Print Report

A3161 Pinus palustris / Vaccinium crassifolium / Aristida stricta Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance accommodates mesic (moist or saturated) woodlands dominated by Pinus palustris, with Vaccinium crassifolium as a characteristic shrub and Aristida stricta (sensu stricto, in contrast to Aristida beyrichiana) as a characteristic grass, found in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, from Virginia to South Carolina.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Longleaf Pine / Creeping Blueberry / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Longleaf Pine Flatwoods

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance accommodates mesic and wet-mesic (moist or saturated) woodlands dominated by Pinus palustris, with Vaccinium crassifolium as a characteristic shrub, found in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, from southeastern Virginia to central South Carolina. Related vegetation of other alliances is found to the south from South Carolina south to peninsular Florida and west to eastern Louisiana, in the west gulf coastal plains, and in southern Florida. Aristida stricta (in contrast to Aristida beyrichiana) is a characteristic grass. Pinus serotina may be present, but tends to be codominant only on the wettest, often organic soils. In parts of the range, Pinus taeda may also be present, and may represent a substantial component of the stand. In examples with longer fire return times, an understory of Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Morella cerifera is likely to develop. Typical shrubs may include Gaylussacia spp., Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Morella cerifera, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Symplocos tinctoria, and Vaccinium spp. Herbaceous diversity and cover are greater where the canopy and shrub layers are relatively open. Grasses usually make up the majority of total cover. Many soils contain a spodic horizon occasionally underlain by a clay hardpan, which additionally restricts drainage. Soils include Alfisols, Spodosols, and Ultisols. Sites vary in the presence or absence of a hardpan, in soil pH (range from 3.1-7.8), and in drainage.

Diagnostic Characteristics: The combination of Pinus palustris, Vaccinium crassifolium, and Aristida stricta (sensu stricto) is diagnostic; the equivalent alliance to the south of this one (A3160; in the Coastal Plain from South Carolina to eastern Louisiana) is mostly south of the range of Vaccinium crassifolium.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Related vegetation of other alliances (in this or other groups) is found to the south of this one from South Carolina south to peninsular Florida and west to eastern Louisiana, in the West Gulf coastal plains, and in southern Florida.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Across the range of this alliance, pine densities vary from low with widely spaced trees giving an open savanna-like aspect, to high with dense, nearly closed canopies. Nevertheless, even the densest stands have discontinuous canopies which allow considerable light to penetrate to the forest floor. Probably the most significant factor affecting community structure and composition is fire. In examples with longer fire return times, an understory of Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Morella cerifera is likely to develop. Understory composition is variable, and includes both shrub- and shrub/graminoid-dominated examples. Heavily shrubby examples may be indicative of lower fire frequencies than are more herbaceous-dominated examples. Appreciable herb layers typically exist only where the canopy and shrub layers are relatively open, and where there has been relatively frequent fire history. Grasses usually make up the majority of total cover.

Floristics: This alliance consists of wet pinelands from Virginia south to South Carolina, typically dominated by Pinus palustris, with a possible admixture of Pinus serotina. In parts of the range, Pinus taeda may also be present, and may represent a substantial component of the stand. Typical shrubs may include Gaylussacia spp., Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Morella cerifera, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Symplocos tinctoria, and Vaccinium spp. Herbaceous diversity and cover are greater where the canopy and shrub layers are relatively open. Grasses usually make up the majority of total cover. Graminoids typical in various associations of this alliance include Andropogon capillipes, Andropogon glomeratus, Aristida palustris, Aristida stricta (sensu stricto), Ctenium aromaticum, Dichanthelium spp., Muhlenbergia expansa, Panicum spp., Rhynchospora spp., Schizachyrium spp., Scleria spp., Sorghastrum spp., Sporobolus floridanus, Sporobolus pinetorum, and Sporobolus teretifolius, Forbs typical of this alliance include Carphephorus odoratissimus, Carphephorus tomentosus, Chaptalia tomentosa, Eupatorium spp., Helianthus spp., Lachnanthes caroliana, Lachnocaulon spp., Liatris spp., Lobelia spp., Pinguicula spp., Pityopsis spp., Polygala spp., Sabatia spp., and Solidago spp. In examples with longer fire-return times, an understory of Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Morella cerifera is likely to develop.

Dynamics:  Pinus serotina may replace or co-dominate with Pinus palustris on wetter sites. Pinus serotina is less tolerant of frequent fire than is Pinus palustris. Typical fire regimes for Pinus serotina may be less than one-third as frequent as for Pinus palustris (Landers 1989). Thus, it is often believed that these species were confined historically to wetter flatwoods sites with lower burn frequencies than those typical of Pinus palustris-dominated communities. With fire suppression, alteration of fire regimes, and widespread logging of Pinus palustris, Pinus serotina has to some extent invaded many flatwoods sites historically dominated almost exclusively by Pinus palustris. Across the range of this alliance, pine densities vary from low with widely spaced trees giving an open savanna-like aspect, to high with dense, nearly closed canopies. Nevertheless, even the densest stands have discontinuous canopies which allow considerable light to penetrate to the forest floor. Probably the most significant factor affecting community composition is fire.
Environmental Description:  Stands of this alliance consist of wet pinelands (often termed "pine flatwoods," "wet pine flatwoods," and "pine savannas"), which are most typical of the Outer Coastal Plain or "coastal flatlands." Many soils contain a spodic horizon occasionally underlain by a clay hardpan, which additionally restricts drainage. Soils include Alfisols, Spodosols, and Ultisols. Sites vary in the presence or absence of a hardpan, in soil pH (range from 3.1-7.8), and in drainage.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, from Virginia to southern South Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  GA?, NC, SC, VA


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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F018 1.B.1
Division 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division D006 1.B.1.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.1.Na.1 Longleaf Pine / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Macrogroup M007 1.B.1.Na.1
Group 1.B.1.Na.1.e Longleaf Pine / Inkberry - Saw Palmetto Woodland Group G596 1.B.1.Na.1.e
Alliance A3161 Longleaf Pine / Creeping Blueberry / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Alliance A3161 1.B.1.Na.1.e
Association CEGL003647 Longleaf Pine - (Pond Pine) / Inkberry - Blue Huckleberry - (Carolina Laurel) Woodland CEGL003647 1.B.1.Na.1.e
Association CEGL003648 Longleaf Pine / Inkberry / Pineland Three-awn Woodland CEGL003648 1.B.1.Na.1.e
Association CEGL003649 Longleaf Pine / Sand-myrtle / Pineland Three-awn Woodland CEGL003649 1.B.1.Na.1.e
Association CEGL003658 Longleaf Pine - Pond Pine / Toothache Grass - Cutover Muhly - Vanilla-leaf Woodland CEGL003658 1.B.1.Na.1.e
Association CEGL003661 Longleaf Pine - Pond Pine / Rush-featherling - Pineland Three-awn Woodland CEGL003661 1.B.1.Na.1.e
Concept Lineage: All four members of this alliance come from the old alliance A.578 (5/33).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? IIB1b. Wet Longleaf Pine Flatwoods (Allard 1990)
? IIB1c. Wet Longleaf Pine - Slash Pine Flatwoods (Allard 1990)
? IIB1d. Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna (Allard 1990)
? IIB1g. Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet-Mesic Longleaf Pine Savanna (Allard 1990)
>< IIB1h. East Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna (Allard 1990)
>< IIB1i. West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna (Allard 1990)
? Longleaf Pine - Slash Pine: 83 (Eyre 1980)
>< Longleaf Pine: 70 (Eyre 1980)
>< Pond Pine: 98 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by D.J. Allard, A.S. Weakley, and R. Peet.

Version Date: 03-14-14
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