Name:
Quercus velutina - Quercus coccinea - Quercus montana / Kalmia latifolia Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This association comprises coastal oak-laurel forests occurring on sandy and gravelly soils on convex slopes. Characteristic dominants are <i>Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina, Quercus montana</i>, and <i>Quercus alba</i>. Pines (<i>Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata</i>, or <i>Pinus virginiana</i>) may be present at low cover in some examples. <i>Kalmia latifolia</i> is the dominant shrub forming extensive, dense patches, with other ericaceous shrubs such as <i>Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum</i>, and <i>Gaylussacia baccata</i> contributing low cover. The herbaceous layer is sparse due to the dense <i>Kalmia latifolia</i> and may include <i>Pteridium aquilinum, Gaultheria procumbens, Carex pensylvanica</i>, and <i>Carex albicans</i>.<br /><br />In New Jersey, oak-pine (and oak) forests with a dense mountain laurel shrub stratum are found on sandy, loamy or ironstone-derived soils on slopes and hilltops in the peripheral Pinelands/Outer Coastal Plain and Inner Coastal Plain. The forests often have a closed to partially-closed canopy characterized by dry-site oaks such as <i>Quercus montana, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea</i>, and <i>Quercus alba</i>. Tree oak cover is typically 50-100%, and shrub oaks are rare or absent. Associate canopy and midstory species can include <i>Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata</i>, and/or <i>Pinus virginiana</i>, with covers typically 5-10% (up to 25%). Other canopy and midstory associates can include minor amounts of <i>Sassafras albidum</i>. Fire-sensitive hardwoods such as <i>Fagus grandifolia, Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica</i>, and <i>Ilex opaca</i> are sometimes present with minor covers (<1-5%), especially as young trees and saplings, but not with enough cover to classify within OH and OPHH subgroups. Dense <i>Kalmia latifolia</i> dominates the shrub layer, often with other heath shrubs present, such as <i>Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa</i>, and <i>Vaccinium pallidum</i>. Herbs are sparse but may include <i>Gaultheria procumbens</i> and <i>Melampyrum lineare</i>. There is a related type or variant of OPM with little or no pine [see oak-mountain laurel mesic forest (OEM)].
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35018-{2249C3AE-4207-4032-AC92-15C161DF5B6D}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
5
|
