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A4090 Southern Coastal Plain Circumneutral Bedrock Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This distinctive vegetation represents circumneutral glades and barrens found in the southern coastal plains of the United States (Atlantic and East Gulf) from the Carolinas south through Florida and west to Alabama.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Southern Coastal Plain Circumneutral Bedrock Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Coastal Plain Circumneutral Barrens & Glade

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance accommodates circumneutral glades and barrens found in the southern coastal plains of the United States (Atlantic and East Gulf) from the Carolinas south through Florida and west to Alabama. Some characteristic species include Aquilegia canadensis, Asplenium heterochroum, Asplenium x heteroresiliens, Stenaria nigricans, Penstemon dissectus, Polymnia laevigata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Schoenus nigricans, and Urtica chamaedryoides. Shrubs and woody vines, such as Acer floridanum, Acer leucoderme, Berchemia scandens, Cercis canadensis, Decumaria barbara, Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus americana, Hydrangea quercifolia, Morella cerifera, Ptelea trifoliata, Rhus copallinum, Sideroxylon sp., Ulmus alata and Viburnum sp., can be locally abundant. Characteristic mosses and other bryophytes can be locally abundant in some associations, and include Anomodon attenuatus, Conocephalum conicum, and Marchantia sp. In addition, Nostoc may be abundant on exposed limestone. The primary habitat is limestone outcrops, including soft, chalky limestone.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This is distinctive vegetation of glades and barrens found on relatively circumneutral substrates in the southern coastal plains of the United States (Atlantic and East Gulf) from the Carolinas south through Florida and west to Alabama. These are on rocky limestone substrates and have very low cover of trees.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: There may be additional undescribed associations that belong in this alliance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Small-scale limestone outcrops in the Southeastern Coastal Plain are partly or fully canopied by trees rooted in adjacent forest communities. Herbaceous species include Aquilegia canadensis, Arabis lyrata, Arenaria lanuginosa, Asplenium heterochroum, Asplenium platyneuron var. platyneuron, Asplenium x heteroresiliens, Carex willdenowii, Chaerophyllum tainturieri, Cystopteris tennesseensis, Laportea canadensis, Melica mutica, Oxalis sp., Pachysandra procumbens, Pilea pumila, Polymnia laevigata, Thelypteris kunthii, and Urtica chamaedryoides. Shrubs and woody vines, such as Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Decumaria barbara, Hydrangea quercifolia, and Ptelea trifoliata, are sometimes present and can be locally abundant. In glades of chalky limestone in northern Florida and adjacent Georgia, Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans (= Hedyotis nigricans var. nigricans) and Schoenus nigricans are dominant and characteristic; other herbaceous species include Andropogon sp., Dichanthelium sp., Helianthus radula, and Muhlenbergia capillaris. Bryophytes are locally abundant and include Anomodon attenuatus, Conocephalum conicum, and Marchantia sp. In addition, Nostoc is abundant on the exposed limestone. Woody species occurring in islands and borders, as well as in solution pockets in the top and sides of the outcrops, include Acer floridanum, Acer leucoderme, Berchemia scandens, Cercis canadensis, Decumaria barbara, Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus americana, Hydrangea quercifolia, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Ptelea trifoliata, Rhus copallinum, Sideroxylon sp., Ulmus alata and Viburnum sp.

Dynamics:  The lowermost portions of the outcrops are very rarely flooded by extreme flood events.
Environmental Description:  Examples of this alliance may occur on limestone outcrops on lower slopes adjoining bottomlands and soft, chalky limestone outcrops.
Geographic Range: Examples of this alliance are found in the southern coastal plains of the United States (Atlantic and East Gulf) from the Carolinas south to Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA, NC, SC


Confidence Level: Low

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.Nh Southeastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D102 2.B.2.Nh
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nh.3 Poverty Dropseed - Little Bluestem - Calamint species Southern Barrens & Glade Macrogroup M308 2.B.2.Nh.3
Group 2.B.2.Nh.3.a Little Bluestem - Limestone Calamint - Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod Southeastern Coastal Plain Barrens & Glade Group G584 2.B.2.Nh.3.a
Alliance A4090 Southern Coastal Plain Circumneutral Bedrock Grassland Alliance A4090 2.B.2.Nh.3.a
Association CEGL004081 Black Bogrush - Diamond-flowers Wooded Grassland CEGL004081 2.B.2.Nh.3.a
Association CEGL004268 Red Columbine - Bicolored Spleenwort - Tennessee Leafcup - Heartleaf Nettle Grassland CEGL004268 2.B.2.Nh.3.a
Association CEGL004269 Red Columbine - Carolina Spleenwort Grassland CEGL004269 2.B.2.Nh.3.a
Concept Lineage: The associations placed here are from A.1615 (2/2), and A.1918 (1/1).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Upland Glade (FNAI 1992a)
? Upland Glade, Chalky Limestone Glade subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2014)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by A.S. Weakley and K.D. Patterson.

Version Date: 03-14-14
  • 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.
  • FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1992a. Natural communities. Unpublished document. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 6 pp.
  • FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1992b. Natural community classification. Unpublished document. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 16 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.
  • 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.