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G789 North-Central Appalachian Acidic Scrub & Grassland Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group comprises shrublands characterized by ericaceous species, scrub oaks (generally Quercus ilicifolia), and dwarf Pinus rigida, as well as grasslands characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium and Carex pensylvanica, on acidic bedrock or dry sandy soils, found from southern Canada to higher elevations of West Virginia and Virginia.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: North-Central Appalachian Acidic Scrub & Grassland Group

Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Acidic Scrub & Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group is characterized by non-forested vegetation of acidic / nutrient-poor acidic bedrock outcrops and summits, or dry, sandy, nutrient-poor soils occurring on barrens or on sandy eroding river bluffs. Physiognomy is variable, ranging from graminoid-dominated, to shrublands, with or without very scattered, usually stunted, trees. Vegetation is usually patchy, with bare, or lichen-covered substrate of variable cover. Vegetation includes "pine plains" dominated by a dwarf-shrub variant of Pinus rigida associated with pine barrens, as well as taller shrublands, often quite dense, dominated by Quercus ilicifolia. This group also includes "heathlands" comprising dwarf-shrublands of low ericaceous shrubs such as Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium pallidum; Vaccinium myrtilloides, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, and Sorbus americana also occur at higher elevations and in the north at lower elevations. Associations characterized by graminoids Carex lucorum, Carex pensylvanica, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, or Schizachyrium scoparium are also included in this group. Although there is significant overlap in floristic composition, there are two distinct environmental settings supporting this group: acidic bedrock outcrops and summits, and relatively flat plains with dry to xeric sandy soils. This group also includes small mafic bedrock associations characterized by Asplenium trichomanes, Adiantum aleuticum, and Cerastium arvense, as well as vegetation occurring on sandy river bluffs characterized by widely scattered early-successional trees and dwarf-shrubs, including Hudsonia ericoides.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Acidic bedrock outcrop or summits supporting patchy ericaceous shrubs and grasses, or sand plains supporting heathlands, grasslands, and dwarf pitch pines.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The mafic associations of this group are characterized by slightly higher base status but is nutrient-poor. An argument can be made for recognizing a separate, single-association alliance pending further information. This association is related to serpentine vegetation in the Gaspé peninsula of Quebec and western Newfoundland, but the Canadian vegetation is decidedly more arctic-alpine in nature (Bouchard et al. 1978, Dearden 1979).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation structure is variable, ranging from graminoid-dominated, to shrubland, with or without very scattered, usually stunted, trees. Vegetation is usually patchy, with bare, or lichen-covered substrate of variable cover. Physiognomy includes needle-leaved dwarf-shrublands, deciduous shrublands, and patchy graminoid-dominated vegetation.

Floristics: Vegetation includes "pine plains" dominated by a dwarf-shrub variant of Pinus rigida associated with pine barrens, as well as taller shrublands, often quite dense, dominated by Quercus ilicifolia. Dwarf-shrubs are common in most occurrences of this group, and usually include Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium pallidum; Vaccinium myrtilloides, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (= Potentilla tridentata), and Sorbus americana also occur at higher elevations and in the north at lower elevations. Other associates often include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Comptonia peregrina. Associations characterized by graminoids are also included in this group; Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex lucorum, Carex pensylvanica, or Deschampsia cespitosa, the latter usually confined to mafic bedrock. Other species common to this group include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Comptonia peregrina, Kalmia angustifolia, Aronia melanocarpa (= Photinia melanocarpa), and Pteridium aquilinum.

Dynamics:  Fire is an important factor in maintaining these open communities in an otherwise forested landscape. A history of frequent and intense fire has played a major role in the short stature of pine plains of New Jersey and New York.
Environmental Description:  Although there is significant overlap in floristic composition, there are two distinct environmental settings supporting this group: acidic bedrock outcrops and summits, and relatively flat plains with dry to xeric sandy soils. This group also includes small mafic bedrock associations as well as vegetation occurring on sandy river bluffs. Bedrock outcrop and summit vegetation can reach 1220 m (4000 feet) in elevation in the Central Appalachian portion of the range, and range to near sea level on sandplains.
Geographic Range: This group ranges from outliers in southeastern Canada south to higher elevations of Virginia and West Virginia.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, ON, PA, QC, RI?, VA, VT, WV


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D024 2.B.2.Nc
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M506 2.B.2.Nc.1
Group 2.B.2.Nc.1.e North-Central Appalachian Acidic Scrub & Grassland Group G789 2.B.2.Nc.1.e
Alliance A3909 Bear Oak - Black Chokeberry Bedrock Shrubland Alliance A3909 2.B.2.Nc.1.e
Alliance A4111 <i>Vaccinium pallidum - Vaccinium</i> spp. - Sheep Laurel Rocky Heath Alliance A4111 2.B.2.Nc.1.e
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > New Jersey pine plains (Windisch 1986)
> Rocky summit grassland (NYNHP 2013m)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen and L. Sneddon, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2014)

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-04-15
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