Name:
Morella pensylvanica - Prunus maritima Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This association comprises maritime dune shrublands of protected slopes and hollows of dry, stabilized maritime backdunes along the northern Atlantic Coast. It is dominated by <i>Morella pensylvanica</i> and <i>Prunus maritima</i>. Additional shrubs that are commonly present but with low cover can include <i>Rosa carolina, Rosa rugosa, Baccharis halimifolia, Rhus typhina</i>, or <i>Juniperus virginiana</i>. Although <i>Rosa rugosa</i> is not a native species, it is naturalized and is nearly restricted to this vegetation, where it grows in similar habit and physiognomy as the other two shrubs characteristic of this vegetation. The herbaceous layer tends to be sparse and low, particularly where shrub growth is dense, and can include dune grassland or adjacent upland species such as <i>Ammophila breviligulata, Solidago sempervirens, Hudsonia tomentosa, Lechea maritima, Juncus greenei, Carex silicea, Polygonella articulata, Symphyotrichum subulatum, Solidago rugosa, Achillea millefolium, Oenothera parviflora, Euthamia</i> spp., <i>Cyperus grayi, Cyperus polystachyos, Schizachyrium scoparium</i>, and others. Typical vine associates are <i>Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia</i>, and <i>Smilax</i> spp. Large patches of open unvegetated or sparsely vegetated sand are present in some examples. Depending on exposure, these shrublands range from over 2 m tall in sheltered areas to less than 1 m tall in areas with greater exposure to winds and storms.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34942-{36926DC0-319F-4770-8E0E-21526B830E9E}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
3
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