Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

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USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Colonial National Historical Park COMMON NAME (PARK-SPECIFIC): COASTAL PLAIN DRY CALCAREOUS FOREST SYNONYMS USNVC English Name: Chinquapin Oak / Eastern Redbud / Bosc's Witchgrass - Common Eastern Brome - Robin's-plantain - Eastern Columbine Forest USNVC Scientific Name: Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis / Dichanthelium boscii - Bromus pubescens - Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus - Aquilegia canadensis Forest USNVC Identifier: CEGL007748 LOCAL INFORMATION Environmental Description: Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forest is found on xeric to subxeric, fertile habitats on southeast- to southwest-facing, usually convex slopes of deep ravines or stream-fronting bluffs that have downcut into Tertiary shell deposits. Shell fragments are often abundantly exposed by sheet erosion. Vegetation Description: Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forest is an open, deciduous forest or woodland. Some stands of this association tend toward a woodland physiognomy, with lowstatured, gnarled trees. Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak) is a constant codominant or dominant overstory tree, occurring with a variety of associates, including Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple), Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory), Fagus grandifolia (American beech), Juglans nigra (black walnut), Quercus alba (white oak), and Quercus falcata (southern red oak). Small tree and shrub associates include Cercis canadensis var. canadensis (eastern redbud), Celtis occidentalis (common hackberry), Cornus florida (flowering dogwood), Diospyros virginiana (common persimmon), Ilex opaca var. opaca (American holly), Ostrya virginiana (hophornbeam), and Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar). The herb layer is usually patchy but relatively species-rich with a mixture of mesophytic and xerophytic species. Graminoids species such as Dichanthelium commutatum (variable panicgrass), Sorghastrum elliottii (slender Indiangrass), Chasmanthium sessiliflorum (longleaf woodoats), Danthonia spicata (poverty oatgrass), Dichanthelium boscii (Bosc's panicgrass), Elymus villosus (hairy wildrye), and Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) can occur as patch dominants with scattered, numerous forbs species. Other species typically found in the herb layer include Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine), Arabis laevigata var. laevigata (smooth rockcress), Arnoglossum atriplicifolium (pale Indian plaintain), Carex albicans var. australis (stellate sedge), Carex laxiflora var. laxiflora (broad looseflower sedge), Chasmanthium sessiliflorum (longleaf woodoats), Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus (robin's plantain), Galium circaezans (licorice bedstraw), Geum virginianum (cream avens), Polygonatum biflorum var. biflorum (smooth Solomon's-seal), Packera aurea (golden ragwort), Smallanthus uvedalius (hairy leafcup), Verbesina virginica (white crownbeard), and Verbesina occidentalis (yellow crownbeard). Disturbed stands of this type may have high cover (25-50%) of Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree) in the canopy. Herb cover can range from 25-50%. 220
USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Colonial National Historical Park Most Abundant Species: Stratum Lifeform Species Tree canopy Broad-leaved deciduous tree Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak) Characteristic Species: Cercis canadensis var. canadensis (eastern redbud), Dichanthelium boscii (Bosc's panicgrass), Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar), Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak). Other Noteworthy Species: Species GRank Type Note Fleischmannia incarnata (pink thoroughwort) - plant VA imperiled (S2) Ponthieva racemosa (hairy shadow witch) - plant VA watchlist (S3) Verbena scabra (sandpaper vervain) - plant VA imperiled (S2) Verbesina virginica var. virginica (white crownbeard) - plant VA watchlist (S3) Viburnum rufidulum (rusty blackhaw) Subnational Distribution with Crosswalk Data: - plant VA watchlist (S3S4) State SRank Rel Conf SName Reference VA S1 = 1 Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Fleming et al. 2006 Forest / Woodland Local Range: This association is mapped in the vicinity of Yorktown Battlefield on the ravine slopes of Ballard Creek, a tributary of Yorktown Creek, and around Wormley Pond. It is also found at King Creek / Ringfield. Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forest is mapped as nine polygons in Colonial National Historical Park, covering a total of 5.8 hectares (14.9 acres). Classification Comments: This forest is distinguished from Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest by its more open canopy structure, more graminoid species cover, the occurrence of Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar), and general absence of the mesic species that characterize Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest like Asimina triloba (pawpaw), Lindera benzoin (northern spicebush), Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot), Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair), and Actaea racemosa (=Cimicifuga racemosa, black bugbane). Also, Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest tends to have a more lush and better developed herbaceous strata with upwards of 50-75% coverage. Other Comments: This community is restricted to dry, calcium-rich, shell-containing soils of the eastern Virginia and Maryland Coastal Plain. This community is naturally rare and restricted to a specialized edaphic situation that is regionally restricted and extremely rare within this region. All examples of this native plant association in Colonial National Historical Park meet the criteria to be considered Natural Heritage exemplary natural community occurrences and should be targets for conservation and management. All examples are subject to encroachment by invasive weeds. Stands are also subject to blowdowns and downfalls caused by soil slumping, especially where trees are rooted on very steep, erosive slopes. Local Description Authors: K. D. Patterson. Plots: COLO.1, COLO.3, COLO.13, COLO.14, COLO.15, COLO.16. Colonial National Historical Park Inventory Notes: Information not available. GLOBAL INFORMATION USNVC CLASSIFICATION Physiognomic Class Forest (I) Physiognomic Subclass Deciduous forest (I.B.) Physiognomic Group Cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.) Physiognomic Subgroup Natural/Semi-natural cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.N.) Formation Lowland or submontane cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.N.a.) Alliance Quercus muehlenbergii - (Acer saccharum) Forest Alliance (A.1912) 221
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