Name:
Carex pensylvanica - Danthonia compressa - Hypericum mitchellianum Grass Bald Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance includes montane grasslands dominated by <i>Danthonia compressa</i> and/or <i>Carex pensylvanica</i>. Some examples have significant cover of <i>Sibbaldiopsis tridentata</i> or <i>Rhododendron calendulaceum</i>. Species dominance is highly variable among and within occurrences. Associated species can include <i>Carex brunnescens, Carex debilis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Oclemena acuminata, Prenanthes roanensis, Smilax herbacea, Solidago glomerata</i>, and <i>Stachys clingmanii</i>. Other associated species include <i>Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Angelica triquinata, Bromus pubescens, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Fragaria virginiana, Helenium autumnale</i>, and <i>Polytrichum commune</i>. The exotic <i>Rumex acetosella</i> may also be present. Typical shrubs are <i>Menziesia pilosa, Pieris floribunda, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rubus canadensis, Vaccinium corymbosum</i>, and <i>Vaccinium simulatum</i>. Examples dominated by <i>Carex pensylvanica</i> are typically ungrazed grass balds with deep soil, and lack significant shrub cover. Grasslands in this alliance occur at the highest elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains, often adjacent to montane shrublands or dwarfed forests dominated by <i>Fagus grandifolia</i> or <i>Quercus rubra</i>. These grasslands occur at high elevations (usually above 1200-1500 m [4000-5000 feet]) in the Southern Blue Ridge, often on south- to southwest-facing domes, ridgetops and gentle slopes. Strong winds, high rainfall, frequent fog, shallow, rocky soils, and extremes of temperature and moisture are characteristic of these environments.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38297-{64674CF4-A0A8-4AB5-A5F7-CBE3AC832DE8}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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