Print Report

A3274 Fraxinus americana - Carya glabra - Juniperus virginiana Piedmont-Appalachian Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These communities are often a physiognomic complex of woodland, grassland, and rock outcrops, often associated with base-rich rocks of domes or rocky summits, with Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, and/or dry-site Quercus species as typical canopy dominants, found in the upper Piedmont and the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge of Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Ash - Pignut Hickory - Eastern Red-cedar Piedmont-Appalachian Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Piedmont Ash - Hickory Basic Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance encompasses a variety of woodlands found in the upper Piedmont of Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia, as well as in the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge that have Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, and/or Quercus species (e.g., Quercus alba, Quercus stellata) as typical canopy dominants, although Juniperus virginiana may have significant coverage in some associations. Other minor canopy species vary with geography, but may include Carya ovata, Carya pallida, Pinus virginiana, Quercus rubra var. rubra, and Ulmus alata. Subcanopy and shrub species are variable among associations, but can include Amelanchier sanguinea, Ceanothus americanus, Celtis tenuifolia, Cercis canadensis, Chionanthus virginicus, Crataegus sp., Hypericum prolificum, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Lonicera flava, Ostrya virginiana, Philadelphus hirsutus, Physocarpus opulifolius, Ptelea trifoliata, Rhus aromatica var. aromatica, Rhus typhina, Rosa carolina, Spiraea corymbosa, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, Toxicodendron radicans, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, Viburnum rafinesqueanum, and Viburnum rufidulum. Herbaceous species also vary among associations. Examples are often a physiognomic complex of woodland, grassland, and rock outcrops, often associated with granitic domes or rocky summits. Soils are circumneutral and derived from such base-rich rocks as greenstone, plagioclase-rich granite, hornblende gneiss, amphibole gneiss, limestones, or calcareous shales. Some associations have a nearly closed or locally closed canopy, and could in some cases as readily be considered forests, while others have an edaphically-maintained woodland physiognomy. Canopy closure is probably also dependent on natural disturbances (fire, ice and wind storms) as well as management and edaphic factors.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Characteristic stands exhibit a woodland physiognomy and have dominance by dry-site Quercus species (e.g., Quercus alba, Quercus stellata), Carya glabra, and\or Fraxinus americana, probably with Juniperus virginiana. This species combination, combined with the open physiognomy and their location in the southern Piedmont and related areas of the Southern Blue Ridge makes them distinctive.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Most associations in this alliance are thought to be inherently rare because of their unusual geology and topographic position.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Examples are often a physiognomic complex of woodland, grassland, and rock outcrops, often associated with granitic domes or rocky summits. Soils are circumneutral and derived from such base-rich rocks as greenstone, plagioclase-rich granite, hornblende gneiss, amphibole gneiss, limestones, or calcareous shales. Some associations have a nearly closed or locally closed canopy, and could in some cases as readily be considered forests, while others have an edaphically-maintained woodland physiognomy. Canopy closure is probably also dependent on natural disturbances (fire, ice and wind storms) as well as management and inherent edaphic factors.

Floristics: Examples have Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, and/or Quercus species (e.g., Quercus alba, Quercus stellata) as typical and characteristic canopy dominants, although Juniperus virginiana may have significant coverage in some associations. Other minor canopy species vary with geography, but may include Carya ovata, Carya pallida, Pinus virginiana, Quercus rubra var. rubra, and Ulmus alata. Subcanopy and shrub species are variable among associations, but can include Amelanchier sanguinea, Ceanothus americanus, Celtis tenuifolia, Cercis canadensis, Chionanthus virginicus, Crataegus sp., Hypericum prolificum, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Lonicera flava, Ostrya virginiana, Philadelphus hirsutus, Physocarpus opulifolius, Ptelea trifoliata, Rhus aromatica var. aromatica, Rhus typhina, Rosa carolina, Spiraea corymbosa (= Spiraea betulifolia var. corymbosa), Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, Toxicodendron radicans, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, Viburnum rafinesqueanum (= var. rafinesqueanum), and Viburnum rufidulum. Herbaceous species also vary among the various associations.

Dynamics:  Canopy closure and the relative abundance of grasses versus shrubs, as well as the relative dominance of Juniperus virginiana, is probably also dependent on natural disturbances (fire, ice and wind storms) as well as edaphic factors.
Environmental Description:  Examples are often associated with granitic domes or rocky summits. Soils are circumneutral and derived from such base-rich rocks as greenstone, plagioclase-rich granite, hornblende gneiss, amphibole gneiss, limestones, or calcareous shales.
Geographic Range: Members of this alliance are primarily found in the southern Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. Some associations are found in the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL?, 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.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.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup M016 1.B.2.Na.1
Group 1.B.2.Na.1.a White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Water Oak Forest Group G165 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A3274 White Ash - Pignut Hickory - Eastern Red-cedar Piedmont-Appalachian Woodland Alliance A3274 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003684 White Ash - Pignut Hickory / Coralberry - Fragrant Sumac / Blackseed Speargrass Woodland CEGL003684 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004443 Eastern Red-cedar - Winged Elm / Little Bluestem Woodland CEGL004443 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004447 Shortleaf Pine - Post Oak - Blackjack Oak / Elliott''s Bluestem - Maryland Goldenaster Woodland CEGL004447 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004541 White Oak - Pignut Hickory - White Ash / Chalk Maple / Muscadine Forest CEGL004541 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004786 Chestnut Oak - (Mockernut Hickory, Pignut Hickory, Shagbark Hickory) / Eastern Red-cedar Forest CEGL004786 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL007720 Chestnut Oak - Eastern Red-cedar - (Virginia Pine) / Streambank Mock Orange - Common Hackberry Woodland CEGL007720 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL008489 Pignut Hickory - White Ash / Chalk Maple / Blackseed Speargrass Woodland CEGL008489 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL008499 Eastern Red-cedar - Dwarf Hackberry - Eastern Redbud / Rough Dropseed - Silky Oatgrass Woodland CEGL008499 1.B.2.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: This alliance includes members of the old alliances A.239 (1/29), A.545 (2/11), A.604 (3/6), and A.613 (1/6).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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 A.S. Weakley, K.D. Patterson, and T. Govus.

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • 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.