Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
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<strong>USGS</strong>-NPS <strong>Vegetation</strong> <strong>Mapping</strong> Program<br />
Colonial National Historical Park<br />
COMMON NAME (PARK-SPECIFIC): PIEDMONT / LOW ELEVATION MIXED OAK /<br />
HEATH FOREST<br />
SYNONYMS<br />
USNVC English Name: White Oak - (Scarlet Oak, Black Oak, Chestnut Oak) / Black<br />
Huckleberry Forest<br />
USNVC Scientific Name: Quercus alba - Quercus (coccinea, velutina, prinus) /<br />
Gaylussacia baccata Forest<br />
USNVC Identifier: CEGL008521<br />
LOCAL INFORMATION<br />
Environmental Description: Piedmont / Low Elevation Mixed Oak / Heath Forest is found on<br />
xeric sites over well-drained, s<strong>and</strong>y soils derived from fluvial terrace gravels.<br />
<strong>Vegetation</strong> Description: This xeric deciduous oak forest has a canopy dominated by Quercus<br />
alba (white oak) occurring with Quercus prinus (chestnut oak) <strong>and</strong> Pinus virginiana (Virginia<br />
pine). Other canopy <strong>and</strong> subcanopy associates can include Quercus falcata (southern red oak),<br />
Quercus stellata (post oak), Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak), Nyssa sylvatica (blackgum), <strong>and</strong><br />
Acer rubrum (red maple). Oxydendrum arboreum (sourwood) <strong>and</strong> Ilex opaca var. opaca<br />
(American holly) are common in subcanopy or tall-shrub strata. Herbs such as Mitchella repens<br />
(partridgeberry), Monotropa uniflora (Indianpipe), <strong>and</strong> Chimaphila maculata (striped prince's<br />
pine) are absent to very sparse. Short ericaceous shrubs dominate the ground layer, most<br />
commonly Gaylussacia baccata (black huckleberry), but other common shrub species include<br />
Gaylussacia frondosa (blue huckleberry), Vaccinium pallidum (Blue Ridge blueberry), <strong>and</strong><br />
Vaccinium stamineum (deerberry).<br />
Most Abundant Species:<br />
Stratum Lifeform Species<br />
Tree canopy Broad-leaved deciduous tree Quercus alba (white oak),<br />
Quercus prinus (chestnut oak)<br />
Short shrub/sapling Broad-leaved deciduous shrub Gaylussacia baccata (black huckleberry)<br />
Characteristic Species: Gaylussacia baccata (black huckleberry), Quercus alba (white oak),<br />
Quercus prinus (chestnut oak).<br />
Other Noteworthy Species: Information not available.<br />
Subnational Distribution with Crosswalk Data:<br />
State SRank Rel Conf SName<br />
Reference<br />
VA SNR* B 1 Oak / Heath Forest Fleming et al. 2006<br />
Local Range: This association is mapped as a single polygon in the College Creek / Kingsmill<br />
area of Colonial National Historical Park.<br />
<strong>Classification</strong> Comments: This type is distinguished from Acidic Oak - Hickory Forest by the<br />
presence of a dense, almost continuous ericaceous shrub layer, the absence or lower frequency of<br />
Carya (hickory) species, <strong>and</strong> the absence or very low cover of herbaceous species.<br />
Other Comments: The vegetation in Colonial National Historical Park was classified as this<br />
association because of the dominance of Gaylussacia baccata (black huckleberry) <strong>and</strong> presence<br />
of Quercus prinus (chestnut oak). Despite the occurrence in the Coastal Plain, it is<br />
compositionally more similar to oak / heath forests of the Piedmont <strong>and</strong> low elevations of the<br />
Central Appalachians, than those classed as Coastal Plain Mixed Oak / Heath Forest<br />
(CEGL006269).<br />
Local Description Authors: K. D. Patterson.<br />
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