Name:
Quercus alba - Quercus prinus - Carya glabra / Cornus florida / Vaccinium pallidum / Carex pensylvanica Forest
Reference:
Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulli...
Description:
This community type is associated with substrates weathered from shale and similar metasedimentary rocks in the central Appalachian region. It appears to be widespread at low elevations of the Ridge and Valley province in Virginia, south at least to the New River, and more local on the western flank of the northern Blue Ridge, and may extend into the Ridge and Valley of West Virginia and/or Maryland. Sites in the Ridge and Valley are distributed on low shale knobs and ridges, or at the base of higher sandstone ridges, where local shale strata have been exposed by stream incision. On the Blue Ridge, stands are confined to a belt of metasedimentary rocks that overlie the plutonic basement complex on the western side of the anticlinorium. Habitats encompass dry, mostly east- to south-facing slopes, hollows, and broad, sub-level ridge crests at low elevations (mostly <600 m [2000 feet]). Slope shape is generally convex in at least one direction. The characteristic vegetation of this unit is an open oak-hickory or oak-hickory-pine forest dominated by Quercus prinus and Quercus alba, with high cover of Carya spp., especially Carya glabra. Quercus velutina and Quercus rubra are less frequent but locally codominant trees. Total canopy cover is usually in the 60-80% range, and dominant canopy trees typically do not much exceed, and in some situations do not reach, 20 m in height. Minor canopy associates include Carya alba, Carya ovalis, Pinus echinata, Pinus strobus, Pinus virginiana, Quercus coccinea, and Quercus stellata. Young representatives of most canopy species are common in the understory, along with Cornus florida and Amelanchier arborea. Generally, there is a moderate to sparse representation of ericaceous (heath family) shrubs in this community type. However, on gentle ridge crests, where litter and humus tend to accumulate, Vaccinium pallidum may dominate the herb layer in low colonies. On the more extensive steep, convex slopes, where litter accumulations are thin and patchy, ericads are sparse and herbaceous richness tends to be moderately high, although total herb cover is usually quite sparse.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.24702.QUERCUSALBAQUER
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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