Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

IV. DWARF-SHRUBLAND
IV.A.1.N.a. Caespitose needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen dwarf-shrubland
IV.A.1.N.a.4. HUDSONIA TOMENTOSA DWARF-SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
Woolly Beach-heather Dwarf-shrubland Alliance

Concept: This alliance consists of sandy or rocky areas dominated by Hudsonia tomentosa. This alliance is largely confined to maritime interdunes. This alliance occurs on well-drained sands of back dunes and interdunes, and is documented from Assateague Island; it is a maritime dwarf-shrubland characterized by Hudsonia tomentosa, a species adapted to sand burial. Hudsonia tomentosa is dominant, occurring as discrete patches that may coalesce into a dense mat on older, more stabilized dunes. A number of other shrubs, such as Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Pinus taeda saplings, and Prunus maritima, may occur but are low in abundance and cover. Morella pensylvanica shrubs and Pinus taeda saplings are almost non-existent but can occur as scattered individuals. Herbaceous vegetation is also quite sparse (less than 5% cover) but may include scattered individuals of Panicum amarum var. amarulum, Panicum amarum var. amarum, Solidago sempervirens, Nuttallanthus canadensis, Lechea maritima, Ammophila breviligulata, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (= Gnaphalium obtusifolium), Schizachyrium littorale (= Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale), Dichanthelium acuminatum, Oenothera humifusa, Cyperus grayi, Artemisia stelleriana, Chamaesyce polygonifolia, and Diodia teres. Toxicodendron radicans is a common vine. Scattered vines of Smilax rotundifolia and canes of Rubus argutus are occasional. The unstable substrate is influenced by wind-deposited sand and supports no soil development; large patches of sparsely vegetated or unvegetated sand are common.

Range: Communities in this alliance are locally abundant on coastal dunes from Maine to North Carolina. Inland types have been reported only from New Hampshire and Maine.

States/Provinces: CT DE MA MD ME NC NH NJ NY RI VA

TNC Ecoregions: 57:C, 58:C, 61:C, 62:C, 63:C, 64:C

USFS Ecoregions: 221Ab:CCC, 221Ac:CCC, 221Ad:CCC, 221Ak:CCC, 221Al:CCC, 232Aa:CCC, 232Ac:CCC, 232Bz:CCC, 232Ci:CCC, M221:C

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island, Fire Island)

Synonymy: Maritime heathland. NY (Reschke 1990); Coastal dune shrubland. NJ (Breden 1989); Hudsonia tomentosa dwarf shrub vegetation. CT (Metzler and Barrett 1992); Maritime Dune Community. MA (Swain and Kearsley 2001); Sandplain Heathland. MA (Swain and Kearsley 2001); Hudsonia tomentosa - Ammophila breviligulata dune scrub association. DE (Clancy 1993b); Riverside Hudsonia sand / gravel barren. NH (Sperduto 1994); Inland beach strand and Dry riverbluff opening community. NH (Sperduto 1994); River beach community. ME (MENHP 1991); Hudsonia dunes (Higgins et al. 1971); Hudsonia dune community (Hill 1986); Dunegrass - beach heather - low thicket mixture. NJ (Martin 1959b); dune heath. NY (Johnson 1985b); beach heather community. NJ (Collins and Anderson 1994); dune crest community (Clampitt 1991)

References: Breden 1989, Clampitt 1991, Clancy 1993b, Collins and Anderson 1994, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Johnson 1985b, MENHP 1991, Martin 1959b, Metzler and Barrett 1992, Reschke 1990, Sperduto 1994, Swain 1996, Swain and Kearsley 2001

Authors: A.S. WEAKLEY/L.E. MORSE, RW, East Identifier: A.1062

Concept: This association is a maritime beach heather community of mid-Atlantic sand dunes. The unstable substrate is influenced by wind-deposited sand and supports no soil development; large patches of sparsely vegetated or unvegetated sand are common. The community is characterized by Hudsonia tomentosa occurring as discrete patches that may coalesce into a dense mat on older, more stabilized dunes. A number of other shrubs such as Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Pinus taeda saplings, and rarely Prunus maritima may occur but are low in abundance and cover. Schizachyrium littorale (= Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale), Ammophila breviligulata, Aristida tuberculosa, Spartina patens, and Panicum amarum var. amarulum are common grasses of this community, and Toxicodendron radicans is a common vine. Other herbaceous associates include Lechea maritima, Cyperus grayi, Artemisia stelleriana, Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Solidago sempervirens, and Diodia teres. This community is locally common on coastal dunes from New Jersey to northern North Carolina.

Range: The association is restricted to barrier beaches from New Jersey to northern North Carolina.

States/Provinces: DE:S2, MD:S?, NC:S?, NJ:S1S2, VA:S?

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

USFS Ecoregions: 232Ac:CCC, 232Bz:CCC

Federal Lands: NPS (Assateague Island)

Synonymy: Hudsonia dunes (Higgins et al. 1971) =. Assateague Island., Hudsonia dune community (Hill 1986) =. Assateague Island., Dunegrass - beach heather - low thicket mixture (Martin 1959b) I. New Jersey., Beach heather community (Collins and Anderson 1994) =. New Jersey., Dune crest community (Clampitt 1991) B. Virginia., Hudsonia tomentosa - Ammophila breviligulata dune scrub association (Clancy 1993a) =. Delaware., Coastal dune shrubland (Breden 1989) B. New Jersey.

References: Berdine 1998, Bowman 2000, Breden 1989, Breden et al. 2001, Clampitt 1991, Clancy 1993a, Collins and Anderson 1994, Fleming 2001, Fleming et al. 2001, Higgins et al. 1971, Hill 1986, Martin 1959b, TNC 1995c

Authors: L.A. Sneddon, ECS Confidence: 2 Identifier: CEGL003950

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report IV. Dwarf-shrubland

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