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A3314 Picea rubens / Vaccinium angustifolium Rocky Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These conifer woodlands, which occur in the Northern Appalachian and Acadian regions of the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada, are dominated by Picea rubens or Picea mariana on steep, seepy boulderfields, ridges, rock outcrops and headlands.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Spruce / Lowbush Blueberry Rocky Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Northern Appalachian Red Spruce Rocky Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These are evergreen woodlands dominated by Picea rubens that occur in the Northern Appalachian and Acadian regions of the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada on acidic bedrock or talus at high elevations. Picea mariana may occasionally be the dominant instead of Picea rubens. In the northern part of the range, associated canopy trees include Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera, and Betula papyrifera var. cordifolia. Shrubs include Acer spicatum, Gaylussacia baccata, Ribes glandulosum, Sorbus americana, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium myrtilloides; typical herbs are Clintonia borealis, Juncus trifidus, Piptatheropsis pungens, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, and Solidago simplex var. randii. These woodlands are often stunted and grade into montane shrublands. Stands occur either on steep, seepy boulderfields, on ridges and steep slopes with northeast to southwest exposures, above 1370 m (4500 feet) elevation, or at lower elevations on cold, clayey or rocky soils. Soils are shallow, often only a thin layer of duff overlying bedrock.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These woodlands are dominated by Picea rubens (or less commonly Picea mariana) on rocky thin soil habitats of lowlands or montane areas of the Northern Appalachian and Acadian regions of the northeastern U.S. and Canada, with open woodland structure and heath shrubs, such as Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium myrtilloides. Other shrubs include Ribes glandulosum, Sorbus americana, and Acer spicatum.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Distribution in Canada needs further review.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The canopy is open (<60% canopy cover) conifer, with an ericaceous shrub layer. These woodlands are often stunted and grade into montane or subalpine shrublands (e.g., ~Vaccinium angustifolium - Vaccinium pallidum Rocky Heath Barrens Alliance (A4111)$$).
Floristics: The dominant tree is Picea rubens, but in some cases the dominant may be Picea mariana. In the northern part of the range of this alliance, associated canopy trees include Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera, and Betula papyrifera var. cordifolia. Shrubs include Acer spicatum, Gaylussacia baccata, Ribes glandulosum, Sorbus americana, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium myrtilloides; typical herbs are Clintonia borealis, Juncus trifidus, Piptatheropsis pungens (= Oryzopsis pungens), Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, and Solidago simplex var. randii. These woodlands are often stunted and grade into montane shrublands.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs on steep, seepy boulderfields or talus, and on ridges and steep slopes with northeast to southwest exposures, typically above 1370 m (4500 feet) elevation. Soils are shallow, often only a thin layer of duff overlying bedrock.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Northern Appalachians and Acadian regions of the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada, with a single stand in northeast Pennsylvania.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: LB, MA?, ME, NB?, NF, NH, NS?, NY, PA, PE?, QC, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899438
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.7 Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch - Eastern Hemlock Forest Macrogroup | M014 | 1.B.2.Na.7 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.7.d Red Spruce - Balsam Fir - Paper Birch Forest Group | G744 | 1.B.2.Na.7.d |
| Alliance | A3314 Red Spruce / Lowbush Blueberry Rocky Woodland Alliance | A3314 | 1.B.2.Na.7.d |
| Association | CEGL006053 Red Spruce / Lowbush Blueberry / Shrubby Fivefingers Woodland | CEGL006053 | 1.B.2.Na.7.d |
| Association | CEGL006250 Red Spruce / Skunk Currant Woodland | CEGL006250 | 1.B.2.Na.7.d |
| Association | CEGL006268 Black Spruce / <i>Ledum groenlandicum - Empetrum nigrum</i> / cup lichen spp. Talus Scrub | CEGL006268 | 1.B.2.Na.7.d |
| Association | CEGL006292 Black Spruce / Sheep Laurel Woodland | CEGL006292 | 1.B.2.Na.7.d |
Concept Lineage: (A.546) rocky woodland part
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Red Spruce: 32 (Eyre 1980)
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 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.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2001. Classification of natural communities of Massachusetts. September 2001 draft. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.