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.7. VACCINIUM FORMOSUM - VACCINIUM FUSCATUM
SEASONALLY FLOODED SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
Southern Highbush Blueberry - Black Highbush Blueberry Seasonally Flooded Shrubland Alliance

Concept: This alliance covers depressional wetlands in uplands of the Coastal Plain, lower and northern Piedmont, and lower New England dominated by Vaccinium formosum, Vaccinium fuscatum, and/or Vaccinium corymbosum as well as other heaths locally, such as Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora, Lyonia lucida, and others. Other shrub/vine species which may be present include Leucothoe racemosa, Smilax walteri, and Viburnum nudum var. nudum. In the northern part of the range, other shrubs include Ilex verticillata, Spiraea alba, and Clethra alnifolia. The shrub coverage sometimes has an open, sparse structure. Trees may be interspersed among the shrubs; these may include Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Pinus palustris, and Pinus taeda. In the north, Nyssa sylvatica or Pinus rigida may occur. Herbaceous species that may be present include Carex crinita, Carex glaucescens, Eleocharis sp., Rhynchospora sp., Scleria sp., and Utricularia gibba. Sphagnum spp. are present in some examples. Vaccinium spp. sometimes exceed 5 m in height, but are placed here.

Range: This alliance is found in uplands of the Coastal Plain, lower and northern Piedmont, and lower New England, south to the Carolinas.

States/Provinces: CT DE MA MD NC NJ NY PA RI SC VA?

TNC Ecoregions: 52:C, 57:C, 58:?, 61:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 231Af:CCC, 232Ab:CCP, 232Ac:CCC, 232Ch:CCC

Federal Lands: USFS (Uwharrie)

Synonymy: Small Depression Pond (Schafale and Weakley 1990); Upland Pool (Schafale and Weakley 1990)

References: Schafale 2000, Schafale and Weakley 1990

Authors: A.S. WEAKLEY, MOD. M. PYN, MP, Southeast Identifier: A.992

Concept: Depressional wetlands in uplands, dominated by Vaccinium formosum, Vaccinium fuscatum, and (locally) other heaths, such as Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora, Lyonia lucida, and others. These ponds are smaller, steeper-sided, and flooded for shorter duration than herbaceous-dominated ponds.

States/Provinces: DE:S?, MD:S?, NC:S2, SC:S?, VA?

TNC Ecoregions: 57:C, 58:?

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ch:CCC

Synonymy: Small Depression Pocosin (Blueberry Subtype) (Schafale 2000)

References: Schafale 2000, Schafale and Weakley 1990

Authors: SCS Confidence: 2 Identifier: CEGL003907

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report III. Shrubland

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