Print Report
A3995 Ozark Acidic Cliff Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance occurs on exposed chert and igneous rockfaces of the Ozarks, and is characterized by sparse vegetation, including ferns of the genera Asplenium, Dryopteris, Cheilanthes, as well as scattered trees, shrubs, and herbs, such as Danthonia spicata and Chasmanthium latifolium.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ozark Acidic Cliff Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ozark Acidic Cliff
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance occurs on exposed chert and igneous rockfaces of the Ozarks, and is characterized by sparse vegetation, including ferns of the genera Asplenium, Dryopteris, Cheilanthes, as well as scattered trees, shrubs, and herbs, such as Danthonia spicata and Chasmanthium latifolium. Mosses and lichens are common. Substrate is rapidly drained, but is also influenced by seepage.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Acidic cliff faces supporting sparse vegetation in the Ozarks region.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Additional data are needed to classify this alliance with confidence.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Physiognomy is variable, but generally open to sparse. The vegetation contains few, if any, trees, and these are limby, gnarled, open-grown, and stunted. Herbaceous cover is sparse (<20%) consisting of spring ephemerals and grasses on ledges, and lichens on the open rock. The nonvascular layer may be well-developed.
Floristics: Trees are few and stunted, if present at all; characteristic woody plants include Juniperus virginiana, Pinus echinata, Quercus marilandica, and Ulmus alata. Herbaceous species include Arabis missouriensis, Arisaema triphyllum, Asplenium bradleyi, Asplenium trichomanes, Chasmanthium latifolium, Cheilanthes lanosa, Coreopsis lanceolata, Danthonia spicata, Dryopteris goldieana, Dryopteris marginalis, Lechea tenuifolia, Mitella diphylla, Opuntia humifusa (= Opuntia compressa), Polygonum tenue, Polypodium virginianum, Sporobolus clandestinus, and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (= Aster oblongifolius). Lichens include Cladonia caroliniana, Pleopsidium chlorophanum (= Acarospora chlorophana), and Xanthoparmelia spp., and mosses of the genera Polytrichum and Thuidium are often present.
Dynamics: Disturbances include drought stress and wind and storm damage.
Environmental Description: This alliance houses steep to vertical exposures of chert, chert conglomerates, or igneous rocks along bluffs and mountain domes, often occurring in a series of irregular rock terraces and ledges or as highly weathered massive outcrops. Aspect is variable. Soils are generally absent, except on ledges, where they are shallow. The moisture regime is well- to rapidly drained, but in shaded areas or those of extensive moss and lichen mats, moisture content may persist. Igneous parent materials include dellenite, felsite, granite or rhyolite.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Ozarks region of Missouri and Kansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: KS, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900046
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.d Central Midwest-Interior Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G841 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Alliance | A3995 Ozark Acidic Cliff Alliance | A3995 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002285 Ozark Chert Dry Cliff Vegetation | CEGL002285 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002286 Ozark Igneous Dry Cliff Vegetation | CEGL002286 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002288 Ozark Chert Moist Cliff Vegetation | CEGL002288 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002289 Ozark Igneous Moist Cliff Vegetation | CEGL002289 | 6.B.1.Na.1.d |
Concept Lineage: A.1836, in part
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Chert Ozark Moist Cliff Sparse Vegetation (Lauver et al. 1999)
< Dry Chert Cliff (Nelson 2010)
< Dry Chert Cliff (Nelson 2010)
- 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.
- Lauver, C. L., K. Kindscher, D. Faber-Langendoen, and R. Schneider. 1999. A classification of the natural vegetation of Kansas. The Southwestern Naturalist 44:421-443.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.