Name:
Pinus banksiana / Kalmia angustifolia - Vaccinium spp. Woodland
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
The jack pine woodland of northern New England and the Canadian maritime provinces occurs sporadically on dry rocky summits, ridges, outcrops and lakeshores. Soil development is typically restricted to crevices or sheltered patches among the predominant exposed bedrock. Where they occur, soils are shallow, well-drained to excessively drained, dry, acidic, coarse sands. Elevations of known examples range from near sea level to 4000 feet. The dominant vegetation features are the patchy and open canopy and the extensive dwarf-shrub layer. Tall shrubs and herbs are sparse. The bryoid layer often features large areas of reindeer lichens and drought-tolerant mosses. The ground cover is sparse needle litter and exposed bedrock. In the canopy, which ranges from 25-60% cover, Pinus banksiana is dominant. Less abundant conifers may include Picea rubens, Picea mariana (at coastal sites), Pinus strobus, or Abies balsamea. Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera and Betula papyrifera var. cordifolia may be present, but the deciduous canopy component is minor. Tall shrubs include Sorbus americana, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Nemopanthus mucronatus, Photinia melanocarpa (= Aronia melanocarpa), or Amelanchier spp. The low heath layer is comprised of Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, and, near the coast, Empetrum nigrum and Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Forbs and graminoids include Deschampsia flexuosa, Danthonia spicata, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Cornus canadensis, Trientalis borealis, Solidago simplex var. randii, and Maianthemum canadense. The bryophyte layer is dominated by lichens such as Cladina stellaris (= Cladonia alpestris), Cladina rangiferina (= Cladonia rangiferina), Rhizocarpon geographicum, and Umbilicaria spp. Mosses include Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum juniperinum, and Polytrichum piliferum. This association is distinguished from more boreal jack pine woodlands (Pinus banksiana - (Picea mariana, Pinus strobus) / Vaccinium spp. Rocky Woodland (CEGL002483)) by the lack or low importance of Picea mariana (in this type, only rarely present in extreme coastal occurrences), from midwestern jack pine pavement barrens (Pinus banksiana / Photinia melanocarpa / Xanthoparmelia spp. Woodland (CEGL005045)) by its occurrence on igneous bedrock, and from midwestern jack pine-oak woodlands (Pinus banksiana - Pinus resinosa / Quercus ellipsoidalis Woodland (CEGL002484)) by its bedrock, rather than sand plain, substrate. Its distinction from the Great Lakes Pinus banksiana - Pinus strobus - (Quercus rubra) / Cladina spp. Nonvascular Vegetation (CEGL002491) is based primarily on geography.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.26280.PINUSBANKSIANAK
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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