Name:
Pinus resinosa / Menziesia pilosa / Polypodium appalachianum Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This red pine forest association is known from high elevations in Pendleton and Hardy counties, West Virginia, on steep, north- to northwest-facing slopes near the summit, on sandy acidic soils over sandstone. This association is a mostly evergreen forest or woodland strongly dominated by <i>Pinus resinosa</i>. Canopies are stunted, rarely reaching 20 m tall, and range from even-aged and closed in younger stands to open and multi-aged in older stands. Canopy associates include <i>Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Pinus rigida, Quercus rubra, Pinus strobus, Pinus pungens</i>, and <i>Pinus virginiana</i>. Additional species in the subcanopy include <i>Amelanchier arborea, Acer pensylvanicum, Betula papyrifera, Hamamelis virginiana, Sorbus americana</i>, and <i>Tsuga canadensis</i>. Shrubs include <i>Kalmia latifolia, Menziesia pilosa, Vaccinium angustifolium, Rhododendron prinophyllum, Rhododendron calendulaceum</i>, and <i>Gaylussacia baccata</i>. Regeneration of <i>Pinus resinosa</i> in the shrub layers varies from absent in even-aged closed-canopy stands to abundant in more open stands. The sparse herbaceous layers are characterized by <i>Polypodium appalachianum, Gaultheria procumbens, Solidago curtisii, Dryopteris marginalis, Calamagrostis porteri, Epigaea repens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Dryopteris intermedia, Carex pensylvanica, Maianthemum canadense, Oclemena acuminata</i>, and <i>Polygala paucifolia</i>. Mosses include species of <i>Leucobryum</i> and <i>Polytrichum</i>. Common lichens on rock include <i>Lasallia papulosa</i> and <i>Lasallia pensylvanica</i>. This association is not likely to be fire-dependent but is probably fire-adapted. Abundant regeneration of <i>Pinus resinosa</i> in this association has been documented in stands without recent fire. Regeneration occurs in gaps caused by insect pest outbreaks and by ice and wind storms. Cohorts have also established following human-ignited fires and abandonment of pastures. There is evidence of post-settlement fires in many stands of this association, but natural ignitions are rare in its range.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34756-{98945ADB-4E5B-4AE3-8C0B-504277C8B4A2}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
7
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