Name:
Kalmia latifolia / Schizachyrium scoparium / Cladonia spp. Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
These are sloping, grass-dominated, herbaceous openings which range from a grassland to shrubland physiognomy. There are typically some scattered shrubs, the most common being Kalmia latifolia, Salix humilis, Vaccinium stamineum, and Vaccinium corymbosum. Generally the shrubs are restricted to microsites with slightly deeper soils. Many of the characteristic herbaceous species such as Schizachyrium scoparium, Helianthemum bicknellii, Ionactis linariifolius, Coreopsis major, and Danthonia spicata occur in crevices among exposed rock. Annuals such as Hypericum gentianoides and Polygala curtissii may be seasonally abundant. Much of the remaining area is dominated by Cladonia and Cladina lichens which grow directly on the exposed bedrock. This community occurs at high elevations (1200 m or 3970 feet) in the Blue Ridge uplands where the soils are thin and poorly developed over amphibole or hornblende bedrock. Examples occur on upper south-facing slopes. The soils (Lithic Haplorthents) are droughty and thin and do not buffer the flora from the mafic character of the bedrock. They may, however, be seasonally wet and the diagnostic flora may reflect the unique soil and moisture conditions. The occurrence of continuous, generally flat, mafic rock as opposed to the irregular fragmented rock of most rocky summits is characteristic of this community. This feature may restrict the flora to those species which can survive in shallow crevices. Other characteristic species include Ionactis linariifolius, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Aletris farinosa, Liatris pilosa (= Liatris graminifolia), Gentianopsis crinita, Helianthemum bicknellii, Helianthemum propinquum, Liatris aspera, Phlox subulata, Polygonum tenue, and Pyrola americana.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.22696.KALMIALATIFOLIA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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