Name:
Quercus ellipsoidalis - Quercus macrocarpa - (Pinus banksiana) Rocky Woodland
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This oak - (pine) rocky woodland community is found in restricted areas of the boreal regions of the Lake States in the United States and in adjacent Canada. Stands occur on warm, rocky outcrops and well-drained sandy sites. Soils are shallow, dry to fresh, and rapidly drained. The tree canopy is scattered and often stunted. This type is characterized by either a canopy dominated by Quercus ellipsoidalis, with occasional Quercus macrocarpa or Pinus banksiana, or with large Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa, or Pinus strobus either forming an emergent canopy over the oak trees, or mixed with the oaks. These evergreen trees may have 25-75% cover; thus this type varies from pure deciduous to mixed evergreen-deciduous, and from 30% cover (woodland physiognomy) to 90% cover (forest physiognomy). Corylus cornuta, Viburnum rafinesquianum, Quercus ellipsoidalis, and Amelanchier spp. are the most abundant species in the shrub layers and usually cover 20-40% of the forest floor. Vaccinium angustifolium is the most common dwarf-shrub and is present at low (<25%) cover. In stands with much exposed bedrock, the dwarf-shrubs Juniperus communis, Prunus pumila, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Comptonia peregrina may also be present. Cover of the herbaceous layer is highly variable, ranging from 20-80%, with the most abundant herbs being Pteridium aquilinum, Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), and Aralia nudicaulis. Species typical of bedrock outcrops and shallow soils can also be found and include Danthonia spicata, Poa alsodes, Elymus trachycaulus (= Agropyron trachycaulum), Maianthemum canadense, Schizachne purpurascens, and Oryzopsis asperifolia. The nonvascular layer can be absent or present with up to 30% cover. In the open bedrock areas this layer consists mainly of the lichens Cladina rangiferina, Cladina mitis, and Cladina stellaris and, to a lesser degree, the mosses Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Hedwigia ciliata, and Orthotrichum spp. Under the canopy of oaks, the nonvascular strata consists primarily of Pleurozium schreberi and Dicranum spp. Diagnostic features of the type include the forest or woodland canopy consisting primarily of Quercus ellipsoidalis, with varying amounts of Quercus macrocarpa, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa and Pinus strobus, and a rocky substrate, with dry herbaceous, moss, and lichen species.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18660.QUERCUSELLIPSOI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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