Name:
(Pinus virginiana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Eriogonum allenii Wooded Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
These rocky ridge balds are found on upper slopes and ridge crests in a small area of west-central Virginia. Sites for this association include broad, gently to steeply sloping, south- to west-facing spur ridge crests and middle to upper, convex sideslopes. Elevations range from 400 to 900 m. Physiognomy of this shale barren community varies from entirely herbaceous to sparse scrub or woodland. Woody strata, when present, are dominated by scattered <i>Pinus virginiana</i> and/or <i>Juniperus virginiana</i> <10 m tall. <i>Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana</i>, and <i>Celtis tenuifolia</i> are minor, inconstant woody components. <i>Rhus aromatica</i> and <i>Rosa carolina</i> are occasional shrubs. The herb layer is typically rather dense and graminoid-dominated, often giving stands a prairie-like aspect. <i>Schizachyrium scoparium</i> and <i>Carex pensylvanica</i> are consistently dominant herbs, while <i>Danthonia spicata</i> and <i>Dichanthelium linearifolium</i> are constant, locally codominant associates. <i>Andropogon gerardii</i> and <i>Sorghastrum nutans</i> are abundant in a few stands. The shale barren endemic <i>Eriogonum allenii</i> is the most constant and abundant forb. Other relatively constant herbs are <i>Paronychia montana, Houstonia longifolia, Asplenium platyneuron, Allium cernuum, Sedum glaucophyllum, Trifolium virginicum, Cheilanthes lanosa, Polygonum tenue, Scutellaria ovata, Cunila origanoides</i>, and <i>Polygonum scandens var. cristatum</i>. Several other shale barren endemics (or near-endemics) may occasionally occur in this type as well, including <i>Antennaria virginica, Arabis serotina, Clematis albicoma, Clematis viticaulis, Oenothera argillicola, Packera antennariifolia</i>, and <i>Trifolium virginicum</i>. This association is distinguished from other shale barrens by its more open physiognomy (often with few or no trees), low importance or absence of <i>Fraxinus americana</i> and <i>Quercus montana</i>, and high frequency and often high cover of <i>Schizachyrium scoparium</i>. This association occurs only on Devonian and Silurian shale geology. It is most closely related to the circumneutral-calcareous shale barrens and endemic-rich barrens, and differs to a greater degree from the more depauperate acidic shale barren associations. Besides <i>Eriogonum</i>, indicators include <i>Sedum glaucophyllum, Polygonum tenue, Scutellaria ovata, Clematis viticaulis</i>, and <i>Woodsia obtusa</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:36590-{B0AC39A4-56BE-4280-AEED-6909B97E7642}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
19
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