Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

I. FOREST
I.A.8.N.g. Saturated temperate or subpolar needle-leaved evergreen forest
I.A.8.N.g.300. PINUS TAEDA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE
Loblolly Pine Saturated Forest Alliance

Concept: Saturated forests dominated by Pinus taeda that may occur adjacent to salt marsh on the bay side of barrier islands. Acer rubrum, Persea palustris, and Liquidambar styraciflua also may be present in the canopy. The understory may have strong dominance by vine species including Smilax rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, and Parthenocissus quinquefolia.

Comments: Assateague association may be better placed in a temporarily flooded formation (G. Fleming pers. comm.).

Range: This alliance is found in North Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, and possibly elsewhere. Occurs on the Northwest and North Landing rivers in North Carolina.

States/Provinces: DE MD NC NJ VA

TNC Ecoregions: 57:C, 58:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ab:CCP, 232Bx:CCP, 232Bz:CCC, 232C:CC

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island)

Synonymy: Estuarine Fringe Loblolly Pine Forest (Schafale and Weakley 1990); pine woodland, in part (Higgins et al. 1971); Woodland community, in part (Hill 1986); mature loblolly pine stands of wet sites, in part (Bratton and Davison 1987); loblolly pine association, in part (Brush et al. 1980); coniferous swamp (Shreve et al. 1910); Loblolly Pine: 81, in part (Eyre 1980)

References: Bratton and Davison 1987, Brush et al. 1980, Eyre 1980, Fleming pers. comm., Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Shreve et al. 1910

Authors: L. SNEDDON, MP, East Identifier: A.3009

Concept: This maritime/coastal wetland forest occurs in backdune depressions with high water tables ranging from Delaware to North Carolina. Examples are characterized by a closed to partially open canopy dominated by Pinus taeda. Other canopy associates may be absent, or may include Acer rubrum, Persea palustris, or Liquidambar styraciflua. The understory is made up of vines, strongly dominated by Smilax rotundifolia, with lesser amounts of Toxicodendron radicans and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. In addition to comprising the majority of the ground layer of these forests, these vines are relatively large-stemmed lianas that contribute significant cover to the canopy by covering the lower branches of trees. Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) is a typical shrub of this community. The herbaceous layer is usually relatively sparse, characterized most frequently by ferns such as Woodwardia areolata, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, or Osmunda cinnamomea, and farther south (in North Carolina) by Chasmanthium laxum. Polygonum pensylvanicum may also occur. On Assateague Island National Seashore, Pinus taeda dominates the canopy, with occasional Acer rubrum. Smilax rotundifolia is the strongly dominant vine of the understory, with lesser amounts of Toxicodendron radicans and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Morella cerifera is also a minor component of this vegetation. Despite the shallow water table and presence of muck, there is little reflection of the influence of hydrology on the vegetation. Trees tend to occur on slightly elevated hummocks, with standing water evident in hollows. Phragmites australis, Rubus argutus, Panicum virgatum, and Polygonum pensylvanicum also occur within this community on Assateague Island National Seashore. Tree diameters range from 12-36 cm dbh. This community occurs primarily on the bay side of the island adjacent to salt marsh. Soils are characterized by moderately shallow muck (15 cm) overlying organic matter-stained sands. This vegetation occurs adjacent to salt marshes, sometimes even forming small 'islands' within high salt marsh.

Range: This community ranges from the coast of Delaware to North Carolina.

States/Provinces: DE:S?, MD:S?, NC:S3?, NJ:S1?, VA:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 57:C, 58:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ab:CCP, 232Bx:CCP, 232Bz:CCC, 232C:CC

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island)

Synonymy: Estuarine Fringe Pine Forest (Loblolly Pine Subtype) (Schafale 2000), Pine woodland (Higgins et al. 1971) B. in part, Woodland community (Hill 1986) B. in part, Mature loblolly pine stands of wet sites (Bratton and Davison 1987) B. at Cape Hatteras., Loblolly pine association (Brush et al. 1980) B. in part, Coniferous swamp (Shreve et al. 1910) =. from eastern Maryland., Loblolly Pine: 81 (Eyre 1980) B. in part

References: Bratton and Davison 1987, Breden et al. 2001, Brush et al. 1980, Eyre 1980, Fleming et al. 2001, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Schafale 2000, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Shreve et al. 1910

Authors: ECS Confidence: 2 Identifier: CEGL006137

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report I.A. Evergreen forest

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