Print Report

A3470 Southern Appalachian Mafic Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Common shrubs on these mafic montane slopes include Diervilla lonicera, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia latifolia, Philadelphus hirsutus, Aronia melanocarpa, Physocarpus opulifolius, and Ptelea trifoliata var. mollis. This alliance occurs in the Appalachians, from the Blue Ridge of Virginia to Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia, and may also occur in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Southern Appalachian Mafic Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian High-Elevation Mafic Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This shrub-dominated vegetation occurs on mafic rock outcrops or thin soil areas. Common shrubs include Diervilla lonicera, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia latifolia, Philadelphus hirsutus, Aronia melanocarpa, Physocarpus opulifolius, and Ptelea trifoliata var. mollis. Areas of bare rock outcrops and grassy areas with Schizachyrium scoparium, Carex pensylvanica, or Deschampsia flexuosa are scattered. These are found on montane slopes in the Appalachians, from the Blue Ridge of Virginia to Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia, and may also occur in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrub vegetation on mafic rock, generally on montane slopes in the Appalachians.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: 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: Shrub-dominated, but with grassy areas and areas of bare rock outcrops.

Floristics: Common shrubs include Diervilla lonicera, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia latifolia, Philadelphus hirsutus, Aronia melanocarpa (= Photinia melanocarpa), Physocarpus opulifolius, and Ptelea trifoliata var. mollis. Areas of bare rock outcrops and grassy areas with Schizachyrium scoparium, Carex pensylvanica, or Deschampsia flexuosa are scattered.

Dynamics:  Drought and severe weather probably both limit the survival of trees on these thin soil rocky areas, and allow shrubland vegetation to persist.
Environmental Description:  These are found on montane slopes in the Appalachians, on mafic rock outcrops or thin soil areas.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Appalachian, from the Blue Ridge of Virginia to Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia. It may also occur in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  GA, MD?, NC, PA?, TN, VA, WV?


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 A3470 Southern Appalachian Mafic Shrubland Alliance A3470 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL004238 (Mountain Laurel, Common Ninebark) / Little Bluestem - Waxyleaf Meadowrue - Shrubby Fivefingers Shrub Grassland CEGL004238 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL004243 Streambank Mock Orange - Common Hoptree / Little Bluestem - Stone Mountainmint / Delicate Fern Moss Shrubland CEGL004243 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL008508 Black Chokeberry - Black Huckleberry / Pennsylvania Sedge Shrubland CEGL008508 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL008536 Northern Bush-honeysuckle - Rand''s Goldenrod - Wavy Hairgrass - Allegheny Stonecrop - Michaux''s Saxifrage Grassland CEGL008536 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

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.
  • Poindexter, D. B., and Z. E. Murrell. 2008. Vascular flora of Mount Jefferson State Natural Area and environs, Ashe County, North Carolina. Castanea 73:283-327.
  • Rawinski, T. J., and T. F. Wieboldt. 1993. Classification and ecological interpretation of mafic glade vegetation on Buffalo Mountain, Floyd County, Virginia. Banisteria 2:3-10.
  • 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.