Name:
Pinus rigida / Carex pensylvanica Woodland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This pitch pine woodland of xeric sandy soils occurs in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, possibly ranging north to New England. <i>Pinus rigida</i> is the dominant tree, with <i>Sassafras albidum</i> a common associate. The sparse shrub layer is made up of <i>Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia baccata, Quercus ilicifolia</i>. Vines may be common, including <i>Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia</i>. <i>Carex pensylvanica</i> forms a well-developed herbaceous layer, with <i>Hudsonia ericoides</i> and bryophytes <i>Leucobryum glaucum, Cladina subtenuis, Cladonia squamosa</i> also contributing cover. This community is anthropogenic in origin, but is also known to occur on paleodunes in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.<br /><br />In New Jersey, pitch pine-sedge uplands (PU7) are small-patch, mid-successional forests and woodlands found in much of the Pinelands, especially in sandy areas near wetlands and anthropogenic disturbance sites. The forests often have a closed to partially-open canopy strongly dominated by <i>Pinus rigida</i>, sometimes with minor amounts of <i>Pinus echinata</i> or <i>Pinus virginiana</i> in peripheral areas of the Pinelands. Tree-oaks are typically absent, but can be present in the midstory with 1-5% cover, including <i>Quercus velutina, Quercus stellata</i>, and <i>Quercus marilandica</i>. <i>Sassafras albidum</i> is also a common midstory associate. A shrub oak stratum is typically absent, but minor amounts of shrub-form <i>Quercus marilandica</i> and <i>Quercus ilicifolia</i> are sometimes present with covers of less than 5%. Fire-sensitive hardwoods and holly are rare or absent. Low heath shrubs are usually absent, but can include small amounts of <i>Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, Vaccinium pallidum</i>, and <i>Kalmia angustifolia</i>. The ground cover is typically dominated by <i>Carex pensylvanica</i>, which is diagnostic. Other herbs can also include <i>Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Pteridium aquilinum, Gaultheria procumbens, Hudsonia ericoides</i>, and <i>Cladonia</i> or <i>Cladina</i> spp., especially under canopy openings.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35029-{4C1BE0C1-D26D-492F-B4DE-8B856869B63E}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
5
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