The Natural Communities of Virginia
Classification of Ecological Community Groups
SECOND APPROXIMATION (Version 2.2)
Maritime Dune Woodlands
These deciduous, coniferous, and broadleaf evergreen woodlands occur on back dunes protected from regular salt spray. Similar communities occur along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from New Jersey to Texas. Compared to maritime upland forests, these woodlands are more localized and restricted to xeric dune systems. Habitats are commonly on convex, rapidly drained dunes and less frequently on xeric sand flats. Floristic composition of communities in this group varies considerably with geography. Along the southeastern Virginia coast (City of Virginia Beach), live oak (
Quercus virginiana), bluejack oak (
Quercus incana), and sassafras (
Sassafras albidum) dominate stands, with loblolly pine (
Pinus taeda), black cherry (
Prunus serotina var. serotina)
and hercules'-club (
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) as less abundant associates. On the Eastern Shore (Accomack and Northampton Counties), a community type of widely spaced loblolly pine with scattered, scrubby oaks (
e.g ., (
Quercus nigra and
Quercus falcata), dwarf-shrub patches of sand-heather (
Hudsonia tomentosa), and large areas of exposed sand occurs on the highest back-dune systems. Another xeric back-dune community dominated by black cherry, prickly-pear (
Opuntia humifusa var. humifusa), and seaside little bluestem
(
Schizachyrium littorale), =
Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale) has been documented at two Eastern Shore locations. Scattered herbaceous plants that occur in these woodlands include seabeach needlegrass (
Aristida tuberculosa),
cottony golden-aster (
Chrysopsis gossypina), yellow thistle (
Cirsium horridulum var. horridulum), oval-leaved panic grass (
Dichanthelium ovale var.
ovale), coast bedstraw (
Galim hispidulum), Canada frostweed (
Helianthemum canadense), woolly ragwort (
Packera tomentosa , =
Senecio tomentosa),
dune ground-cherry (
Physalis walteri), eastern jointweed (
Polygonella articulata), and narrow-leaved golden-aster (
Pityopsis graminifolia var. latifolia). All communities in this group are considered globally and state rare.
References: Clampitt (1991), The Nature Conservancy (1997).
Click on the images below to open a larger image in a separate window.
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Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)-dominated, bay-side dune woodland at Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve on the
Virginia Eastern Shore (Northampton County).
Photo: Gary P. Fleming.
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Xeric back-dune woodland dominated by black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina ), southern bayberry (Myrica cerifera var. cerifera ),
and seaside little bluestem (Schizachyrium littorale). Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge, Accomack County.
Photo: Gary P. Fleming.
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Gnarled woodland of live oak (Quercus virginiana) and bluejack oak (Quercus incana) on back dunes at
Cape Henry, City of Virginia Beach (First Landing/Seashore State Park).
Photo © Gary P. Fleming.
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Sand-heather (Hudsonia tomentosa) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) in a dune woodland at False Cape State Park, City of Virginia Beach.
Photo © Gary P. Fleming.
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REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY TYPES:
Although not yet formally analyzed by VANHP ecologists, plot data collected from several Virginia sites have contributed to the characterization of three USNVC associations.
Click on any highlighted CEGL code below to view the global USNVC description provided by
NatureServe Explorer.
- Quercus virginiana – Quercus incana Woodland
Mid-Atlantic Xeric Dune Woodland (Live Oak – Bluejack Oak Type)
USNVC:
CEGL003750
Global/State Ranks:
G1/S1
- Pinus taeda / Hudsonia tomentosa Woodland
Mid-Atlantic Xeric Dune Woodland (Loblolly Pine / Beach Heather Type)
USNVC:
CEGL006052
Global/State Ranks:
G1G2/S1
- Prunus serotina / Myrica cerifera / Smilax rotundifolia Shrub Forest
Mid-Atlantic Xeric Dune Woodland (Black Cherry Type)
USNVC:
CEGL006319
Global/State Ranks:
G1G2/S1
