Name:
Juniperus virginiana - Fraxinus americana / Danthonia spicata - Poa compressa Woodland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This traprock ridge open woodland is known from mountainous sites in New England, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and may occur in southeastern New York. The vegetation occurs primarily on exposed outcrops of basaltic rock in the Connecticut Valley of New England and the Piedmont physiographic province in New Jersey. While most sites are on igneous rock, along the Kittatinny Ridge in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, it occurs on conglomerates of the Shawangunk Formation. Sites supporting this community are upper slopes of basalt, diorite, or conglomerate ridges from 365-1050 m elevation, characteristically south- or west-facing and range in slope from 5-30°. Most sites have minimal soil development. Tree cover is sparse, ranging from 5-30% cover (average 20%) with <i>Juniperus virginiana</i> being the most constant canopy tree. Other woody species sometimes present include <i>Fraxinus americana, Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, Ostrya virginiana</i>, and <i>Carya glabra</i>. The actual canopy composition reflects, to some extent, the surrounding forest. The scattered shrub layer often includes <i>Rosa carolina, Juniperus communis var. depressa, Quercus montana, Quercus ilicifolia, Rhus typhina, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium angustifolium, Viburnum rafinesqueanum</i>, and <i>Prunus virginiana</i>. The herbaceous layer usually covers 12-50% of the ground and is dominated by <i>Schizachyrium scoparium, Deschampsia flexuosa</i>, and <i>Danthonia spicata</i>, with their relative abundance varying from site to site. Numerous other herbaceous species occur in this community type, including <i>Carex pensylvanica, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Hypericum gentianoides, Antennaria plantaginifolia, Corydalis sempervirens, Solidago nemoralis, Poa compressa, Maianthemum racemosum, Uvularia perfoliata, Aquilegia canadensis, Asclepias verticillata, Polygonum scandens, Krigia virginica</i>, and <i>Houstonia longifolia</i>. No species is restricted to this community, but the assemblage listed above is very characteristic.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34653-{5270878F-DF98-498B-9437-B6DE573536A5}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
8
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