum mitchellianum Grass Bald Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes montane grasslands dominated by Danthonia compressa and/or Carex pensylvanica at high elevations (usually above 1200-1500 m [4000-5000 feet]) in the Southern Blue Ridge, often on south- to southwest-facing domes, ridgetops and gentle slopes. Strong winds, high rainfall, frequent fog, shallow, rocky soils, and extremes of temperature and moisture are characteristic of these environments.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pennsylvania Sedge - Flattened Oatgrass - Blue Ridge St. John''s-wort Grass Bald Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Pennsylvania Sedge - Flattened Oatgrass Grass Bald
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes montane grasslands dominated by Danthonia compressa and/or Carex pensylvanica. Some examples have significant cover of Sibbaldiopsis tridentata or Rhododendron calendulaceum. Species dominance is highly variable among and within occurrences. Associated species can include Carex brunnescens, Carex debilis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Oclemena acuminata, Prenanthes roanensis, Smilax herbacea, Solidago glomerata, and Stachys clingmanii. Other associated species include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Angelica triquinata, Bromus pubescens, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Fragaria virginiana, Helenium autumnale, and Polytrichum commune. The exotic Rumex acetosella may also be present. Typical shrubs are Menziesia pilosa, Pieris floribunda, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rubus canadensis, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Vaccinium simulatum. Examples dominated by Carex pensylvanica are typically ungrazed grass balds with deep soil, and lack significant shrub cover. Grasslands in this alliance occur at the highest elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains, often adjacent to montane shrublands or dwarfed forests dominated by Fagus grandifolia or Quercus rubra. These grasslands occur at high elevations (usually above 1200-1500 m [4000-5000 feet]) in the Southern Blue Ridge, often on south- to southwest-facing domes, ridgetops and gentle slopes. Strong winds, high rainfall, frequent fog, shallow, rocky soils, and extremes of temperature and moisture are characteristic of these environments.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Montane grasslands dominated by Danthonia compressa and/or Carex pensylvanica.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This vegetation is graminoid-dominated, with some (mostly low) shrubs.
Floristics: This alliance accommodates montane grasslands dominated by Danthonia compressa and/or Carex pensylvanica. Some examples have significant cover of Sibbaldiopsis tridentata or Rhododendron calendulaceum. Species dominance is highly variable among and within occurrences. Associated species can include Carex brunnescens, Carex debilis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Oclemena acuminata (= Aster acuminatus), Prenanthes roanensis, Smilax herbacea, Solidago glomerata, and Stachys clingmanii. Other associated species include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Angelica triquinata, Bromus pubescens, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Fragaria virginiana, Helenium autumnale, and Polytrichum commune. The exotic Rumex acetosella may also be present. Typical shrubs are Menziesia pilosa, Pieris floribunda, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rubus canadensis, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Vaccinium simulatum.
Dynamics: Strong winds, high rainfall, frequent fog, shallow, rocky soils, and extremes of temperature and moisture are characteristic of these environments.
Environmental Description: These grasslands occur at high elevations (usually above 1200-1500 m [4000-5000 feet]) in the Southern Blue Ridge, often on south- to southwest-facing domes, ridgetops and gentle slopes. Strong winds, high rainfall, frequent fog, shallow, rocky soils, and extremes of temperature and moisture are characteristic of these environments. Examples dominated by Carex pensylvanica are typically ungrazed grass balds with deep soil, and lack significant shrub cover. Grasslands in this alliance occur at the highest elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains, often adjacent to montane shrublands or dwarfed forests dominated by Fagus grandifolia or Quercus rubra.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is restricted to higher elevations in the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, TN, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899192
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.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M506 | 2.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b Pennsylvania Sedge - Flattened Oatgrass - Shrubby Fivefingers Southern Appalachian Grass Bald Group | G657 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Alliance | A2026 Pennsylvania Sedge - Flattened Oatgrass - Blue Ridge St. John''s-wort Grass Bald Alliance | A2026 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL003891 Mountain Alder / Pennsylvania Sedge Shrubland | CEGL003891 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL004094 Pennsylvania Sedge Grassland | CEGL004094 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL004242 Flattened Oatgrass - (Shrubby Fivefingers) Grassland | CEGL004242 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: The old hierarchy alliance (Carex pensylvanica - Danthonia compressa Herbaceous Alliance (A.2026)) upon which this alliance is based, represented the combination of two former alliances: Carex pensylvanica Herbaceous Alliance (A.1278) and Danthonia compressa Herbaceous Alliance (A.1280).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Grassy Bald Community (Brown 1941)
>< ID9a. Grass Bald (Allard 1990)
= Southern Appalachian Grassy Balds (Fleming et al. 2013)
>< ID9a. Grass Bald (Allard 1990)
= Southern Appalachian Grassy Balds (Fleming et al. 2013)
- 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.
- Billings, W. D., and A. F. Mark. 1957. Factors involved in the persistence of montane treeless balds. Ecology 38:140-142.
- Brown, D. M. 1941. Vegetation of Roan Mountain: A phytosociological and successional study. Ecological Monographs 11:61-97.
- 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.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2013. The natural communities of Virginia: Classification of ecological community groups. Second approximation. Version 2.6. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_communities/ncintro.shtml]
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009a. A vegetation classification for the Appalachian Trail: Virginia south to Georgia. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. In-house analysis, March 2009.
- Gersmehl, P. 1973. Pseudo-timberline: The Southern Appalachian grassy balds. Arctic and Alpine Research 9:A137-A138.
- Lindsay, M. M., and S. P. Bratton. 1979a. Grassy balds of the Great Smoky Mountains: Their history and flora in relation to potential management. Environmental Management 3:417-430.
- Mark, A. F. 1958. The ecology of the Southern Appalachian grass balds. Ecological Monographs 28:293-336.
- Mark, A. F. 1959. The flora of the grass balds and fields of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Castanea 24:1-21.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- 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.