Print Report
A3961 Selaginella rupestris - Selaginella tortipila - Schizachyrium scoparium Rocky Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This vegetation is found on granitic exfoliation domes of the Piedmont and Southern Blue Ridge of the Carolinas and Georgia, on gently sloping to steep exposures of smooth, exfoliating granite or similar massive igneous or metamorphic rock, such as granitic gneiss. Examples consist of lichens on bare rock or of shallow mats of Selaginella rupestris occurring with other distinctive species.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rock Spikemoss - Twisted-hair Spikemoss - Little Bluestem Rocky Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Spikemoss - Little Bluestem Rocky Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This vegetation is found on granitic exfoliation domes of the Piedmont and at lower, intermediate, and high elevations in the Southern Blue Ridge of the Carolinas and Georgia. It occurs on gently sloping to steep exposures of smooth, exfoliating granite or similar massive igneous or metamorphic rock, such as granitic gneiss. The sites are typically exposed and south-facing, with smooth, primarily steep to vertical exfoliation surfaces and few cracks or crevices for soil accumulation. Some flat areas may also be present. This community occurs in large patches, ranging in size from a few acres to over 100 acres. Vegetation consists primarily of lichens on bare rock or of shallow mats generally dominated by Selaginella rupestris occurring with other distinctive species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This is vegetation of granitic exfoliation domes of the Piedmont and lower, intermediate, and high elevations of the Southern Blue Ridge of the Carolinas and Georgia, with Selaginella rupestris and Selaginella tortipila occurring with other distinctive species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation of this alliance typically consists of shallow mats generally dominated by Selaginella rupestris or Selaginella tortipila and interspersed physiognomically complex zones with many other dominants. These herbaceous vegetation mats are interspersed with areas of bare rock, patches of lichens (e.g., Cladonia spp. (= Cladina spp.), Cladonia furcata), and mosses (e.g., Grimmia laevigata). Woody species from adjacent woodlands and shrublands may be scattered components, rooted in deeper soil pockets, older stable vegetation mats, and around the outcrop margins.
Floristics: Vegetation of this alliance typically consists of shallow mats generally dominated by Selaginella rupestris or Selaginella tortipila and interspersed physiognomically complex zones with many other dominants. The distribution of Selaginella rupestris is not continuous, so there are examples that do not contain this species. These herbaceous vegetation mats are interspersed with areas of bare rock, patches of lichens (e.g., Cladonia spp. (= Cladina spp.), Cladonia furcata), and mosses (e.g., Grimmia laevigata). Higher elevation examples may contain Carex biltmoreana, Carex umbellata, Danthonia compressa, Danthonia epilis (= Danthonia sericea var. epilis), Deschampsia flexuosa, Houstonia longifolia (= var. glabra), Hypericum buckleii, Krigia montana, Packera millefolium (= Senecio millefolium), Saxifraga michauxii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Solidago simulans, and Trichophorum cespitosum (= Scirpus cespitosus). Lower elevation examples typically contain Baptisia tinctoria, Cheilanthes lanosa, Coreopsis major, Corydalis sempervirens, Danthonia sericea, Lindernia monticola, Phlox nivalis, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scleria triglomerata, and Phemeranthus teretifolius (= Talinum teretifolium). Woody species from adjacent woodlands and shrublands may be scattered components, rooted in deeper soil pockets, older stable vegetation mats, and around the outcrop margins. These woody species can include Carya pallida, Chionanthus virginicus, Fraxinus americana, Gaylussacia baccata, Juniperus virginiana, Kalmia latifolia, Leiophyllum buxifolium, Pinus echinata, Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, Quercus montana, Quercus rubra, Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron minus, Ulmus alata, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Vaccinium stamineum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This vegetation occurs on gently sloping to steep exposures of smooth, exfoliating granite or similar massive igneous or metamorphic rock, such as granitic gneiss. These granitic exfoliation domes and rock faces are found at lower, intermediate, and higher elevations in the Southern Blue Ridge of the Carolinas and Georgia, and in the adjacent Piedmont. The sites are exposed, steep to vertical, often south-facing, with smooth exfoliation surfaces and few cracks or crevices for soil accumulation. Some flat areas may also be present. This vegetation may be found below 915 m (3000 feet), and also at elevations from 1067 to 1372 m (3500-4500 feet), as well as at slightly higher elevations.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is found in the Piedmont and at lower, intermediate, and high elevations of the Southern Blue Ridge of the Carolinas and Georgia. It may also be found in Alabama and Tennessee.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA, NC, SC, TN?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900012
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This new alliance contains two of four total associations in A.1985 ; the other two are "low elevation basic glades."
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)
>< IE4c. Southern Appalachian High Elevation Granitic Dome (Allard 1990)
? Selaginella tortipila/Carex umbellata outcrop community (Wiser 1993)
>< IE4c. Southern Appalachian High Elevation Granitic Dome (Allard 1990)
- 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.