Name:
Kalmia latifolia - Gaylussacia baccata - Vaccinium angustifolium - Menziesia pilosa Shrubland
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This heath bald community occurs on acidic bedrock exposures at high elevations of the Central Appalachians in West Virginia and Virginia. It is dominated (often patchily or zonally) by Kalmia latifolia, Gaylussacia baccata, and Vaccinium angustifolium. Associates include Menziesia pilosa, Nemopanthus mucronatus, Ilex montana, Rhododendron prinophyllum, Sorbus americana, Photinia melanocarpa (= Aronia melanocarpa), and Betula lenta. Amelanchier stolonifera (= Amelanchier spicata) may occur in areas of lower cover. One occurrence in West Virginia also supports Hudsonia tomentosa. Herbaceous species include Polypodium appalachianum, Melampyrum lineare, Polygonum cilinode, Carex polymorpha, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Aralia nudicaulis, Oryzopsis asperifolia, Dryopteris intermedia, Maianthemum canadense, and Lycopodium annotinum. This community has affinities to various Southern Appalachian Heath Bald communities in floristics, structure, and general edaphic conditions, but lacks many of the characteristic southern Appalachian species such as Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Leucothoe recurva, Pieris floribunda, Leiophyllum buxifolium. Species of northern affinity not found in Southern Appalachian Heath Balds (Nemopanthus mucronatus, Vaccinium angustifolium, Lycopodium annotinum, Carex polymorpha, Oryzopsis asperifolia) further differentiate this community, both from Southern Appalachian Heath Bald communities and from Kentucky examples of Kalmia latifolia - Gaylussacia baccata-dominated vegetation.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.22292.KALMIALATIFOLIA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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