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A3469 Selaginella rupestris Appalachian Basic Clubmoss Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This vegetation consists of shallow mats dominated by Selaginella rupestris and some deeper grassy mats with Schizachyrium scoparium, interspersed with areas of smooth rock or rock with few crevices or fractures, which occurs on low-elevation basic glades of the Southern Appalachians and Brushy Mountains in the western Piedmont.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rock Spikemoss Appalachian Basic Clubmoss Alliance
Colloquial Name: Appalachian Low-Elevation Basic Glade
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These are low-elevation basic glades of the Southern Appalachians and Brushy Mountains in the western Piedmont. The vegetation consists of shallow mats dominated by Selaginella rupestris and some deeper grassy mats with Schizachyrium scoparium, interspersed with areas of smooth rock or rock with few crevices or fractures. This community has few deep-rooted forbs, shrubs, or trees. The flora is diverse and characterized by the presence of plants indicative of higher pH soils. Woody species may be scattered, rooted in crevices or in marginal zones between exposed rock and adjacent forests.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Occurs on gently to moderately sloping, low-elevation outcrops. Vegetation is dominated by Selaginella rupestris, and is interspersed with areas of smooth rock or rock with few crevices or fractures.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This vegetation is dominated by Selaginella rupestris, which is a primitive vascular plant (spikemoss) which is very short and can survive extreme desiccation. Associate Editor (Orie Loucks) made the following comment regarding the alliances in ~Appalachian Mafic Glade Group (G180)$$: "Seems like a lot of splitting of the group into distinct alliances. Too much focus on a specialized type, at association and alliance level? OK for now."
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation is dominated by the low forb Selaginella rupestris, and is interspersed with areas of smooth rock or rock with few crevices or fractures. Some deeper grassy mats are dominated by the perennial grass Schizachyrium scoparium.
Floristics: This alliance has sparse to dense (10-90%) coverage by Selaginella rupestris and physiognomically complex zones with many other dominants. Woody species from adjacent woodlands and shrublands may be scattered components in these associations, especially in marginal zones between open rock and forested vegetation. The vegetation of associations in this alliance has few deep-rooted forbs, shrubs, or trees and is dominated by shallow-rooted perennials and annuals growing in established vegetation mats. Some deeper grassy mats are dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium. Some species associated with circumneutral influence include species indicative of high pH soils such as Arabis laevigata, Cheilanthes lanosa, Dodecatheon meadia, Sedum glaucophyllum, and Hylotelephium telephioides (= Sedum telephioides).
Dynamics: Vegetation is prone to very dry conditions in the late summer and fall.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs on gently to moderately sloping, low-elevation serpentine outcrops. Vegetation is interspersed with areas of smooth rock or rock with few crevices or fractures.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found at low elevations in the Southern Appalachians and Brushy Mountains in the western Piedmont.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, SC?, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899592
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M506 | 2.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c Little Bluestem - Balsam Groundsel - Prairie Groundsel Appalachian Mafic Glade Group | G180 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Alliance | A3469 Rock Spikemoss Appalachian Basic Clubmoss Alliance | A3469 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Association | CEGL004991 Rock Spikemoss - Little Bluestem - Allegheny Stonecrop - Nodding Onion Granitic Glade Vegetation | CEGL004991 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Association | CEGL004992 Rock Spikemoss - Willdenow''s Croton - Woolly Lipfern - (Striped Garlic) Granitic Glade Vegetation | CEGL004992 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
Concept Lineage: A.1985, in part
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Selaginella tortipila/Carex umbellata outcrop community (Wiser et al. 1996)
? Selaginella tortipila/Carex umbellata outcrop community (Wiser 1993)
? Selaginella tortipila/Carex umbellata outcrop community (Wiser 1993)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- DuMond, D. M. 1970. Floristic and vegetational survey of the Chattooga River Gorge. Castanea 35:201-244.
- 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.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Wiser, S. K. 1993. Vegetation of high-elevation rock outcrops of the Southern Appalachians: Composition, environmental relationships, and biogeography of communities and rare species. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 271 pp.
- Wiser, S. K., R. K. Peet, and P. S. White. 1996. High-elevation rock outcrop vegetation of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Journal of Vegetation Science 7:703-722.