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Ecological Association Comprehensive Report:
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Juniperus virginiana - Pinus virginiana / Smilax rotundifolia Serpentine Forest
Translated Name: Eastern Red-cedar - Virginia Pine / Roundleaf Greenbrier Serpentine Forest
Common Name: Red-cedar - Virginia Pine / Greenbrier Serpentine Forest
Unique Identifier: CEGL006440
Classification Approach: International Vegetation Classification (IVC)
Summary: This serpentine plant community of Pennsylvania and Maryland is associated with soils derived from weathered serpentine bedrock and typically occurs on the upper portions of moderate to steep slopes (typically 5-25°) commonly with a northerly and/or easterly aspect. Soils are typically well-drained and somewhat moist to dry. Soil texture is characteristically silt loam or clay loam and may be stony to stone-free. Soil depth varies from 4 cm to >30 cm but is typically 10 to 20 cm deep. The dominant canopy trees are Pinus virginiana and Juniperus virginiana. Sassafras albidum and Acer rubrum also are present but are not abundant in the canopy. The low-shrub layer is sparse and consists mainly of occasional hardwood seedlings. The dense shade of the conifer overstory and the accumulation of needle litter have produced a depauperate herbaceous layer. Smilax rotundifolia is the dominant species in the herbaceous layer and also acts as a liana, climbing into the conifer canopy and forming an often impenetrable curtain. Characteristic herbaceous species include Microstegium vimineum, Danthonia spicata, and Polystichum acrostichoides.
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Classification |
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Classification Confidence: Moderate
Classification Comments: This and a number of other serpentine vegetation community types were described by Podniesinski et al. (1999); subsequently, former Pinus rigida / Schizachyrium scoparium - Scleria pauciflora Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL006159) was archived as the type was too broad given the more recent data describing more specific community types occurring within the eastern serpentine barrens.
Vegetation Hierarchy |
Class |
1 - Forest & Woodland |
Subclass |
1.B - Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland |
Formation |
1.B.2 - Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland |
Division |
1.B.2.Na - Eastern North American Forest & Woodland |
Macrogroup |
Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland |
Group |
Virginia Pine - Table Mountain Pine Woodland & Barrens |
Alliance |
Appalachian Pitch Pine Serpentine Woodland |
This is the revised vegetation hierarchy. For more information see Classification Sources and usnvc.org.
Similar Associations |
Unique Identifier |
Name |
CEGL006266 |
Pinus virginiana / Quercus marilandica Serpentine Ruderal Forest |
CEGL006290 |
Pinus rigida - Quercus (velutina, montana) Forest |
CEGL006316 |
Deschampsia cespitosa - Vernonia noveboracensis Serpentine Seep |
CEGL006438 |
Acer rubrum - Quercus spp. / Smilax spp. Serpentine Forest |
CEGL006439 |
Acer rubrum - Pinus virginiana - Pinus rigida / Smilax spp. Serpentine Forest |
CEGL006441 |
Sorghastrum nutans - Schizachyrium scoparium Serpentine Grassland |
CEGL006442 |
Schizachyrium scoparium - Sporobolus heterolepis Serpentine Grassland |
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Related Concepts from Other Classifications |
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Related Subnational Community Units
These data are subject to substantial ongoing revision and may be out of date for some states.
In the U.S., contact the state Heritage Program for the most complete and up-to-date information at: http://www.natureserve.org/natureserve-network.
Information from programs in other jurisdictions will be posted when they are made available.
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Subnation |
Concept Name |
Relationship to Standard |
Confidence |
Reference |
Pennsylvania |
Serpentine Virginia pine - oak forest |
Broader
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Fike 1999
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Other Related Concepts |
Related
Concept Name: Smith's Eastern Serpentine Barren |
Relationship:
B - Broader
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Reference:
Podniesinski, G., A. Leimanis, and J. Ebert. 1999. Serpentine plant community classification. Unpublished data. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, PA. 14 pp. |
Ecological Systems Placement |
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Ecological Systems Placement |
Ecological System Unique ID |
Ecological System Name |
CES202.347 |
Eastern Serpentine Woodland |
NatureServe
Conservation Status |
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Global Status: G1G2
(20Sep2005)
Rounded Global Status: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Reasons: New ranking will need to be developed for each serpentine association.
Distribution |
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United States Distribution: MD, PA
Global Distribution: United States
Global Range: This community occurs in serpentine barrens located within Chester and Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania and Cecil County in Maryland.
U.S. Forest Service Ecoregions |
Domain
Name: Humid Temperate Domain |
Division
Name: Hot Continental Division |
Province
Name: |
Eastern Broadleaf Forest (Oceanic) Province |
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Province
Code: 221 |
Occurrence
Status:
Confident or certain
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Section
Name: |
Northern Appalachian Piedmont Section |
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Section
Code: 221D |
Occurrence
Status:
Confident or certain
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Division
Name: Subtropical Division |
Province
Name: |
Outer Coastal Plain Mixed Forest Province |
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Province
Code: 232 |
Occurrence
Status:
Confident or certain
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Section
Name: |
Coastal Plains and Flatwoods, Lower Section |
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Section
Code: 232B |
Occurrence
Status:
Confident or certain
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Vegetation |
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Vegetation Summary: The dominant canopy trees are Pinus virginiana and Juniperus virginiana. Sassafras albidum and Acer rubrum also are present but are not abundant in the canopy. The low-shrub layer is sparse and consists mainly of occasional hardwood seedlings. The dense shade of the conifer overstory and the accumulation of needle litter have produced a depauperate herbaceous layer. Smilax rotundifolia is the dominant species in the herbaceous layer and also acts as a liana, climbing into the conifer canopy and forming an often impenetrable curtain. Characteristic herbaceous species include Microstegium vimineum, Danthonia spicata, and Polystichum acrostichoides.
Vegetation Composition (incomplete)
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Species Name |
Rounded Global Status |
Growth
Form |
Stratum |
Charact-
eristic |
Dominant |
Constant |
Cover Class % |
Con-
stancy
%
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Juniperus virginiana |
G1 |
Needle-leaved tree |
Tree canopy |
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Pinus virginiana |
G1 |
Needle-leaved tree |
Tree canopy |
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Microstegium vimineum |
G1 |
Graminoid |
Herb (field) |
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Smilax rotundifolia |
G1 |
Liana |
Herb (field) |
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Environmental Setting |
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Wetland Indicator: N
Environmental Summary: This serpentine plant community is associated with soils derived from weathered serpentine bedrock and typically occurs on the upper portions of moderate to steep slopes (typically 5-25°) commonly with a northerly and/or easterly aspect. Soils are typically well-drained and somewhat moist to dry. Soil texture is characteristically silt loam or clay loam and may be stony to stone-free. Soil depth varies from 4 cm to >30 cm but is typically 10 to 20 cm deep.
Dynamic Processes |
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Dynamics: This plant community is adapted to the weathering of serpentine bedrock. It was once thought that the lack of canopy cover was maintained by the unique edaphic features of the chrome series soils, but in the last 20 years, many sites have been invaded by dense Pinus virginiana (Tyndall 1992a). In this community, Virginia pine and eastern red-cedar are the canopy dominants. This phenomenon dramatically alters the light regime and promotes substantial soil development (up to 10 cm in 20 years). Under these conditions, an entirely different community develops as the influence of the bedrock is buffered by the soil/litter accumulation. This closed-canopy serpentine forest exhibits a dense understory of Smilax rotundifolia. Some of the characteristic herbaceous serpentine species apparently persist in the ground layer as scattered non-flowering individuals; other populations appear to die out but may persist in the seed bank. Selective cutting has been effective in restoring degraded sites to their previous composition and structure, but most researchers believe that without regular burning to prevent soil development the serpentine plant communities will not persist. There is substantial evidence that most of the existing areas were regularly burned by Native Americans (Marye 1920, 1955a, 1955b, 1955c) and perhaps maintained by grazing after European settlement.
Plot Sampling & Classification Analysis
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Plots stored in VegBank
Authors/Contributors |
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Concept Author(s): G. Podniesinski, A. Leimanis, and J. Ebert (1999)
Element Description Edition Date: 20Sep2005
Element Description Author(s): G. Podniesinski, A. Leimanis, J. Ebert, M. Anderson
NatureServe Conservation Status Factors Edition Date: 20Sep2005
NatureServe Conservation Status Factors Author(s): L.A. Sneddon and E.F. Largay
Ecological data developed by NatureServe and its network of natural heritage programs
(see Local Programs)
and other contributors and cooperators (see Sources).
References |
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- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
- Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
- Marye, W. B. 1920. The old Indian road. Maryland Historical Magazine 15:107-124, 208-229, 345-395.
- Marye, W. B. 1955a. The great Maryland barrens I. Maryland Historical Magazine 50:11-23.
- Marye, W. B. 1955b. The great Maryland barrens II. Maryland Historical Magazine 50:124-142.
- Marye, W. B. 1955c. The great Maryland barrens III. Maryland Historical Magazine 50:234-253.
- Podniesinski, G., A. Leimanis, and J. Ebert. 1999. Serpentine plant community classification. Unpublished data. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, PA. 14 pp.
- Smith, T. L. No date (a). Natural ecological communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory, East, Harrisburg, PA. 97 pp.
- Tyndall, R. W. 1989. Aerial photo analysis of woody plant succession in eight Delmarva bays. Unpublished report for The Nature Conservancy. MD. 10 pp.
- Tyndall, R. W. 1992a. Historical considerations of conifer expansion in Maryland serpentine "barrens." Castanea 57:123-131.
- Tyndall, R. W., and P. M. Farr. 1989. Vegetation structure and flora of a serpentine pine-cedar savanna in Maryland. Castanea 54:191-199.
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