Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

III. SHRUBLAND
III.B.2.N.e. Seasonally flooded cold-deciduous shrubland
III.B.2.N.e.25. MORELLA (CERIFERA, PENSYLVANICA) - VACCINIUM FORMOSUM
SEASONALLY FLOODED SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
(Wax-myrtle, Northern Bayberry) - Southern Highbush Blueberry
Seasonally Flooded Shrubland Alliance

Concept: This alliance includes shrub wetlands of mid-Atlantic barrier islands. The two most characteristic shrubs are Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) and Vaccinium corymbosum. Rosa palustris and Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica) are two other common shrub associates. Unlike the Morella cerifera wetland alliance, this alliance is of generally shorter stature and total shrub cover; and, although quite variable, is usually considerably more open. Herbaceous composition is variable, but Panicum virgatum, Andropogon virginicus, Schizachyrium scoparium, and other grasses are common. Other herbs include Juncus spp., Pluchea foetida, Triadenum virginicum, Drosera intermedia, and Osmunda regalis. Standing water is commonly found in the spring, but water levels may drop substantially toward the end of the summer. The southern range limit of this alliance is not well known, but it is confined to barrier islands from Delaware south.

Comments: Alliance name was changed from Vaccinium corymbosum; formation changed from seasonally / temporarily flooded.

States/Provinces: DE MD NJ VA

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C, 62:C

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

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island)

Synonymy: Shrub bog (Hill 1986); Mesic shrub zone, in part (Higgins et al. 1971); Scrub-shrub/mixed herbaceous interdunal wetland association, in part (McAvoy and Clancy 1994)

References: Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, McAvoy and Clancy 1994

Authors: ECS, East Identifier: A.1010

Concept: This shrub bog community of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey occurs in interdunal depressions of barrier island dunes. This community is a relatively open, short-statured shrub wetland with a thin veneer of peat. The two most characteristic shrubs are Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) and Vaccinium corymbosum. Rosa palustris and Ilex glabra also frequently occur. Panicum virgatum, Andropogon glomeratus, and other grasses are common. Other herbs include Juncus canadensis, Juncus scirpoides, Juncus dichotomus, Pluchea foetida, Triadenum virginicum, Drosera intermedia, Lycopodiella appressa, Xyris torta, and Osmunda regalis.

Range: This shrub bog community occurs in Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.

States/Provinces: DE:S?, MD:S?, NJ:S1S2, VA:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C, 62:C

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

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island)

Synonymy: Mesic shrub zone (Higgins et al. 1971) B. Assateague Island., Shrub bog (Hill 1986) =. Assateague Island., Scrub-shrub/mixed herbaceous interdunal wetland association (McAvoy and Clancy 1994) ?, Mesic shrub thicket (Martin 1959b) ?. New Jersey., Dune shrubland (Breden 1989). in part

References: Breden 1989, Breden et al. 2001, Clancy 1993b, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Martin 1959b, McAvoy and Clancy 1994, TNC 1995c

Authors: S.L. Neid, ECS Confidence: 2 Identifier: CEGL003906

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report III. Shrubland

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