Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program
Colonial National Historical Park
Other Comments: Polygons mapped as this forest may contain inclusions of Disturbed Tidal
Hardwood Swamp. Where there has been extensive wind damage, Successional Mixed Scrub
can occur as inclusions in this forest.
Local Description Authors: K. D. Patterson.
Plots: COLO.25, COLO.101, COLO.102, COLO.104, COLO.105, COLO.106, COLO.107,
COLO.109.
Colonial National Historical Park Inventory Notes: Information not available.
GLOBAL INFORMATION
USNVC CLASSIFICATION
Physiognomic Class Forest (I)
Physiognomic Subclass Mixed evergreen-deciduous forest (I.C.)
Physiognomic Group Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest (I.C.3.)
Physiognomic Subgroup Natural/Semi-natural mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest
(I.C.3.N.)
Formation Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest (I.C.3.N.a.)
Alliance Pinus taeda - Quercus (alba, falcata, stellata) Forest Alliance (A.404)
Alliance (English name) Loblolly Pine - (White Oak, Southern Red Oak, Post Oak) Forest Alliance
Association Pinus taeda - Quercus (alba, falcata, stellata) Successional Coastal Plain Forest
Association (English name) Loblolly Pine - (White Oak, Southern Red Oak, Post Oak) Successional Coastal
Plain Forest
Ecological System(s): Information not available.
GLOBAL DESCRIPTION
Concept Summary: This successional loblolly pine - oak forest of the Maryland and Virginia
Coastal Plain occurs on coarse-textured, shallow dry soils. Abandoned loblolly pine plantations
or early-successional loblolly pine forests established following cessation of agriculture often
succeed to this vegetation as oaks are recruited and form variable proportions of the canopy. The
canopy is dominated by Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) with varying amounts of Quercus alba
(white oak), Quercus falcata (southern red oak), Quercus velutina (black oak), and Quercus
stellata (post oak). Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum) may be present but not generally in
quantity. The shrub layer is of variable closure and is often characterized by Ilex opaca var.
opaca (American holly), Morella cerifera (wax myrtle), or Persea palustris (swamp bay). Vines
such as Smilax rotundifolia (roundleaf greenbrier), Vitis rotundifolia (muscadine), and
Toxicodendron radicans (eastern poison ivy) can contribute considerable cover in the tree
canopy. The herbaceous layer is sparse to non-existent, or is made up of exotic species such as
Microstegium vimineum (Nepalese browntop). This association is considered provisional because
it has not been well-documented and plot data are limited. This association is somewhat similar
to Pinus taeda / Liquidambar styraciflua - Acer rubrum / Vaccinium stamineum Forest
(CEGL006011), and in fact may be preceded by it in successional sequence, but it has a higher
component of hardwoods, especially oaks, in the canopy.
Environmental Description: This association occurs on sandy soils on the Mid-Atlantic
Coastal Plain. It is a mid- to late-successional mixed forest that generally follows plantation
abandonment or cessation of agriculture.
Vegetation Description: Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) is a constant canopy species. Oaks are
generally codominant and can include Quercus falcata (southern red oak), Quercus alba (white
oak), Quercus stellata (post oak), or Quercus velutina (black oak). Liquidambar styraciflua
(sweetgum) is a less prevalent associate. The shrub layer is of variable closure and is often
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