The Natural Communities of Virginia
Classification of Ecological Community Groups
SECOND APPROXIMATION (Version 2.2)
Maritime Dune Scrub
The shrublands of this group occupy somewhat protected maritime back dunes and leeward dune slopes,
generally along the inland edges of dune systems in zones sheltered from constant ocean salt spray. Maritime Dune Scrub
occurs along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New Jersey south to Florida. The vegetation is characterized by
several tree, shrub and dwarf shrub species. Dominant scrubby species include northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica),
live oak (Quercus virginiana), southeastern Virginia only), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), and black
cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina). On the northern seacoast of Virginia, high-tide bush (Baccharis halimifolia) is also characteristic. Many woody species are significantly stunted in this habitat and, like the live oak,
are often much broader than tall. Few herbaceous species are present under the shrub canopy, but occasional gaps support most
of the species found in the dune grasslands.
On some high, remnant dunes and areas of dune blowouts, the dwarf shrub sand-heather (Hudsonia tomentosa) forms an assemblage with seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens var. sempervirens), bitter seabeach grass (Panicum amarum ssp. amarum), Gray's flatsedge (Cyperus grayi), and beach pinweed (Lechea maritima var. virginica). This community type, present on Assateague Island, Parramore Island, and the southeastern Virginia coast, often occurs in a mosaic with maritime dune woodlands. Maritime shrublands are threatened by coastal development and by natural and anthropogenic disturbances that destroy the protective primary dune system.
References: Clovis (1968), The Nature Conservancy (1997).
Click on the images below to open a larger image in a separate window.
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Northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) and beach panic grass (Panicum amarum ssp. amarulum) dominate dune scrub at False Cape State Park, City of Virginia Beach.
Photo: Tom Rawinski / © DCR Natural Heritage. |
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Dense northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) scrub with scattered, wind-pruned black cherry (Prunus serotina var.
serotina) trees at the southern tip of the Eastern Shore in Northampton County (Fisherman's Island National Wildlife Refuge). Photo: Irvine Wilson / © DCR Natural Heritage. |
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Dwarf shrubland of sand-heather (Hudsonia tomentosa) on a back dune blow-out at Picketts Harbor in Northampton County. A tall, dense shrubland dominated by northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) occupies the stabilized dune in the background.
Photo: Tom Rawinski / © DCR Natural Heritage. |
REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY TYPES:
Three USNVC associations defined by NatureServe ecologists using data collected both in Virginia and elsewhere appear to represent maritime shrub vegetation in Virginia. Virginia plot data have not yet analyzed by VANHP ecologists.
Click on any highlighted CEGL code below to view the global USNVC description provided by
NatureServe Explorer.
- Quercus virginiana – ( Ilex vomitoria ) Shrubland
South Atlantic Live Oak Dune Scrub
USNVC:
CEGL003833
Global/State Ranks:
G3/SNR
- Myrica pensylvanica / Diodia teres Shrubland
Mid-Atlantic Northern Bayberry Dune Scrub
USNVC:
CEGL003881
Global/State Ranks:
G2/SNR
- Hudsonia tomentosa / Panicum amarum Dwarf-Shrubland
Mid-Atlantic Beach Heather Dune Scrub
USNVC:
CEGL003950
Global/State Ranks:
G2/SNR
