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A3915 Appalachian Wet Cliff Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance of the southeastern U.S. is composed of sparse or patchy vegetation of cliffs, sinkhole walls, and rock outcrops of marl, limestone, sandstone, and granitic substrates continuously or seasonally saturated with spray from nearby waterfalls, or wet by wave splash or seepage. Characteristic species include Adiantum capillus-veneris, Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora, Trichophorum cespitosum, or Osmunda cinnamomea.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Appalachian Wet Cliff Alliance

Colloquial Name: Appalachian Wet Cliff

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance of the Appalachian region is composed of sparse or patchy vascular vegetation of cliffs, sinkhole walls, and rock outcrops of marl, limestone, sandstone, and granitic substrates continuously or seasonally saturated with spray from nearby waterfalls, or wet by wave splash or seepage. Characteristic species include Adiantum capillus-veneris, Decumaria barbara, Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora, Hydrangea arborescens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Sanguisorba canadensis, Trichophorum cespitosum, Trautvetteria caroliniensis var. caroliniensis or Vittaria appalachiana There is often a high cover of bryophytes.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Rock substrates associated with waterfalls, on nearly vertical rock surfaces and ledges, slopes, and crevices with shallow soils which are constantly saturated, occurring in the southeastern U.S., supporting variable combinations of the characteristic species Adiantum capillus-veneris, Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora, Trichophorum cespitosum, or Osmunda cinnamomea.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is classified largely by near-constant saturation from seepage or spray. The Spray Cliff of Fleming and Patterson (2013) bears superficial resemblance in its environmental setting, but there is no floristic overlap.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation structure is widely variable, ranging from sparse vascular vegetation, to scattered shrubs and herbaceous cover; nonvascular cover, usually bryophytes, is generally high.

Floristics: Calcareous rockfaces are characterized by substantial or dominant Adiantum capillus-veneris, with other associates including Adiantum pedatum, Aristolochia serpentaria, Asplenium spp., Carex biltmoreana, Carex spp., Cystopteris protrusa, Decumaria barbara, Galax urceolata, Heuchera parviflora, Huperzia porophila, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrocotyle americana, Impatiens capensis, Oxalis montana, Phegopteris connectilis, Polypodium virginianum, Saxifraga spp., Selaginella ludoviciana, Thalictrum spp., Trichomanes spp., Vittaria appalachiana, and others. Bryophytes are abundant and lush, often dominated by the thallose liverwort Dumortiera hirsuta, as well as Sphagnum quinquefarium and Sphagnum girgensohnii, and a wide variety of other bryophyte flora.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Calcareous rockfaces include shaded riverbanks, sinkhole sides, stream ravines, and river bluffs, usually more-or-less vertical, continuously or seasonally saturated with spray from nearby waterfalls, or wet by wave splash or seepage. Sandstone and granitic rockfaces affected by at least seasonal seepage or spray include rockhouses, north-facing sandstone cliffs up to 700 m in elevation, and cliff bases, with dry microhabitats interspersed.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Southern Appalachian region.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class C06 6
Subclass 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass S04 6.B
Formation 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation F034 6.B.1
Division 6.B.1.Na Eastern North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division D051 6.B.1.Na
Macrogroup 6.B.1.Na.1 Shrubby Fivefingers - Rock Polypody / Cup Lichen species Eastern North American Cliff & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup M111 6.B.1.Na.1
Group 6.B.1.Na.1.c Appalachian Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group G840 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Alliance A3915 Appalachian Wet Cliff Alliance A3915 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004301 Little-flower Alumroot - Appalachian Bristle Fern - Little Mountain Meadowrue - (Lucy Braun''s Snakeroot, Whitehair Goldenrod) Cliff Vegetation CEGL004301 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004302 Appalachian Shoestring Fern - Little-flower Alumroot - Appalachian Bluet / Liverwort species Cliff Vegetation CEGL004302 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004514 Common Maidenhair - (Lindheimer''s Marsh Fern, Kunth''s Maidenfern) Cliff Vegetation CEGL004514 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004515 Common Maidenhair / Snakeskin Liverwort Cliff Vegetation CEGL004515 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004717 Common Maidenhair - Kunth''s Maidenfern / Dumortiera Cliff Vegetation CEGL004717 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL004728 Common Maidenhair - Small-spike False Nettle - Great Blue Lobelia Cliff Vegetation CEGL004728 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL007723 Tufted Bulrush - Cinnamon Fern - Barratt''s Sedge - Buxbaum''s Sedge Cliff Vegetation CEGL007723 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL007796 Common Maidenhair Cahaba River Bluff Cliff Vegetation CEGL007796 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL007837 Cinnamon Fern - Brownish Beaksedge - Little-flower Alumroot - Richard''s Yellow-eyed-grass Cliff Vegetation CEGL007837 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL008432 Cinnamon Fern - Brownish Beaksedge - Little Mountain Meadowrue Cumberland Seepage Cliff Vegetation CEGL008432 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL008490 Tufted Bulrush - Royal Fern - Brownish Beaksedge - Stiff Cowbane Cliff Vegetation CEGL008490 6.B.1.Na.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< IID5a. Wet Acidic Cliff (Allard 1990)
Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley and K.D. Patterson, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: L. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-13-16
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  • Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 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.
  • Farrar, D. R. 1998. The tropical flora of rockhouse cliff formations in the eastern United States. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 125(2):91-108.
  • 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.
  • Walck, J. L., J. M. Baskin, and C. C. Baskin. 1996. Sandstone rockhouses of the eastern United States, with particular reference to the ecology and evolution of the endemic plant taxa. Botanical Review 62(4):311-362.