Department of Conservation and Recreation

THE NATURAL COMMUNITIES OF VIRGINIA
CLASSIFICATION OF ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY GROUPS

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Second Approximation (Version 2.5)
Information current as of February, 2012

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Central Appalachian Shale Barrens

This is a variable group of woodlands, shrublands, and open herbaceous rock outcrops occurring on Ridge and Valley shales and Blue Ridge metashales of the central Appalachian Mountains. These small-patch communities are endemic to western Virginia, eastern West Virginia, west-central Maryland, and south-central Pennsylvania. In Virginia, they occur at elevations from 300 to 850 m (1,000 to 2,600 ft). Habitats generally occur on steep (~ 30 degree) slopes with south to west aspects. The steep, xeric slopes and friable nature of the shale create poorly vegetated hillsides of bare bedrock and loose channery visible from afar. Continual undercutting of thick but relatively weak shale strata by streams maintain most shale barrens. Less common, densely graminoid-dominated variants occurring on steep spur ridge crests and other stabilized shale slopes are sometimes referred to as "shale ridge balds" or "shale ridge prairies."

Although stunted trees of several species - e.g ., chestnut oak (Quercus montana, = Quercus prinus), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) and pignut hickory (Carya glabra) - are common, shale barrens are strongly characterized by their relatively open physiognomy and by a suite of uncommon and rare plants found almost exclusively in these habitats. Endemic or near-endemic shale barren species include shale-barren rock-cress (Arabis serotina), white-haired leatherflower (Clematis albicoma), Millboro leatherflower (Clematis viticaulis); also endemic to Virginia), shale-barren wild buckwheat (Eriogonum allenii), shale-barren evening-primrose (Oenothera argillicola), shale-barren ragwort (Packera antennariifolia, = Senecio antennariifolius), and Kate's Mountain clover (Trifolium virginicum). Other more or less widespread and characteristic herbaceous species of Virginia shale barrens include Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), poverty oat-grass (Danthonia spicata), wavy hairgrass (Deschampsia flexuosa var. flexuosa), moss phlox (Phlox subulata), mountain nailwort (Paronychia montana), rock spike-moss (Selaginella rupestris), shale-barren Pussytoes (Antennaria virginica), Canada cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis), smooth sunflower (Helianthus laevigatus), false boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides var. eupatorioides), hairy woodmint (Blephilia ciliata), and western wallflower (Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum), Bath and Alleghany Counties).

Somewhat more closed shale woodlands occupy some shale barrens and often occur adjacent to more open barrens on slightly more stable slopes. These woodlands are generally dominated or co-dominated by Virginia pine and chestnut oak, with bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), deciduous heaths (e.g., Vaccinium spp.) often prevalent in the understory. The herb layer varies from extremely sparse to moderately dense with patch-dominant graminoids such as Pennsylvania sedge and poverty oat-grass. In the harshest examples, herbaceous species are nearly absent and the ground is covered by a continual mat of reindeer lichens (Cladonia spp.).

Shale barrens are considered globally uncommon and host many locally rare species including the butterflies Appalachian grizzled skipper (Pyrgus wyandot) and Olympia marble (Euchloe olympia) and the federally listed plant shale-barren rock-cress. The primary threat to these communities is probably invasion by introduced weeds, but examples of these communities near roads are also threatened by quarrying.

References: Allard (1946), Braunschweig et al. (1999), Fleming and Coulling (2001), Fleming and Moorhead (2000), Keener (1983), Platt (1951), Rawinski et al . (1996).

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Click on the images below to open a larger image in a separate window.

	Central Appalachian Xeric Shale Woodland (Virginia Pine / Sparse Herbs Type) at the Gauging Station barren along Potts Creek, Alleghany County (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests). The ground is covered with huge mats of reindeer lichens (Cladonia spp.). Photo: Dean Walton / © DCR Natural Heritage.
	A large shale barren rises steeply above bottomland fields along the Cowpasture River in Bath County. Photo © Gary P. Fleming.
	Classic shale barren habitat with abundant, low shale outcrops and loose channery produced by stream incision on a steep slope. Short Mountain near Copeland, Bath County (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests). Photo: Dean Walton / © DCR Natural Heritage.
	Shale ridge bald type of shale barren on crest of a steep spur of South Sister Knob, Shenandoah Mountain, Bath County (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests). Gary P. Fleming / © DCR Natural Heritage.
	Shale-barren wild buckwheat (Eriogonum allenii, in foreground) in a shale barren woodland of stunted Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) and chestnut oak (Quercus montana , = Q. prinus). Woodstock Gap, Massanutten Mountains, Shenandoah County (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests). Gary P. Fleming / © DCR Natural Heritage.

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REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY TYPES:

Classification of six community types was based on two DCR-DNH analyses of 77 Virginia plot samples (map), as well as a cooperative regional analysis of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia shale barren plot data by NatureServe. Click on any highlighted CEGL code below to view the global USNVC description provided by NatureServe Explorer.

• Pinus virginiana - Quercus montana - Carya glabra / Phlox subulata - Packera antennariifolia Woodland
  Central Appalachian Shale Barren (Southern Type)
  USNVC: = CEGL006562
  Global/State Ranks: G3G4/S3S4
  
  
• Pinus virginiana - Quercus montana - Quercus rubra / Deschampsia flexuosa - Paronychia montana - Packera antennariifolia Woodland
  Central Appalachian Shale Barren (Northern Type)
  USNVC: = CEGL006288
  Global/State Ranks: G3/S3
  
  
• (Pinus virginiana, Juniperus virginiana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Eriogonum allenii Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation
  Central Appalachian Shale Barren (Shale Ridge Bald / Prairie Type)
  USNVC: = CEGL008530
  Global/State Ranks: G2/S2
  
  
• Juniperus virginiana / Carex pensylvanica - Cheilanthes lanosa - Eriogonum allenii Woodland
  Central Appalachian Calcareous Shale Barren
  USNVC: < CEGL006037
  Global/State Ranks: G2/S2
  
  
• Pinus virginiana - Quercus montana / Quercus ilicifolia / (Hieracium traillii) Woodland
  Central Appalachian Xeric Shale Woodland (Virginia Pine / Sparse Herbs Type)
  USNVC: = CEGL008525
  Global/State Ranks: G3/S3
  
  
• Quercus montana / Quercus ilicifolia / Danthonia spicata Woodland
  Central Appalachian Xeric Shale Woodland (Chestnut Oak / Mixed Herbs Type)
  USNVC: = CEGL008526
  Global/State Ranks: G3?/S3
  

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