Name:
Picea rubens / Vaccinium angustifolium / Sibbaldiopsis tridentata Woodland
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This red spruce woodland of the Northern Appalachians occurs primarily on acidic bedrock outcrops or summits. Soil development is restricted to crevices or sheltered areas interspersed with significant amounts of exposed bedrock. What soils are present are shallow, well-drained to excessively drained, acidic, coarse sands. Elevations of known examples range from near sea level at the coast to 305-760 m (1000-2500 feet) inland. The canopy is patchy and open, with areas of moderate canopy cover interspersed with areas of sparse vegetation and much open rock. Taken over a large area, woodland structure (25-60% canopy cover) is evident. Tall shrubs and herb are sparse. The dwarf-shrub layer is of variable cover, and may be locally extensive, as may bryoids. Canopy trees are primarily <i>Picea rubens</i> and <i>Abies balsamea</i>, with <i>Pinus strobus</i> occasionally codominant. Associated tree species include <i>Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera, Betula papyrifera var. cordifolia, Pinus rigida, Thuja occidentalis</i>, and <i>Picea mariana</i>. Typical tall shrubs are <i>Sorbus americana, Sorbus decora, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Nemopanthus mucronatus, Photinia melanocarpa (= Aronia melanocarpa)</i>, or <i>Amelanchier</i> spp. <i>Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica)</i> and <i>Picea glauca</i> may be present in this community near the seacoast. The low heath layer is made up of <i>Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Gaylussacia baccata</i>, and <i>Kalmia angustifolia</i>. Forbs and graminoids include <i>Deschampsia flexuosa, Danthonia spicata, Piptatherum pungens (= Oryzopsis pungens), Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, Solidago simplex var. randii</i>, and <i>Maianthemum canadense</i>. Bryoids include <i>Cladina</i> spp., <i>Pleurozium schreberi, Dicranum polysetum, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum</i>, and <i>Polytrichum commune</i>. Ground cover is sparse needle litter and exposed bedrock. This association occurs on bedrock ridges and outcrops, compared to the floristically similar ~<i>Picea rubens / Ribes glandulosum</i> Woodland (CEGL006250)$$, which occurs on talus.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31292.CEGL006053
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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