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A3996 Southeast Coastal Plain Cliff Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is broadly defined, primarily by its vertical location, occurring on the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Structure and composition of the vegetation are highly variable, and substrate is generally unconsolidated sediments on river bluffs, but also includes vegetation of sinkhole walls.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Southeast Coastal Plain Cliff Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southeast Coastal Plain Cliff
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is broadly defined, primarily by its vertical location, occurring on the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Structure and composition of the vegetation are highly variable, and substrate is generally unconsolidated sediments on river bluffs, but also includes vegetation of sinkhole walls. Vegetation is widely variable, but usually characterized by abundant bryophytes. Adiantum tenerum is characteristic on limestone sinkhole walls; Mitchella repens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, and Woodwardia areolata occur on non-limestone substrates.
Diagnostic Characteristics: River bluffs and cliffs of the Southeastern Coastal Plain; also includes sinkhole walls in portions of the Coastal Plain; bryophyte layer generally well-developed.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance requires much additional data and analysis to classify with confidence.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation varies widely in both structure and composition. Vegetation may be herbaceous of variable cover, with or without scattered trees and shrubs, to entirely nonvascular cover.
Floristics: Vegetation is widely variable, but usually characterized by abundant bryophytes. Adiantum tenerum is characteristic on limestone sinkhole walls; Mitchella repens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, and Woodwardia areolata occur on non-limestone substrates.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This vegetation is found where seepage occurs through acidic clays on saturated, vertical to near-vertical, shaded exposures along large creeks and river bluffs, as well as on shaded sinkhole walls and slopes. Non-limestone substrates may include various felsic igneous or metamorphic rocks, acidic saprolite, and occasionally unconsolidated acidic sediments.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs on the Southeastern Coastal Plain.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, AR?, FL, GA, LA?, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900047
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.e Southeast Coastal Plain Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group | G842 | 6.B.1.Na.1.e |
| Alliance | A3996 Southeast Coastal Plain Cliff Alliance | A3996 | 6.B.1.Na.1.e |
| Association | CEGL004388 Coastal Plain Acidic Cliff Vegetation | CEGL004388 | 6.B.1.Na.1.e |
| Association | CEGL004469 Fan Maidenhair - Clustered Pellitory - Spreading Sandwort Cliff Vegetation | CEGL004469 | 6.B.1.Na.1.e |
| Association | CEGL004779 Lyell''s Ribbonwort - Peatmoss species Cliff Vegetation | CEGL004779 | 6.B.1.Na.1.e |
Concept Lineage: A.1613, A.1836, A.1832 with major reshuffling. CEGL004779 moved in from G340.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Piedmont / Coastal Plain Acidic Cliff (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
- Bruton, V. C. 1968. Floristic survey and vegetational analysis of cliffs of the Neuse State Park in North Carolina. M.S. thesis, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.
- 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.
- Hood, L. N. 1978. Description and classification of Rocky River Morgan''s Bluff Natural Area, Stanley Co., N.C. M.S. thesis, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- 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.
- Wolfe, S. H., editor. 1990. An ecological characterization of the Florida Springs Coast: Pithlachascotee to Waccasassa rivers. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(21). Slidell, LA. 323 pp.