Name:
Quercus ilicifolia Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This alliance includes shrublands dominated by Quercus ilicifolia. Associations in this alliance occur as shrub thickets on sandy soils or rock outcrops/summits. This alliance in known from the eastern United States. On extremely shallow, stable acidic soils over bedrock of ridgetops, summits, and rock outcrops Quercus ilicifolia occurs with variable cover depending on site conditions. Associated shrubs include low Vaccinium species, Comptonia peregrina, Kalmia angustifolia, Gaylussacia baccata, Photinia melanocarpa (= Aronia melanocarpa), Salix humilis, and Prunus pumila. Herbaceous species are generally sparse, but include Danthonia spicata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Pteridium aquilinum, Gaultheria procumbens, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex pensylvanica, Comandra umbellata, Melampyrum lineare, Hypericum gentianoides, Corydalis sempervirens, Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (= Potentilla tridentata), plus Andropogon gerardii at some sites. Scattered trees are common and include species from the surrounding ridgetop forests. Quercus ilicifolia forms dense shrublands on sandy, drought-prone soils of glacial outwash plains in low "frost pocket" depressions. These shrublands can be codominated by Quercus prinoides. Pinus rigida can form a scattered tree layer. Additional shrub associates occur in low abundance, including Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pallidum, and Kalmia angustifolia. Vines are common. Herbaceous species commonly include Schizachyrium scoparium, Deschampsia flexuosa, Piptochaetium avenaceum (= Stipa avenacea), Carex pensylvanica, and Carex swanii.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.27437.QUERCUSILICIFOL
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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