Print Report

CEGL006496 Pinus rigida / Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium scoparium Serpentine Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pitch Pine / Prairie Dropseed - Little Bluestem Serpentine Woodland

Colloquial Name: Pitch Pine Serpentine Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This woodland of the northern Piedmont occurs on steep, northerly-facing sloping serpentine bedrock. It is characterized by an open canopy made up of one or a combination of three conifers: Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, and Juniperus virginiana. Dominant woody plants include scattered mature and juvenile Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, and Juniperus virginiana. A few hardwood species may also occur, either as saplings or mature trees, including Sassafras albidum, Quercus marilandica, Prunus serotina, and Quercus stellata. Total tree cover is typically less than 40%. The herbaceous layer has some similarity to ~Sorghastrum nutans - Schizachyrium scoparium Serpentine Grassland (CEGL006441)$$, with Sporobolus heterolepis and Schizachyrium scoparium dominant. However, Smilax rotundifolia can be a codominant in some woodlands. Other important herbaceous species include Packera anonyma, Cerastium arvense var. villosum, Ageratina aromatica, and Andropogon gerardii.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association likely represents a later successional stage of open serpentine barren grasslands maintained by fire.

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

Floristics: Dominant woody plants include scattered mature and juvenile Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, and Juniperus virginiana. A few hardwood species may also occur, either as saplings or mature trees, including Sassafras albidum, Quercus marilandica, Prunus serotina, and Quercus stellata. Total tree cover is typically less than 40%. The herbaceous layer has some similarity to ~Sorghastrum nutans - Schizachyrium scoparium Serpentine Grassland (CEGL006441)$$, with Sporobolus heterolepis and Schizachyrium scoparium dominant. However, Smilax rotundifolia can be a codominant in some woodlands. Other important herbaceous species include Packera anonyma (= Senecio anonymus), Cerastium arvense var. villosum, Ageratina aromatica (= Eupatorium aromaticum), and Andropogon gerardii.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association typically occurs on steep (>5°) northerly-facing high and mid hillside slopes. Soils range from somewhat moist to very dry, stony silt loams and stony sandy loams. Soil depth is typically 13 cm or less (occasionally as deep as 28 cm).
Geographic Range: This vegetation is restricted to the Piedmont portions of Pennsylvania and possibly Maryland.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MD?, PA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G3

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F008 1.B.2
Division 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division D008 1.B.2.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Na.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup M502 1.B.2.Na.2
Group 1.B.2.Na.2.h Pitch Pine - Virginia Pine - Bear Oak Woodland & Barrens Group G906 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Alliance A3311 Pitch Pine - Virginia Pine - Blackjack Oak Serpentine Woodland Alliance A3311 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Association CEGL006496 Pitch Pine / Prairie Dropseed - Little Bluestem Serpentine Woodland CEGL006496 1.B.2.Na.2.h
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Conifer Woodlands (Podniesinski et al. 1999)
Concept Author(s): Podniesinski, Leimanis, and Ebert (1999)

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-13-14
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
  • Podniesinski, G., A. Leimanis, and J. Ebert. 1999. Serpentine plant community classification. Unpublished data. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, PA. 14 pp.
  • Zimmerman, E. A., T. Davis, M. A. Furedi, B. Eichelberger, J. McPherson, S. Seymour, G. Podniesinski, N. Dewar, and J. Wagner, editors. 2012. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Communities.aspx]