Name:
Pinus rigida / Vaccinium spp. - Gaylussacia baccata Woodland
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
These pitch pine - heath barrens occur on sandy glacial deposits at low elevations in New England and adjacent Canada. The soils are derived from glacial outwash or, less frequently, till, and are coarse, well-drained to excessively drained, nutrient-poor, and acidic. Sites generally have a history of periodic fire. The tree canopy ranges from sparse to partly open, and the understory features a well-developed low heath layer. Taller shrubs are sparse or absent. The herb and bryoid layers are of variable cover, and the ground cover is sparse needle litter and base sand. The open canopy is dominated by Pinus rigida with a variable mixture of associates, including Pinus strobus, Pinus resinosa, Quercus rubra, or Populus grandidentata. In the northern part of the range, Pinus banksiana or Picea rubens may also be present. A few scrub oaks (Quercus ilicifolia, Quercus prinoides) may be present as tall shrubs. The dwarf-shrub layer is comprised largely of heaths, including Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Gaylussacia baccata, and Kalmia angustifolia. The herbaceous layer often includes Pteridium aquilinum, Carex pensylvanica/lucorum, Piptatherum pungens (= Oryzopsis pungens), Gaultheria procumbens, Aralia nudicaulis, Maianthemum canadense, Melampyrum lineare, Fragaria virginiana, Lysimachia quadrifolia, and Cypripedium acaule. The bryophyte layer is of variable cover and is characterized by Cladina arbuscula (= Cladina sylvatica), Cladonia pyxidata, Dicranum polysetum, Pleurozium schreberi, and Leucobryum glaucum. These barrens differ from the related Pinus rigida / Quercus ilicifolia / Piptatherum pungens Woodland (CEGL006203) in their lack of a well-defined scrub oak shrub layer; they are also more likely to have Pinus strobus and/or Pinus resinosa as a canopy associate.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.19588.PINUSRIGIDAVACC
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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