Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

I. FOREST
I.C.3.N.a. Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest
I.C.3.N.a.27. PINUS VIRGINIANA - QUERCUS (ALBA, STELLATA, FALCATA, VELUTINA) FOREST ALLIANCE
Virginia Pine - (White Oak, Post Oak, Southern Red Oak, Black Oak) Forest Alliance

Concept: This alliance includes forests with mixed evergreen/deciduous canopies composed primarily of Pinus virginiana, with various admixtures of the nominal Quercus spp. (Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, Quercus falcata, Quercus velutina). The application of this alliance is currently restricted to the pine barrens of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

Comments: Communities of the southeastern United States formerly attributed to this alliance are now covered in Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance (A.131) and other deciduous alliances. Further review is needed to ascertain whether or not this alliance is applicable to vegetation of the Piedmont, Shawnee Hills of Kentucky (J. Campbell pers. comm.), and possibly other parts of the Interior Low Plateau.

Range: Vegetation of this alliance is found in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey. Its attribution to Virginia and West Virginia is unclear.

States/Provinces: DE MD NJ VA

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ab:CCC, 232Ac:CCC, 232Br:CCC, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bx:CCC

Synonymy: Virginia Pine - Oak: 78, in part (Eyre 1980); Serpentine Virginia pine - oak forest (Fike 1999); Virginia pine - mixed hardwood forest (Fike 1999); Eastern Serpentine Barren, in part (Smith 1991); Xeric Central Hardwood - Conifer Forest (Smith 1991)

References: Chapman 1957, Eyre 1980, Fike 1999, Schmalzer and DeSelm 1982, Smith 1991

Authors: ECS, East Identifier: A.407

Concept: This xeric pine forest of the central Atlantic Coastal Plain occurs on inland sand dune ridges. Pinus virginiana is codominant with a variety of oak species, including Quercus falcata, Quercus nigra, Quercus alba, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. Carya pallida and Carya alba (= Carya tomentosa) can also occur. Other canopy and subcanopy associates may include Sassafras albidum, Pinus taeda, Quercus prinus, Quercus marilandica, Prunus serotina, Cornus florida, Nyssa sylvatica, and Diospyros virginiana. The shrub layer may include Gaylussacia frondosa, Ilex opaca, Vaccinium pallidum (= Vaccinium vacillans), Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, Comptonia peregrina, and Vaccinium stamineum. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse, but is more abundant in openings. Characteristic herbs may include Cypripedium acaule, Carex tonsa, Carex nigromarginata, Carex albicans, Carex albicans var. emmonsii (= Carex emmonsii), Tephrosia virginiana, Tephrosia spicata, Dichanthelium commutatum, Dichanthelium ovale, Chimaphila maculata, Melampyrum lineare, and Mitchella repens. Less frequent species may include Euphorbia ipecacuanhae, Baptisia tinctoria, Lupinus perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Chimaphila umbellata, Monotropa uniflora, and Desmodium strictum. Lichens of the genera Cladonia and Cladina are common. Vines such as Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Vitis rotundifolia are common at low cover.

Comments: The origin of this type in New Jersey was suspected to be post-agricultural (Breden 1989), but this should be further explored, because of the recent identification of Carya pallida on the New Jersey Coastal Plain (A. Windisch pers. comm.). The ancient xeric dunes in Maryland may also be this type.

Range: Currently described from Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey.

States/Provinces: DE:S?, MD:S?, NJ:S?, VA:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ab:CCC, 232Ac:CCC, 232Br:CCC, 232Bt:CCC, 232Bx:CCC

Synonymy: Virginia pine - oak forest (Breden 1989)

References: Berdine 1998, Bowman 2000, Breden 1989, Breden et al. 2001, Clancy 1996, Fleming et al. 2001, Windisch pers. comm.

Authors: ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL006354

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report I.C. Mixed evergreen-deciduous forest

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