Name:
Juniperus virginiana / Morella pensylvanica Woodland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This maritime woodland community dominated by <i>Juniperus virginiana</i> occurs on sand dunes, upper edges of salt marshes, and less commonly on rocky headlands of the northern and mid-Atlantic coast from Delaware to Massachusetts. The physiognomy of this association is variable, ranging from dense tall-shrub thickets to open woodlands; trees are generally shorter than 4 m. Canopy trees are stunted and salt-pruned. <i>Juniperus virginiana</i> may form pure stands, but more often grows in association with <i>Pinus rigida, Quercus stellata, Prunus serotina, Amelanchier canadensis, Ilex opaca, Celtis occidentalis</i>, or <i>Quercus velutina</i>, which tend to have low percent cover. In the southern portion of the range <i>Pinus taeda, Quercus falcata, Sassafras albidum, Diospyros virginiana</i>, and <i>Quercus phellos</i> can be infrequent canopy associates. A shrub layer may be well-developed where the canopy is more open and include <i>Morella pensylvanica, Morella cerifera</i> (at the southern end of the range), <i>Juniperus communis, Baccharis halimifolia, Iva frutescens, Prunus maritima</i>, or <i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i>. Vines can be dense in the shrub layer and extend into the canopy; species include <i>Toxicodendron radicans, Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax glauca</i>, and <i>Parthenocissus quinquefolia</i>. Herbs are usually patchily distributed in openings and include many species from the surrounding dune associations among others. They include <i>Opuntia humifusa, Dichanthelium ovale, Schizachyrium scoparium, Deschampsia flexuosa, Cyperus grayi, Polygonella articulata, Hieracium gronovii, Panicum amarum var. amarulum, Solidago sempervirens, Panicum virgatum, Spartina patens</i>, and <i>Lechea intermedia</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34859-{1DC8724E-BC9C-4FB4-944F-50366F19AC8E}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
4
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