Name:
Quercus ellipsoidalis - Quercus macrocarpa - (Pinus banksiana) Rocky Woodland
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This oak - (pine) rocky woodland community is found in restricted areas of the hemi-boreal regions of the Lake States in the United States and in adjacent Canada. Stands occur on warm, rocky outcrops and well-drained sandy sites. Soils are shallow, dry to fresh, and rapidly drained. The tree canopy is scattered and often stunted. This type is characterized by either a canopy dominated by <i>Quercus ellipsoidalis</i>, with occasional <i>Quercus macrocarpa</i> or <i>Pinus banksiana</i>, or with large <i>Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa</i>, or <i>Pinus strobus</i> either forming an emergent canopy over the oak trees, or mixed with the oaks. These evergreen trees may have 25-75% cover; thus this type varies from pure deciduous to mixed evergreen-deciduous, and from 30% cover (woodland physiognomy) to 90% cover (forest physiognomy). <i>Corylus cornuta, Viburnum rafinesquianum, Quercus ellipsoidalis</i>, and <i>Amelanchier</i> spp. are the most abundant species in the shrub layers and usually cover 20-40% of the forest floor. <i>Vaccinium angustifolium</i> is the most common dwarf-shrub and is present at low (<25%) cover. In stands with much exposed bedrock, the dwarf-shrubs <i>Juniperus communis, Prunus pumila, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi</i>, and <i>Comptonia peregrina</i> may also be present. Cover of the herbaceous layer is highly variable, ranging from 20-80%, with the most abundant herbs being <i>Pteridium aquilinum, Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus)</i>, and <i>Aralia nudicaulis</i>. Species typical of bedrock outcrops and shallow soils can also be found and include <i>Danthonia spicata, Poa alsodes, Elymus trachycaulus (= Agropyron trachycaulum), Maianthemum canadense, Schizachne purpurascens</i>, and <i>Oryzopsis asperifolia</i>. The nonvascular layer can be absent or present with up to 30% cover. In the open bedrock areas this layer consists mainly of the lichens <i>Cladina rangiferina, Cladina mitis</i>, and <i>Cladina stellaris</i> and, to a lesser degree, the mosses <i>Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Hedwigia ciliata</i>, and <i>Orthotrichum</i> spp. Under the canopy of oaks, the nonvascular strata consists primarily of <i>Pleurozium schreberi</i> and <i>Dicranum</i> spp. Diagnostic features of the type include the forest or woodland canopy consisting primarily of <i>Quercus ellipsoidalis</i>, with varying amounts of <i>Quercus macrocarpa, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa</i> and <i>Pinus strobus</i>, and a rocky substrate, with dry herbaceous, moss, and lichen species.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.36712.CEGL005246
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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