Print Report

A3322 Rubus spp. - Prunus spp. - Cornus drummondii Eastern Ruderal Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance encompasses a variety of semi-natural native shrub-dominated vegetation that occurs in the eastern United States on sites that were cleared and the soils disturbed (e.g., old fields, abandoned quarries, old homesteads).

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blackberry species - Plum species - Roughleaf Dogwood Eastern Ruderal Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Eastern Ruderal Native Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance encompasses a variety of semi-natural native shrub-dominated vegetation that occurs in the eastern United States on sites that were cleared and the soils disturbed (e.g., old fields, abandoned quarries, old homesteads). Stands are primarily composed of native species. A variety of Rubus species (the taxa depending on biogeography) may be dominant in stands of one association, but other combinations of native species also occur, including Baccharis halimifolia, Cornus drummondii, Prunus angustifolia, other Prunus spp., and Smilax spp. These are combinations of taxa for which no natural analog exists.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance encompasses a variety of semi-natural native shrub-dominated vegetation that occurs on disturbed sites in the southeastern United States.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These are combinations of semi-natural native shrub taxa for which no natural analog exists. One significant reference is Wright and Fridley (2010), from which more information can be obtained on regional variation in semi-natural vegetation in the eastern United States.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Stands are primarily composed of native shrub species. A variety of Rubus species (the taxa depending on biogeography) may be dominant in stands of one association, but other combinations of native species also occur, including Baccharis halimifolia, Cornus drummondii, Prunus angustifolia, other Prunus spp., and Smilax spp. These are combinations of taxa for which no natural analog exists.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This semi-natural native shrub-dominated vegetation is found across the southeastern United States from Virginia to Texas. It may be more widespread.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, FL?, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

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.Nh Southeastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D102 2.B.2.Nh
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nh.90 Broomsedge Bluestem - Blackberry species - Annual Ragweed Southeastern Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M307 2.B.2.Nh.90
Group 2.B.2.Nh.90.a Broomsedge Bluestem - Annual Ragweed - Sawtooth Blackberry Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group G583 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Alliance A3322 Blackberry species - Plum species - Roughleaf Dogwood Eastern Ruderal Shrubland Alliance A3322 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Association CEGL004657 Groundsel-tree Ruderal Shrubland CEGL004657 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Association CEGL004732 (Sawtooth Blackberry, Southern Dewberry) - (Cat Greenbrier, Roundleaf Greenbrier) Ruderal Shrubland CEGL004732 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Association CEGL007933 Roughleaf Dogwood - (Cherry species, Sumac species) Ruderal Shrubland CEGL007933 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Concept Lineage: The associations placed here come from a variety of old alliances; A.908 (1/1), A.1015 (1/2), A.1884 (1/2), and A.3558 (1/3).

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 acknowledge the previous work done by Sally Landaal, Karen Patterson, and Alan Weakley, who wrote an earlier version of the alliance or association descriptions, or who provided significant descriptive information, and on which we have based our version.

Version Date: 03-14-14
  • 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.
  • Penfound, W. T. 1967. A physiognomic classification of vegetation in conterminous United States. Botanical Review 33:289-320.
  • Wright, J. P., and J. D. Fridley. 2010. Biogeographic synthesis of secondary succession rates in eastern North America. Journal of Biogeography 37:1584-1596.