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Quercus montana / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata Woodland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Quercus montana / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata Woodland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: The known range of this vegetation type includes the extreme northern end of the Southern Blue Ridge, the western flank of the Northern Blue Ridge, and the Ridge and Valley region of Virginia and Maryland. The likely global range encompasses the entire Central Appalachian extent of these provinces in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Stands are generally confined to low elevations, up to about 840 m (2760 feet), but exceptionally to 1100 m (3600 feet). Habitats are mostly steep, south- to west-facing, middle to upper slopes with abundant shale outcrops, loose stones, and exposed mineral soils. However, substrates appear to be relatively stable and lack the ongoing erosional processes of shale barrens, which these habitats often border on the landscape. Slope shape is typically convex in at least one direction. Site moisture potential is very low. This community is an open to very open woodland dominated by <i>Quercus montana</i>. Overstory trees are often stunted and gnarled. <i>Quercus rubra</i> and <i>Carya glabra</i> are constant, usually minor canopy associates that attain codominance with <i>Quercus montana</i> locally. <i>Pinus virginiana</i> is an important canopy associate in some situations, but is entirely absent from other stands of the type. Understory tree layers are sparse, consisting mostly of younger reproduction of the canopy species. <i>Quercus ilicifolia, Vaccinium stamineum</i>, and <i>Vaccinium pallidum</i> are the chief species of a patchy shrub layer, which may also include <i>Rosa carolina, Amelanchier arborea</i>, and <i>Viburnum rafinesqueanum</i>. <i>Quercus ilicifolia</i> usually forms open colonies in this community type, rather than the dense thickets characteristic in pyrophytic pine-oak/heath vegetation. The herb layer is typically quite patchy and sparse but contains a surprising diversity of xerophytic graminoids and forbs. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:36586-{EE789AD5-9BB2-4746-8366-5B2FB9143B4D}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 13
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 24-Feb-2010 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683786 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL008526
  Translated: Chestnut Oak / Bear Oak / Poverty Oatgrass Woodland
  Common: Central Appalachian Xeric Shale Woodland (Chestnut Oak / Mixed Herbs Type)
  Scientific: Quercus montana / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata Woodland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL008526
(similar) Quercus prinus / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata Woodland
(similar) Quercus prinus / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata - Solidago bicolor Woodland