Name:
Fraxinus americana - Carya ovata / Frangula caroliniana / Helianthus hirsutus Woodland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This community type is currently known only from a narrow, midslope band of Greenbrier limestone on Little Stone Mountain in Wise County, Virginia, and a narrow band of limestone along the Virginia side of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. The stand in Wise County, VA and associated limestone outcrops extend for more than 2 km and cover at least 100 ha (240 acres). It is an open to very open forest that locally approaches woodland physiognomy. Maximum tree heights are approximately 23 m, but the majority of trees are <20 m in most areas. The mean cover of canopy and subcanopy trees combined is 60-70%. <i>Fraxinus americana, Carya ovata</i>, and <i>Quercus rubra</i> are the most constant and abundant canopy trees. <i>Carya ovalis</i> is a frequent canopy associate, while <i>Acer saccharum var. saccharum</i> and <i>Quercus alba</i> are infrequent but locally important. The former is also present in the 6- to 10-m tall understory stratum, along with <i>Ulmus rubra, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana</i>, and representatives of the other canopy species. <i>Cercis canadensis var. canadensis</i> generally dominates the shrub layer, with <i>Frangula caroliniana, Cornus florida</i>, and <i>Celtis occidentalis</i> as more-or-less constant and common components. <i>Ostrya virginiana</i> may also be present. <i>Toxicodendron radicans</i> and <i>Parthenocissus quinquefolia</i> are common woody vines that frequently reach into the shrub stratum. The herbaceous layer is variable. <i>Polymnia canadensis, Helianthus hirsutus, Helianthus microcephalus</i>, and <i>Salvia urticifolia</i> are constant and relatively abundant herbs that assumes great dominance over some areas. <i>Diarrhena americana</i> is inconstant but locally dominates bouldery slopes in massive colonies. Very locally, on the most xeric and rocky microtopographic positions, tree cover is open enough for light-demanding plants more characteristic of "barrens" or "glades" to thrive. Included in this group of localized species are <i>Andropogon gerardii, Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum, Liatris aspera var. intermedia, Blephilia ciliata, Polygonum scandens var. cristatum</i>, and <i>Solidago speciosa var. speciosa</i>. Sites are similar to those occupied by <i>~Acer saccharum - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis</i> Forest (CEGL006017)$$ but have a higher mean elevation (688 m [2257 feet]), a more south-facing (versus southwest-facing) aspect, and soils with much higher mean calcium levels (mean = 3523 ppm). Soil moisture regime is subxeric, and habitats have high surficial cover of bedrock outcrops, boulders, and stones (mean cover of all three classes combined = 39%).
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:36521-{535C229E-AC86-45B5-AE04-4CF831D9E5BD}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
5
|
