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G841 Central Midwest-Interior Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group
Type Concept Sentence: This vegetation is found on alkaline and acidic cliffs in the Midwest and Interior Highlands.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Central Midwest-Interior Cliff & Rock Vegetation Group
Colloquial Name: Central Midwest-Interior Cliff & Rock Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This type is found on alkaline and acidic cliffs in the Midwest and Interior Highlands. Acidic cliff examples may be found on igneous, metamorphic, sandstone and shale bedrock. 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, Mitchella repens, Opuntia humifusa, Polygonum tenue, Polypodium virginianum, Sporobolus clandestinus, and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium. Lichens include Cladonia caroliniana, Pleopsidium chlorophanum, and Xanthoparmelia spp., and mosses of the genera Polytrichum and Thuidium are often present.
Alkaline cliffs in the central Midwest include those on limestone, dolostone, maderate and basic igneous rock substrates. Characteristic nonvascular and fern species need to be described. Herbaceous and shrub species from the unglaciated portion of the range include Aquilegia canadensis, Arabis lyrata, Campanula rotundifolia, Cornus canadensis, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Galium triflorum, Physocarpus opulifolius, Solidago sciaphila, and Zigadenus elegans. This vegetation occurs on near-vertical rockfaces on variable aspects. Moisture conditions are also variable and are affected by the degree of shading, presence of seepage, and other factors.
In the Ozarks and Interior Low Plateau regions, a variety of seepage-fed cliffs are characterized by Hydrangea arborescens with seepage indicators such as Impatiens pallida. Overhanging tree species providing shade vary with location and rock chemistry. Associated shrubs may include Staphylea trifolia, Physocarpus opulifolius, Hypericum prolificum, and others. Herbaceous species are widely variable, and may include Aquilegia canadensis, Cystopteris protrusa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Dodecatheon meadia, Dryopteris marginalis, Heuchera americana var. hirsuticaulis, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Pilea pumila, Polymnia canadensis, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. negundo, and many others.
Alkaline cliffs in the central Midwest include those on limestone, dolostone, maderate and basic igneous rock substrates. Characteristic nonvascular and fern species need to be described. Herbaceous and shrub species from the unglaciated portion of the range include Aquilegia canadensis, Arabis lyrata, Campanula rotundifolia, Cornus canadensis, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Galium triflorum, Physocarpus opulifolius, Solidago sciaphila, and Zigadenus elegans. This vegetation occurs on near-vertical rockfaces on variable aspects. Moisture conditions are also variable and are affected by the degree of shading, presence of seepage, and other factors.
In the Ozarks and Interior Low Plateau regions, a variety of seepage-fed cliffs are characterized by Hydrangea arborescens with seepage indicators such as Impatiens pallida. Overhanging tree species providing shade vary with location and rock chemistry. Associated shrubs may include Staphylea trifolia, Physocarpus opulifolius, Hypericum prolificum, and others. Herbaceous species are widely variable, and may include Aquilegia canadensis, Cystopteris protrusa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Dodecatheon meadia, Dryopteris marginalis, Heuchera americana var. hirsuticaulis, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Pilea pumila, Polymnia canadensis, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. negundo, and many others.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group requires much additional data and analysis before types can be classified with confidence.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: 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, Mitchella repens, 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.
Characteristic nonvascular and fern species found on alkaline cliffs in the central Midwest need to be described. Herbaceous and shrub species from the unglaciated portion of the range include Aquilegia canadensis, Arabis lyrata, Campanula rotundifolia, Cornus canadensis, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Galium triflorum, Physocarpus opulifolius, Solidago sciaphila, and Zigadenus elegans. This vegetation occurs on near-vertical rockfaces on variable aspects. Moisture conditions are also variable and are affected by the degree of shading, presence of seepage, and other factors.
In the Ozarks and Interior Low Plateau regions, a variety of seepage-fed cliffs are characterized by Hydrangea arborescens with seepage indicators such as Impatiens pallida. Overhanging tree species providing shade vary with location and rock chemistry. Associated shrubs may include Staphylea trifolia, Physocarpus opulifolius, Hypericum prolificum, and others. Herbaceous species are widely variable, and may include Aquilegia canadensis, Cystopteris protrusa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Dodecatheon meadia, Dryopteris marginalis, Heuchera americana var. hirsuticaulis, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Pilea pumila, Polymnia canadensis, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. negundo, and many others.
Characteristic nonvascular and fern species found on alkaline cliffs in the central Midwest need to be described. Herbaceous and shrub species from the unglaciated portion of the range include Aquilegia canadensis, Arabis lyrata, Campanula rotundifolia, Cornus canadensis, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Galium triflorum, Physocarpus opulifolius, Solidago sciaphila, and Zigadenus elegans. This vegetation occurs on near-vertical rockfaces on variable aspects. Moisture conditions are also variable and are affected by the degree of shading, presence of seepage, and other factors.
In the Ozarks and Interior Low Plateau regions, a variety of seepage-fed cliffs are characterized by Hydrangea arborescens with seepage indicators such as Impatiens pallida. Overhanging tree species providing shade vary with location and rock chemistry. Associated shrubs may include Staphylea trifolia, Physocarpus opulifolius, Hypericum prolificum, and others. Herbaceous species are widely variable, and may include Aquilegia canadensis, Cystopteris protrusa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Dodecatheon meadia, Dryopteris marginalis, Heuchera americana var. hirsuticaulis, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Pilea pumila, Polymnia canadensis, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. negundo, and many others.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This type is found on alkaline and acidic cliffs in the Midwest and Interior Highlands. Acidic cliff examples may be found on igneous, metamorphic, sandstone and shale bedrock. Alkaline cliffs in the central Midwest include those on limestone, dolostone, maderate and basic igneous rock substrates.
Geographic Range: This group occurs in the central Midwest and Interior Highlands of the U.S. and in southern Ontario and southern Quebec, Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AL?, AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, MS?, NE, OH, OK, ON, SD, TN, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.959108
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Kost, M. A., D. A. Albert, J. G. Cohen, B. S. Slaughter, R. K. Schillo, C. R. Weber, and K. A. Chapman. 2007. Natural communities of Michigan: Classification and description. Report No. 2007-21, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing. 314 pp. [http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/reports/2007-21_Natural_Communites_of_Michigan_Classification_and_Description.pdf]