Print Report
A3107 Juniperus virginiana - Fraxinus americana - Carya spp. Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance comprises circumneutral to calcareous woodlands of the northeastern U.S., possibly reaching southeastern Canada, characterized by Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana, Ostrya virginiana, and Quercus rubra. They are known locally as traprock ridges, rocky ridge balds, rocky summits, or calcareous shale barrens.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Red-cedar - White Ash - Hickory species Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Red-cedar Calcareous Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance comprises woodlands of the northeastern U.S., possibly reaching southeastern Canada, characterized by Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana, Ostrya virginiana, and Quercus rubra. They are known locally as traprock ridges, rocky ridge balds, rocky summits, or barrens. Physiognomy is generally patchy and open to very open canopy, with abundant forbs and grasses.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Open-canopy woodlands or glades of the northeastern U.S. and adjacent Canada characterized by scattered trees and shrubs, usually including a combination of Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana, Ostrya virginiana, and Quercus rubra on circumneutral bedrock exposures. Typical herbs and shrubs often include Asclepias verticillata, Carex eburnea, Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Rhus aromatica, Schizachyrium scoparium, Viburnum rafinesqueanum, and Woodsia obtusa.
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: Tree cover is sparse, ranging from 5-30% cover (average 20%) with a scattered shrub layer; herbaceous cover is generally less than 50%.
Floristics: Characteristic scattered trees usually include a combination of Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana, Ostrya virginiana, and Quercus rubra. The scattered shrub layer often includes Prunus virginiana, Rhus typhina, Rosa carolina, Vaccinium spp., and Viburnum rafinesqueanum. The herbaceous layer usually covers 12-50% of the ground and is characterized by a mixture of herbs, often including graminoids Carex eburnea, Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Elymus hystrix, Muhlenbergia sobolifera, Schizachyrium scoparium, and forbs Aquilegia canadensis, Asclepias verticillata, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Asplenium platyneuron, Corydalis sempervirens, Houstonia longifolia, Krigia virginica, Hypericum gentianoides, Monarda fistulosa, Packera aurea, and Solidago nemoralis.
Dynamics: This vegetation is affected by drought stress (Bartgis 1993).
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs on circumneutral or calcareous basalt or diorite, igneous or conglomerates with minimal soil development. It occupies upper slopes, that are often steep with southeast- or southwest-facing slopes. Moisture regime is dry to xeric.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from Ontario, Canada, south to Virginia.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, ON, PA, RI, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899237
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.b Chinquapin Oak - White Ash - Eastern Red-cedar Forest & Woodland Group | G016 | 1.B.2.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3107 Eastern Red-cedar - White Ash - Hickory species Woodland Alliance | A3107 | 1.B.2.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL006002 <i>Juniperus virginiana - Fraxinus americana</i> / Poverty Oatgrass Woodland | CEGL006002 | 1.B.2.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL006180 Eastern Red-cedar - Hophornbeam / Bristleleaf Sedge Woodland | CEGL006180 | 1.B.2.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: three associations (8530, 6037, and 6047) were removed from protoalliance A2074 and placed here with 2 others from old A.545
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Juniperus virginiana - Fraxinus americana / Danthonia spicata - Poa compressa Woodland (Breden et al. 2001)
> Juniperus virginiana / Bouteloua curtipendula - Carex eburnea Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Breden et al. 2001)
> Red cedar rocky summit (Edinger et al. 2002)
>< Red cedar woodland (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
> Traprock glade / rock outcrop community (Breden 1989)
> Juniperus virginiana / Bouteloua curtipendula - Carex eburnea Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Breden et al. 2001)
> Red cedar rocky summit (Edinger et al. 2002)
>< Red cedar woodland (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
> Traprock glade / rock outcrop community (Breden 1989)
- Bartgis, R. L. 1993. The limestone glades and barrens of West Virginia. Castanea 58:69-89.
- Breden, T. F. 1989. A preliminary natural community classification for New Jersey. Pages 157-191 in: E. F. Karlin, editor. New Jersey''s rare and endangered plants and animals. Institute for Environmental Studies, Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ. 280 pp.
- Breden, T. F., Y. R. Alger, K. S. Walz, and A. G. Windisch. 2001. Classification of vegetation communities of New Jersey: Second iteration. Association for Biodiversity Information and New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Office of Natural Lands Management, Division of Parks and Forestry, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton.
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- Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2000. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.