Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

III. SHRUBLAND
III.A.2.N.i. Saturated temperate broad-leaved evergreen shrubland
III.A.2.N.i.100. MORELLA CERIFERA SATURATED SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
Wax-myrtle Saturated Shrubland Alliance

Concept: This alliance includes wetland dune swales and other wetland shrubland situations dominated by Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), including sheltered backdunes, wetland flats, and interdune swales. Associated shrubs may include Baccharis halimifolia, Acer rubrum, Vaccinium formosum, Rosa palustris, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola, and Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica). This shrubland vegetation can form vast thickets in some cases; there may be inclusions of small wetland graminoid-dominated areas. Vines may be frequent and can include Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, Smilax spp., Vitis spp., and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Associated herbaceous species can include Boehmeria cylindrica, Calystegia sepium, Carex albolutescens, Carex hormathodes, Chasmanthium laxum, Festuca rubra, Galium obtusum, Hydrocotyle spp., Juncus dichotomus, Juncus scirpoides, Leersia virginica, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Panicum spp., Polygonum pensylvanicum, and Woodwardia areolata (in the northern part of the range); and Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus, Fimbristylis castanea, Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Juncus roemerianus, Muhlenbergia filipes, as well as Spartina patens and Sabatia stellaris (in southern examples). This is maritime shrub vegetation which generally exists in a tension zone between more exposed or active grassland vegetation and more protected and stable maritime forests. Older stands of maritime shrub vegetation ultimately become dominated by stunted and salt-pruned Quercus virginiana. See also the III.A.2.N.c Quercus virginiana - Ilex vomitoria - (Morella cerifera) Shrubland Alliance (A.785), which generally occurs in drier and more exposed sites. Soils are deep sands of stabilized dunes, with limited if any horizon development. An overlying layer of 'muck' is reported in northern examples.

Range: This alliance is found in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey.

States/Provinces: DE FL GA LA MD NC NJ SC VA

TNC Ecoregions: 31:C, 53:?, 54:P, 55:C, 56:C, 57:C, 58:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ab:CPP, 232Ad:CPP, 232Bq:CC?, 232Bx:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Cb:CCP, 232Ce:CCC, 232Ch:CCP, 232Ci:CCC, 232E:CC, 232Gb:CCC

Federal Lands: DOD (Cape Canaveral, Fort Benning?); NPS (Assateague Island, Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, Fort Pulaski); USFWS (Cape Romain?, Chincoteague, Merritt Island?, Pea Island)

Synonymy: Coastal Interdunal Swale (FNAI 1992a); Maritime interdune shrub vegetation (Ambrose 1990a); Maritime Shrub, in part (Schafale and Weakley 1990); mesic shrub zone, in part (Higgins et al. 1971); Shrub succession community, in part (Hill 1986); thicket community, in part (Boule 1979); swamp thicket, in part (Klotz 1986)

References: Ambrose 1990a, Boule 1979, FNAI 1992a, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Klotz 1986, Schafale and Weakley 1990

Authors: A.S. WEAKLEY 9-94, MOD. E, MP, Southeast Identifier: A.1906

Concept: This mesic shrub community occurs on sheltered maritime backdunes of the mid-Atlantic states. The vegetation is not tidally flooded, although it is impacted by salt spray. The substrate is sand or loamy sand with little or no organic layer. The water table is often less than half a meter below the surface. This community is characterized by a moderately open canopy of Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Baccharis halimifolia, Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), and Rhus copallinum. Spartina patens and Toxicodendron radicans are characteristic of the herbaceous layer, with other associates include Panicum virgatum, Andropogon virginicus, Juncus dichotomus, Solidago sempervirens, Smilax spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Vitis spp., and Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens).   

Comments: This association is differentiated from Morella cerifera / Hydrocotyle verticillata Shrubland (CEGL003840) by the absence of certain wetland species and muck soils, and from Morella cerifera - Vaccinium corymbosum Shrubland (CEGL003906) by the absence of bog species. This association can grade into maritime forest types.

Range: This type occurs from New Jersey to Virginia and possibly farther south to South Carolina.

States/Provinces: DE:S4?, MD:S?, NC?, NJ:S?, SC?, VA?

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

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ab:CPP, 232Bz:CCC, 232Ch:CCP, 232Ci:CCP

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island)

Synonymy: Mesic shrub community (Higgins et al. 1971) B. Assateague Island., Shrub succession community (Hill 1986) B. Assateague Island., Thicket community (Boule 1979) =. Virginia., Upland thicket (Klotz 1986) =. Virginia., Salt grass sea myrtle red cedar savanna (Martin 1959b) ?. New Jersey., Salt grass sea myrtle savanna (Martin 1959b) ?. New Jersey.

References: Berdine 1998, Boule 1979, Bowman 2000, Breden et al. 2001, Fleming 2001, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Klotz 1986, Martin 1959b, Schafale and Weakley 1990

Authors: ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL003809

Comments: The classification of maritime shrublands dominated by Morella cerifera is murky and requires further data for clarification.

Range: Currently described from Maryland and Virginia.

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

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232A:CP, 232Bz:CCC, 232C:CC

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island); USFWS (Chincoteague)

Synonymy: Mesic shrub zone (Higgins et al. 1971) B. Assateague Island., Shrub succession community (Hill 1986) B. Assateague Island., Thicket community (Boule 1979) B. Virginia., Swamp thicket (Klotz 1986) B. Virginia.

References: Berdine 1998, Boule 1979, Fleming 2001, Fleming et al. 2001, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Klotz 1986

Authors: S.L. Neid, ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL003840

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report III. Shrublan

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