Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

II. WOODLAND
II.C.3.N.a. Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous woodland
II.C.3.N.a.19. PINUS RIGIDA - QUERCUS (COCCINEA, VELUTINA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE
Pitch Pine - (Scarlet Oak, Black Oak) Woodland Alliance

Concept: This alliance contains mixed woodlands of well-drained, nutrient-poor sandy soils, often closely associated with pine barrens communities. This alliance occurs less commonly on bedrock ledges. The canopy is usually dominated by Pinus rigida and Quercus coccinea, with Quercus velutina, Quercus alba, and Pinus strobus in association. Quercus ilicifolia, Quercus prinoides may form a subcanopy, and ericaceous shrubs such as Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium pallidum are common. Light-demanding species are common in these communities: Schizachyrium scoparium, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Carex pensylvanica, Hudsonia tomentosa, Hudsonia ericoides, and Lechea mucronata (= Lechea villosa).

Range: This alliance occurs in New York, southern New England, and likely occurs in New Jersey. Its occurrence outside the northeastern United States has not yet been evaluated. It does not occur in Maryland.

States/Provinces: CT MA MD NH NJ NY PA RI WV

TNC Ecoregions: 49:P, 59:C, 60:C, 61:C, 62:C, 63:C

USFS Ecoregions: 212Fa:CCC, 212Fb:CCC, 212Fc:CCC, 212Fd:CCC, 212Ga:CCC, 212Gb:CCC, 221Aa:CCP, 221Ab:CCP, 221Ac:CCP, 221Ad:CCP, 221Ae:CCC, 221Af:CCC, 221Ag:CCC, 221Ah:CCP, 221Ai:CCC, 221Ak:CCC, 221Al:CCP, 221Bc:CCP, 221Bd:CCC, 221Ea:CPP, 221Fa:CPP, 232Aa:CCC, M212Bb:CCP, M212Bc:CCP, M212Bd:CCP, M212Cb:CCC, M212Cc:CCP, M212Ea:CPP, M212Eb:CPP, M221Aa:CCP, M221Bd:CPP, M221Cb:CPP

Synonymy: Maritime Pitch Pine on Dunes (Swain and Kearsley 2001); Coastal Forest/Woodland (Swain and Kearsley 2001); Pitch Pine - Oak Forest / Woodland (Swain and Kearsley 2001); Pitch pine - mixed hardwood woodland (Fike 1999); Ridgetop Dwarf-tree Forest, in part (Smith 1991); Pitch Pine: 45, in part (Eyre 1980)

References: Eyre 1980, Fike 1999, Smith 1991, Swain and Kearsley 2001

Authors: ECS, East Identifier: A.687

Concept: This type includes dry oak-pine woodlands in the Lower New England region and on dry eastern slopes in the High Alleghenies. The open canopy is codominated by Pinus rigida and Quercus coccinea and/or Quercus velutina. Quercus alba and Pinus strobus may be present as well. The shrub layer may include Quercus ilicifolia, Quercus prinoides, and/or ericaceous shrubs such as Gaylussacia baccata, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Vaccinium pallidum. Light-demanding species such as Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia spicata, and Carex pensylvanica are common in this community. Other associates include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Hudsonia tomentosa, Hudsonia ericoides, and Lechea mucronata (= Lechea villosa). It occurs on well-drained, nutrient-poor sandy soils, often associated with pine barrens communities. It also occurs on bedrock ledges / ridges.

States/Provinces: CT:S?, MA:S5,S2, MD:S?, NH:S?, NJ:S?, NY:S3S4, PA:S?, RI:S?, WV:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 49:P, 60:C, 61:C, 63:?

USFS Ecoregions: 212Fa:CCC, 212Fb:CCC, 212Fc:CCC, 212Fd:CCC, 212Ga:CCC, 212Gb:CCC, 221Ae:CCC, 221Af:CCC, 221Ag:CCC, 221Ah:CCP, 221Ai:CCC, 221Al:CCP, 221Bd:CCC, 221Ea:CPP, 221Fa:CPP, M212Bb:CCP, M212Bc:CCP, M212Bd:CCP, M212Cb:CCC, M212Cc:CCP, M212Ea:CPP, M212Eb:CPP

Synonymy: SNE dry oak/pine forest on sandy/gravelly soils (Rawinski 1984) B. in part, SNE dry oak/pine forests on acidic bedrock or till (Rawinski 1984) B. in part

References: Breden et al. 2001, Fike 1999, Lundgren 2000, Lundgren 2001, Rawinski 1984, Swain and Kearsley 2001

Authors: ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL006166

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report III. Shrubland

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