GUIDE TO THE NATURAL COMMUNITIES OF NORTH …

1 GUIDE TO THE NATURAL COMMUNITIES OF NORTH . CAROLINA. FOURTH APPROXIMATION. March 2012. Michael P. Schafale NORTH Carolina NATURAL Heritage Program Department of Environment and NATURAL Resources Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .. 1. DEFINITION OF NATURAL COMMUNITIES .. 1. NEED FOR A NEW APPROXIMATION .. 1. STRUCTURE OF THE 4TH APPROXIMATION CLASSIFICATION .. 2. CLASSIFICATION APPROACH .. 2. 4TH APPROXIMATION COMPONENTS AND TIMETABLE .. 4. Spruce-Fir Forests .. 6. FRASER FIR FOREST (HERB SUBTYPE) .. 6. FRASER FIR FOREST (RHODODENDRON SUBTYPE) .. 6. RED SPRUCE FRASER FIR FOREST (HERB SUBTYPE) .. 7. RED SPRUCE FRASER FIR FOREST (RHODODENDRON SUBTYPE) .. 8. RED SPRUCE FRASER FIR FOREST (BOULDERFIELD SUBTYPE).. 8. RED SPRUCE FRASER FIR FOREST (BIRCH TRANSITION HERB SUBTYPE) .. 8. RED SPRUCE FRASER FIR FOREST (BIRCH TRANSITION SHRUB SUBTYPE) .. 9. RED SPRUCE FRASER FIR FOREST (LOW RHODODENDRON SUBTYPE) .. 9. Grass and Heath Balds .. 10. GRASSY BALD (GRASS SUBTYPE).

2 10. GRASSY BALD (SEDGE SUBTYPE .. 10. GRASSY BALD (ALDER SUBTYPE) .. 11. HEATH BALD (CATAWBA RHODODENDRON SUBTYPE) .. 11. HEATH BALD (CAROLINA RHODODENDRON SUBTYPE) .. 12. HEATH BALD (SOUTHERN MIXED SUBTYPE) .. 12. HEATH BALD (SLATE SUBTYPE) .. 13. HEATH BALD (SAND MYRTLE SUBTYPE) .. 13. HEATH BALD (LOW ELEVATION SUBTYPE) .. 13. Northern Hardwood Forests .. 14. NORTHERN HARDWOOD FOREST (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 14. NORTHERN HARDWOOD FOREST (RICH SUBTYPE) .. 14. NORTHERN HARDWOOD FOREST (BEECH GAP SUBTYPE).. 15. HIGH ELEVATION BIRCH BOULDERFIELD 15. Mountain Cove Forests .. 16. RICH COVE FOREST (MONTANE INTERMEDIATE SUBTYPE) .. 16. RICH COVE FOREST (MONTANE RICH SUBTYPE) .. 17. RICH COVE FOREST (FOOTHILLS INTERMEDIATE SUBTYPE) .. 18. RICH COVE FOREST (FOOTHILLS RICH SUBTYPE) .. 18. RICH COVE FOREST (RED OAK SUBTYPE) .. 18. RICH COVE FOREST (BOULDERFIELD SUBTYPE).. 19. ACIDIC COVE FOREST (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 20. ACIDIC COVE FOREST (HIGH ELEVATION SUBTYPE) .. 21. ACIDIC COVE FOREST (SILVERBELL SUBTYPE).)

3 21. CANADA HEMLOCK FOREST (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 22. CANADA HEMLOCK FOREST (WHITE PINE SUBTYPE).. 22. Piedmont and Coastal Plain Mesic Forests .. 23. MESIC MIXED HARDWOOD FOREST (PIEDMONT SUBTYPE) .. 23. MESIC MIXED HARDWOOD FOREST (COASTAL PLAIN SUBTYPE) .. 24. BASIC MESIC FOREST (PIEDMONT SUBTYPE).. 25. BASIC MESIC FOREST (COASTAL PLAIN SUBTYPE) .. 26. PIEDMONT/COASTAL PLAIN HEATH BLUFF .. 27. CAPE FEAR VALLEY MIXED BLUFF FOREST .. 28. Mountain Dry Coniferous Woodlands .. 28. PINE OAK / HEATH (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 28. PINE OAK / HEATH (HIGH ELEVATION SUBTYPE) .. 29. CAROLINA HEMLOCK FOREST (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 29. CAROLINA HEMLOCK FOREST (PINE SUBTYPE) .. 30. CAROLINA HEMLOCK FOREST (MESIC SUBTYPE).. 30. WHITE PINE FOREST .. 31. LOW MOUNTAIN PINE FOREST (SHORTLEAF PINE SUBTYPE) .. 31. LOW MOUNTAIN PINE FOREST (MONTANE PINE SUBTYPE).. 31. SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN PINE OAK FOREST .. 32. SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN XERIC PINE OAK WOODLAND .. 32. Mountain Oak Forests .. 33. HIGH ELEVATION RED OAK FOREST (TYPIC HERB SUBTYPE).

4 33. HIGH ELEVATION RED OAK FOREST (RICH SUBTYPE) .. 33. HIGH ELEVATION RED OAK FOREST (HEATH SUBTYPE) .. 34. HIGH ELEVATION RED OAK FOREST (ORCHARD FOREST SUBTYPE) .. 35. HIGH ELEVATION RED OAK FOREST (STUNTED WOODLAND SUBTYPE) .. 35. HIGH ELEVATION WHITE OAK FOREST .. 35. CHESTNUT OAK FOREST (DRY HEATH SUBTYPE) .. 36. CHESTNUT OAK FOREST (HERB SUBTYPE) .. 37. CHESTNUT OAK FOREST (WHITE PINE SUBTYPE) .. 37. CHESTNUT OAK FOREST (MESIC SUBTYPE) .. 38. MONTANE OAK HICKORY FOREST (ACIDIC SUBTYPE) .. 39. MONTANE OAK HICKORY FOREST (BASIC SUBTYPE) .. 39. MONTANE OAK HICKORY FOREST (LOW DRY SUBTYPE) .. 40. MONTANE OAK HICKORY FOREST (WHITE PINE SUBTYPE).. 40. LOW MONTANE RED OAK FOREST .. 41. CALCAREOUS OAK WALNUT FOREST .. 41. MONTANE GRAPE OPENING .. 42. Piedmont and Coastal Plain Oak Forests .. 42. DRY-MESIC OAK HICKORY FOREST (PIEDMONT SUBTYPE) .. 42. DRY-MESIC OAK-HICKORY FOREST (COASTAL PLAIN SUBTYPE) .. 43. DRY OAK HICKORY FOREST (PIEDMONT SUBTYPE) .. 44. DRY OAK HICKORY FOREST (COASTAL PLAIN SUBTYPE).

5 45. DRY-MESIC BASIC OAK HICKORY FOREST (PIEDMONT SUBTYPE) .. 46. DRY-MESIC BASIC OAK HICKORY FOREST (COASTAL PLAIN SUBTYPE) .. 47. DRY BASIC OAK HICKORY FOREST .. 48. PIEDMONT MONADNOCK FOREST (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 49. PIEDMONT MONADNOCK FOREST (PINE SUBTYPE) .. 50. PIEDMONT MONADNOCK FOREST (HEATH SUBTYPE) .. 50. MIXED MOISTURE HARDPAN FOREST .. 51. SWAMP ISLAND EVERGREEN 51. High Elevation Rock Outcrops .. 52. HIGH ELEVATION ROCKY SUMMIT (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 52. HIGH ELEVATION ROCKY SUMMIT (HIGH PEAK SUBTYPE) .. 53. HIGH ELEVATION ROCKY SUMMIT (LITTLE BLUESTEM BASIC SUBTYPE) .. 53. HIGH ELEVATION ROCKY SUMMIT (NINEBARK BASIC SUBTYPE) .. 54. HIGH ELEVATION ROCKY SUMMIT (HIGH PEAK LICHEN SUBTYPE) .. 54. HIGH ELEVATION GRANITIC DOME .. 55. Low Elevation Cliffs and Rock Outcrops .. 56. LOW ELEVATION ROCKY SUMMIT (ACIDIC SUBTYPE).. 56. LOW ELEVATION ROCKY SUMMIT (BASIC SUBTYPE).. 57. LOW ELEVATION ROCKY SUMMIT (QUARTZITE LEDGE SUBTYPE) .. 57. LOW ELEVATION GRANITIC DOME.

6 58. MONTANE CLIFF (ACIDIC HERB SUBTYPE) .. 58. MONTANE CLIFF (ACIDIC LICHEN SUBTYPE) .. 59. MONTANE CLIFF (CAROLINA ROCKTRIPE SUBTYPE) .. 60. MONTANE CLIFF (MAFIC SUBTYPE).. 60. MONTANE CLIFF (CALCAREOUS SUBTYPE).. 60. TALUS VINELAND .. 61. PIEDMONT CLIFF (ACIDIC SUBTYPE) .. 61. PIEDMONT CLIFF (BASIC SUBTYPE) .. 62. COASTAL PLAIN CLIFF .. 62. Coastal Plain Marl Outcrop .. 63. COASTAL PLAIN MARL OUTCROP (BLUFF SUBTYPE) .. 63. COASTAL PLAIN MARL OUTCROP (LAKE SHORE SUBTYPE) .. 63. Granitic 63. GRANITIC FLATROCK (ANNUAL HERB SUBTYPE) .. 63. GRANITIC FLATROCK (PERENNIAL HERB SUBTYPE) .. 64. GRANITIC FLATROCK BORDER 64. Piedmont and Mountain Glades and 65. HIGH ELEVATION MAFIC GLADE .. 65. LOW ELEVATION ACIDIC GLADE (GRASS SUBTYPE) .. 66. LOW ELEVATION ACIDIC GLADE (BILTMORE SEDGE SUBTYPE) .. 66. LOW ELEVATION BASIC GLADE (MONTANE SUBTYPE) .. 67. LOW ELEVATION BASIC GLADE (BRUSHY MOUNTAIN SUBTYPE) .. 67. MONTANE RED CEDAR HARDWOOD WOODLAND .. 68. GRANITIC DOME BASIC WOODLAND.

7 68. ULTRAMAFIC OUTCROP BARREN (PITCH PINE SUBTYPE) .. 69. ULTRAMAFIC OUTCROP BARREN (WHITE OAK SUBTYPE).. 69. ULTRAMAFIC OUTCROP BARREN (VIRGINIA PINE SUBTYPE) .. 70. ULTRAMAFIC OUTCROP BARREN (PIEDMONT SUBTYPE).. 70. ACIDIC SHALE SLOPE WOODLAND .. 71. CALCAREOUS SHALE SLOPE WOODLAND .. 71. PIEDMONT ACIDIC 72. PIEDMONT BASIC GLADE (TYPIC SUBTYPE).. 72. PIEDMONT BASIC GLADE (FALLS DAM SLOPE SUBTYPE) .. 73. DIABASE GLADE .. 73. XERIC HARDPAN FOREST (BASIC HARDPAN SUBTYPE) .. 74. XERIC HARDPAN FOREST (NORTHERN PRAIRIE BARREN SUBTYPE) .. 75. XERIC HARDPAN FOREST (SOUTHERN PRAIRIE BARREN SUBTYPE) .. 75. XERIC HARDPAN FOREST (ACIDIC HARDPAN SUBTYPE) .. 76. XERIC HARDPAN FOREST (BASIC ROCKY SUBTYPE) .. 76. XERIC PIEDMONT SLOPE WOODLAND .. 77. Maritime Grasslands .. 78. DUNE GRASS (SOUTHERN SUBTYPE) .. 78. DUNE GRASS (BLUESTEM SUBTYPE) .. 79. DUNE GRASS (NORTHERN SUBTYPE) .. 79. LIVE DUNE BARREN .. 80. STABLE DUNE BARREN (SOUTHERN SUBTYPE) .. 80. STABLE DUNE BARREN (BEACH HEATHER SUBTYPE).

8 81. MARITIME DRY GRASSLAND (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 81. MARITIME DRY GRASSLAND (NORTHERN SUBTYPE).. 82. MARITIME VINE TANGLE .. 82. Maritime Upland Forests .. 83. MARITIME SHRUB (STUNTED TREE SUBTYPE) .. 83. MARITIME SHRUB (WAX-MYRTLE SUBTYPE) .. 83. MARITIME SHRUB (BAYBERRY SUBTYPE) .. 84. MARITIME EVERGREEN FOREST (MID ATLANTIC SUBTYPE) .. 84. MARITIME EVERGREEN FOREST (SOUTH ATLANTIC SUBTYPE) .. 85. MARITIME DECIDUOUS FOREST .. 86. COASTAL FRINGE EVERGREEN FOREST (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 86. COASTAL FRINGE EVERGREEN FOREST (SAND SPIT WOODLAND SUBTYPE) .. 87. CALCAREOUS COASTAL FRINGE FOREST (NORTHERN SUBTYPE) .. 88. CALCAREOUS COASTAL FRINGE FOREST (SOUTHERN SUBTYPE) .. 88. MARSH HAMMOCK .. 88. COASTAL FRINGE SHELL WOODLAND .. 89. Dry Longleaf Pine COMMUNITIES .. 89. DRY PIEDMONT LONGLEAF PINE 89. SAND BARREN (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 90. SAND BARREN (COASTAL FRINGE SUBTYPE) .. 91. XERIC SANDHILL SCRUB (TYPIC SUBTYPE) .. 91. XERIC SANDHILL SCRUB (COASTAL FRINGE SUBTYPE).

9 92. PINE/SCRUB OAK SANDHILL (BLACKJACK SUBTYPE) .. 92. PINE/SCRUB OAK SANDHILL (MIXED OAK SUBTYPE).. 93. PINE/SCRUB OAK SANDHILL (MESIC TRANSITION SUBTYPE) .. 94. PINE/SCRUB OAK SANDHILL (CLAY/ROCK HILLTOP SUBTYPE).. 94. PINE/SCRUB OAK SANDHILL (COASTAL FRINGE SUBTYPE) .. 95. PINE/SCRUB OAK SANDHILL (NORTHERN SUBTYPE).. 95. MESIC PINE SAVANNA (COASTAL PLAIN SUBTYPE) .. 96. MESIC PINE SAVANNA (SANDHILLS SUBTYPE) .. 97. MESIC PINE SAVANNA (LITTLE RIVER SUBTYPE) .. 97. MESIC PINE SAVANNA (LUMBEE SUBTYPE) .. 98. Coastal Plain Floodplains .. 98. BROWNWATER LEVEE FOREST (HIGH LEVEE SUBTYPE) .. 98. BROWNWATER LEVEE FOREST (MEDIUM LEVEE SUBTYPE) .. 99. BROWNWATER LEVEE FOREST (LOW LEVEE SUBTYPE) .. 100. BROWNWATER LEVEE FOREST (BAR SUBTYPE) .. 101. BLACKWATER LEVEE/BAR FOREST .. 101. BROWNWATER BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS (HIGH SUBTYPE) .. 102. BROWNWATER BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS (LOW SUBTYPE) .. 103. BROWNWATER BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS (SWAMP TRANSITION SUBTYPE) .. 103. BLACKWATER BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS (HIGH SUBTYPE).

10 104. BLACKWATER BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS (LOW SUBTYPE) .. 104. BLACKWATER BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS (EVERGREEN SUBTYPE).. 105. BLACKWATER BOTTOMLAND HARDWOODS (SWAMP TRANSITION SUBTYPE).. 105. CYPRESS GUM SWAMP (BROWNWATER SUBTYPE) .. 106. CYPRESS-GUM SWAMP (INTERMEDIATE SUBTYPE) .. 107. CYPRESS--GUM SWAMP (BLACKWATER SUBTYPE) .. 107. CYPRESS GUM SWAMP (BLACKWATER COVE SUBTYPE) .. 108. SANDHILL STREAMHEAD 109. COASTAL PLAIN SMALL STREAM SWAMP .. 109. OXBOW LAKE (BROWNWATER SUBTYPE) .. 110. OXBOW LAKE (BLACKWATER SUBTYPE).. 111. SAND AND MUD BAR (BROWNWATER SUBTYPE) .. 111. SAND AND MUD BAR (BLACKWATER SAND BAR SUBTYPE) .. 112. SAND AND MUD BAR (BLACKWATER DRAWDOWN BAR SUBTYPE) .. 112. SAND AND MUD BAR (NARROWLEAF POND-LILY SUBTYPE) .. 112. RIVERINE FLOATING MAT .. 113. COASTAL PLAIN SEMIPERMANENT IMPOUNDMENT (OPEN WATER SUBTYPE) .. 113. COASTAL PLAIN SEMIPERMANENT IMPOUNDMENT (TYPIC MARSH SUBTYPE) .. 114. COASTAL PLAIN SEMIPERMANENT IMPOUNDMENT (SANDHILLS MARSH SUBTYPE) 115.