Name:
Appalachian Mafic - Circumneutral Cliff Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance is made up of sparse or patchy vegetation of mafic or circumneutral rock cliffs in which <i>Physocarpus opulifolius</i> or <i>Rhus aromatica</i> are usually present, but species composition and structure are highly variable among sites. On calcareous substrates, stands are characterized by <i>Rhus aromatica</i> and <i>Celtis tenuifolia</i>, with <i>Carex eburnea</i> as a characteristic herb; <i>Quercus muehlenbergii</i> is often present as a tall shrub or tree. Other shrubs which may be present include <i>Frangula caroliniana, Paxistima canbyi, Philadelphus hirsutus, Physocarpus opulifolius, Ptelea trifoliata, Viburnum prunifolium</i>, and <i>Zanthoxylum americanum</i>. <i>Rhus aromatica</i> and <i>Physocarpus opulifolius</i> also occur on mafic cliffs, along with some basophilic species such as <i>Aquilegia canadensis, Arabis</i> spp., <i>Sanguinaria canadensis</i>, and others. <i>Schizachyrium scoparium</i> and <i>Asplenium</i> spp. occur with some frequency, but species composition is highly variable in this alliance, supporting flora that is a mix of drought-tolerant, shade-intolerant species such as <i>Campanula divaricata, Cheilanthes lanosa, Cheilanthes tomentosa, Danthonia spicata, Hieracium venosum, Opuntia humifusa, Packera plattensis, Phlox subulata ssp. subulata, Pleopeltis polypodioides, Tephrosia virginiana, Tradescantia subaspera, Tsuga caroliniana</i>, and others. This alliance occurs in the Piedmont, Interior Low Plateau, and Southern Blue Ridge on steep to vertical outcrops of mafic igneous or metamorphic rocks, including gabbro, amphibolite, greenstone, basalt, and sometimes andesite and diorite.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39204-{73F8459B-A42F-41D2-9B04-A27EDF4C735D}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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