USGS - science for a changing world
National Park Service Home Page.

Biology - Biological Informatics Program - Vegetation Characterization Program

11.0 Appendices

11.1 List of Documented Alliances Organized Under the Hierarchy - August, 1984

In the classification hierarchy, each unit is distinguished by a unique code. The components of the code represent each level in the hierarchy. Alliances are not currently coded but are listed under the appropriate formation by region of occurrence. A "*" indicates formations which have not officially been incorporated into the hierarchy, but are under review for future inclusion. All formations in the hierarchy are listed whether or not alliances have been identified.

I, II, etc.=PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS
A, B, etc.=PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS
1, 2, etc.=FORMATION GROUP
a,b, etc.=Formation
REGION
Alliances

I.   FOREST
I.A.    EVERGREEN FOREST
I.A.1.    TROPICAL RAIN FOREST (mainly broad-leaved evergreen trees, neither cold-nor drought -resistant)
I.A.1.a     Tropical lowland rain forest
I.A.1.b     Tropical submontane rain forest
I.A.1.c     Tropical montane rain forest
I.A.1.d     Tropical "subalpine" rain forest
I.A.1.e     Tropical cloud forest
I.A.1.f     Tropical seasonally flooded rain forest
I.A.1.g     Tropical semipermanently flooded rain forest
I.A.1.h     Tropical evergreen saturated forest
I.A.1.i     Tropical brackish semipermanently flooded rain forest

I.A.2     TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL SEASONAL EVERGREEN FOREST
          (mainly broad-leaved evergreen trees with some foliage reduction in dry season)
I.A.2.a     Tropical or subtropical seasonal lowland evergreen forest
                 
              SOUTHEAST
              Casuarina (equisetifolia, cunninghamiana, glauca) Forest Alliance
              Metopium toxiferum-Eugenia foetida Forest Alliance
              Pithecellobium ebano Forest Alliance
              Sabal palmetto Upland Forest Alliance

I.A.2.b     Tropical or subtropical seasonal submontane evergreen forest
I.A.2.c     Tropical or subtropical seasonal montane evergreen forest
I.A.2.d     Tropical or subtropical dry "subalpine" evergreen forest
I.A.2.e     Tropical or subtropical seasonal evergreen semipermanently flooded forest
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Casuarina (cunninghamiana, glauca) Wetland Forest Alliance
              Magnolia virginiana-Chrysobalanus icaco Subtropical Forest Alliance
              Melaleuca quinquenervia Forest Alliance
              Schinus terebinthifolius Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.2.*.    Tropical or subtropical seasonal evergreen seasonally/temporarily flooded forest
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Sabal mexicana Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.3     SUBTROPICAL RAIN FOREST
I.A.3.a     Subtropical lowland rain forest
I.A.3.b     Subtropical submontane rain forest
I.A.3.c     Subtropical montane rain forest
I.A.3.d     Subtropical "subalpine" rain forest
I.A.3.e     Subtropical cloud forest
I.A.3.f     Subtropical seasonally flooded rain forest
I.A.3.g     Subtropical semipermanently flooded rain forest
I.A.3.h     Subtropical evergreen saturated rain forest

I.A.4     MANGROVE FOREST
I.A.4.a     Tropical or subtropical saltwater-tidal semipermanently flooded forest 
            (e.g. mangroves of Florida)
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Avicennia germinans Forest Alliance
              Rhizophora mangle Forest Alliance
              Laguncularia racemosa Forest Alliance

I.A.5     TEMPERATE AND SUBPOLAR EVERGREEN RAIN FOREST (restricted to southern hemisphere)
I.A.5.a     Temperate evergreen rain forest
I.A.5.b     Temperate evergreen seasonally flooded rain forest
I.A.5.c     Temperate evergreen semipermanently flooded rain forest
I.A.5.d     Subpolar evergreen rain forest

I.A.6     TEMPERATE SEASONAL EVERGREEN FOREST 
          (mainly broad-leaved evergreen or mixed broad-leaved/needle-leaved forest with some foliage reduction in the dry season)
I.A.6.a     Temperate seasonal lowland evergreen forest
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Quercus virginiana Upland Forest Alliance
              Quercus virginiana-Sabal palmetto Upland Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Washingtonia filifera Forest Alliance

I.A.6.b     Temperate seasonal submontane evergreen forest
I.A.6.c     Temperate seasonal montane evergreen forest
I.A.6.d     Temperate dry "subalpine" evergreen forest
I.A.6.e     Temperate seasonal evergreen (wetland) forest
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Gordonia lasianthus Forest Alliance
              Gordonia lasianthus-Pinus serotina Forest Alliance
              Persea palustris Forest Alliance
              Quercus virginiana Wetland Forest Alliance
              Sabal palmetto-Quercus virginiana Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.7     WINTER-RAIN, EVERGREEN BROAD-LEAVED SCLEROPHYLLOUS FOREST
          (stiff, leathery-leaved trees)
I.A.7.a     Winter rain lowland and submontane evergreen sclerophyllous forest over 50 m tall
            (e.g. Eucalyptus in California)
I.A.7.b     Winter rain lowland and submontane evergreen sclreophyllous forest under 50 m tall
            (e.g., Live oak in California)

I.A.8     TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN FOREST
I.A.8.a     Tropical and subtropical lowland and submontane needle-leaved evergreen forest
I.A.8.b     Tropical and subtropical montane and subalpine needle-leaved evergreen forest

I.A.9     TEMPERATE AND SUBPOLAR NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN FOREST 
          (mostly needle-leaved and scale-leaved trees)
I.A.9.a     Needle-leaved evergreen giant forest 
            (e.g., redwood and Douglas fir)
                    
              WEST
              Abies amabilis Giant Forest Alliance
              Abies concolor Giant Forest Alliance
              Abies concolor-Abies magnifica Giant Forest Alliance
              Abies grandis Giant Forest Alliance
              Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Giant Forest Alliance
              Picea breweriana Giant Forest Alliance
              Picea sitchensis Giant Forest Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa Giant Forest Alliance
              Pseudotsuga menziesii Giant Forest Alliance
              Pseudotsuga menziesii/Lithocarpus densiflorus Giant Forest Alliance
              Pseudotsuga menziesii-Sequoia sempervirens Giant Forest Alliance
              Pseudotsuga menziesii-Tsuga heterophylla Giant Forest Alliance
              Thuja plicata Giant Forest Alliance
              Tsuga heterophylla Giant Forest Alliance
              Tsuga mertensiana Giant Forest Alliance

I.A.9.b     Needle-leaved evergreen forest with rounded crowns 
            (e.g., pines, western juniper)
                    
              EAST
              Tsuga canadensis-Pinus strobus Forest Alliance*
              Pinus strobus-Pinus resinosa Forest Alliance 
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus clausa Forest Alliance
              Pinus echinata Forest Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus rigida Forest Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus rigida-Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus taeda-Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance
              Pinus elliottii Upland Forest Alliance
              Pinus elliottii-Pinus taeda Upland Forest Alliance
              Pinus glabra Upland Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris Upland Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus echinata Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus elliottii Upland Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus taeda Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus taeda-Pinus echinata Forest Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa Forest Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa-Pseudotsuga menziesii Forest Alliance
              Pinus pungens Forest Alliance
              Pinus pungens-Pinus (rigida, virginiana)  Forest Alliance
              Pinus resinosa Forest Alliance
              Pinus rigida Upland Forest Alliance
              Pinus rigida-Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance
              Pinus rigida-Tsuga caroliniana Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus-Pinus echinata Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus-Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus-Tsuga canadensis Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda Upland Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Pinus echinata-(Juniperus virginiana) Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance
              Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Pinus banksiana Forest Alliance
              Pinus contorta Forest Alliance
              Pinus echinata Forest Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa Forest Alliance    
              Pinus strobus-(P. resinosa) Forest Alliance
              Pinus virginiana Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Pinus albicaulis Forest Alliance
              Pinus contorta Forest Alliance
              Pinus monticola Forest Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa Forest Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa-Pseudotsuga menziesii Forest Alliance

I.A.9.c     Needle-leaved evergreen forest with conical crowns 
            (e.g., spruce, eastern juniper, cedar)
          
              EAST
              Juniperus virginiana Forest Alliance*
              Picea rubens-Abies (balsamea, fraseri) Forest Alliance*
              Picea mariana Forest Alliance*
              Thuja occidentalis Forest Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Abies fraseri Forest Alliance
              Juniperus ashei Forest Alliance
              Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana Forest Alliance
              Picea abies Forest Alliance
              Picea rubens Upland Forest Alliance
              Picea rubens-Abies fraseri Forest Alliance
              Picea rubens-Tsuga canadensis Forest Alliance
              Tsuga canadensis Upland Forest Alliance
              Tsuga caroliniana-(Tsuga canadensis) Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Juniperus ashei Forest Alliance
              Juniperus virginiana Forest Alliance
              Picea glauca Forest Alliance
              Picea glauca-abies balsamea Forest Alliance
              Picea mariana Forest Alliance
              Thuja occidentalis Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Abies amabilis Forest Alliance
              Abies concolor Forest Alliance
              Abies grandis Forest Alliance
              Abies lasiocarpa Forest Alliance
              Abies magnifica Forest Alliance
              Chamaecyparis nootkatensis Forest Alliance
              Cupressus arizonica Forest Alliance
              Picea engelmannii Forest Alliance
              Picea glauca Forest Alliance
              Picea pungens Forest Alliance
              Picea sitchensis Forest Alliance
              Picea spp. Forest Alliance
              Pseudotsuga menziesii Forest Alliance
              Thuja plicata Forest Alliance
              Tsuga heterophylla Forest Alliance
              Tsuga mertensiana Forest Alliance

I.A.9.d     Needle-leaved evergreen forest with cylindrical crowns (boreal) 
            (e.g., spruce forests of Alaska)
I.A.9.e     Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded/saturated forest with rounded crowns
                    
              MIDWEST
              Picea glauca Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus banksiana Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus Wetland Forest Alliance
              Tsuga canadensis Wetland Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Pinus contorta Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.9.f     Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded/saturated forest with conical crowns
                    
              EAST
              Tsuga canadensis Wetland Forest Alliance
              Picea rubens-Abies balsamea Wetland Forest Alliance
              Picea mariana Wetland Forest Alliance
              Thuja occidentalis Wetland Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Picea mariana Wetland Forest Alliance
              Thuja occidentalis Wetland Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Abies amabilis Wetland Forest Alliance
              Thuja plicata Wetland Forest Alliance
              Tsuga heterophylla Wetland Forest Alliance
              Tsuga mertensiana Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.9.g     Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded/saturated forest with cylindrical crowns
I.A.9.*     Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally/temporarily flooded forest with rounded crowns 
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus echinata Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus elliottii Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus elliottii-Pinus palustris Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus elliottii-Pinus serotina Forest Alliance
              Pinus glabra Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus taeda Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus serotina-Pinus taeda Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Pinus palustris-Pinus serotina Forest Alliance

              WEST
              Pinus ponderosa Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.9.*     Needle-leaved evergreen saturated forest with conical crowns
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Chamaecyparis thyoides Saturated Forest Alliance
              Picea rubens Wetland Forest Alliance
              Picea rubens-Tsuga canadensis Wetland Forest Alliance
              Thuja occidentalis Wetland Forest Alliance
              Tsuga canadensis-(Pinus strobus) Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.9.*     Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally/temporarily flooded forest with conical crowns
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Chamaecyparis thyoides Seasonally/Temporarily Flooded  Forest Alliance
              Chamaecyparis thyoides-Pinus serotina Forest Alliance

              WEST
              Abies concolor Wetland Forest Alliance
              Abies lasiocarpa Wetland Forest Alliance
              Picea engelmannii Wetland Forest Alliance
              Picea pungens Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.9.*     Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded/saturated Giant forest
                    
              WEST
              Abies amabilis Wetland Forest Alliance
              Picea sitchensis Wetland Forest Alliance

I.A.10    EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC EVERGREEN FOREST
I.A.10.a    Evergreen sclerophyllous dominated forest
I.A.10.b    Evergreen succulent forest (assumed evergreen)

I.B.    DECIDUOUS FOREST
I.B.1.    TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS FOREST
I.B.1.a     Lowland and submontane broadleaved drought-deciduous forest
I.B.1.b     Montane and cloud drought-deciduous forest

I.B.2.    COLD-DECIDUOUS FOREST
I.B.2.a     Lowland and submontane broad-leaved cold-deciduous forest 
            (e.g., broadleaf forests of midwest)
                    
              EAST
              Acer saccharum-Betula allegheniensis-Fagus grandifolia Forest Alliance 
              Acer saccharum-Fraxinus americana-Tilia americana Forest Alliance
              Tilia heterophylla-Aesculus octandra Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Quercus muehlenbergii Forest Alliance
              Quercus rubra-Acer saccharum Forest Alliance
              Carya-Fraxinus americana-Quercus Forest Alliance
              (Northeastern Upland) Quercus/Ericaceae Forest Alliance
              Quercus-Fagus grandifolia/Ilex opaca Forest Alliance
              Prunus serotina-Amelanchier canadensis Forest Alliance 
              Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance
              Prunus pensylvanica Forest Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Acer grandidentatum Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Fagus grandifolia-Liriodendron tulipifera-(Aesculus flava, Magnolia fraseri) Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Quercus muehlenbergii Upland Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Quercus rubra-Carya cordiformis Upland Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Quercus rubra-Quercus (alba, montana) Forest Alliance
              Betula alleghaniensis Forest Alliance
              Betula alleghaniensis-(Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Aesculus flava) Forest Alliance
              Betula alleghaniensis-Fagus grandifolia-Aesculus flava-(Acer saccharum) Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia Upland Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia-Acer saccharum-(Liriodendron tulipifera) Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia-Quercus alba-Acer (barbatum, leucoderme) Upland Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia-Quercus alba-Liquidambar styraciflua-(Liriodendron tulipifera) Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia-Quercus alba-Liquidambar styraciflua-Magnolia grandiflora Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia-Quercus nigra Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia-Quercus rubra Forest Alliance
              Juglans nigra-Liquidambar styraciflua-Liriodendron tulipifera Upland Forest Alliance
              Juglans nigra-Quercus muehlenbergii Forest Alliance
              Liquidambar styraciflua Forest Alliance
              Liriodendron tulipifera Upland Forest Alliance
              Liriodendron tulipifera-Betula lenta Forest Alliance
              Prunus pensylvanica Forest Alliance
              Prunus serotina-Liriodendron tulipifera-Fraxinus americana-(Acer saccharum) Forest Alliance
              Quercus alba Forest Alliance
              Quercus alba-Carya alba-(Carya glabra) Coastal Plain Forest Alliance
              Quercus alba-Carya glabra Coastal Plain Forest Alliance
              Quercus alba-Quercus (coccinea, velutina)-Carya (alba, glabra) Forest Alliance
              Quercus alba-Quercus rubra-(Carya ovata) Forest Alliance
              Quercus coccinea Forest Alliance
              Quercus falcata-Quercus alba-(Quercus stellata)-Carya (glabra, alba, pallida) Forest Alliance
              Quercus falcata-Quercus alba-(Quercus stellata)-Carya texana Forest Alliance
              Quercus hemisphaerica-Liquidambar styraciflua Forest Alliance
              Quercus hemisphaerica-Quercus margaretta Forest Alliance
              Quercus laevis Forest Alliance
              Quercus muehlenbergii Forest Alliance
              Quercus prinus Forest Alliance
              Quercus prinus-Quercus (alba, falcata, velutina)-Carya (alba, glabra) Forest Alliance
              Quercus prinus-Quercus coccinea-(Quercus velutina) Forest Alliance
              Quercus prinus-Quercus rubra-Carya (alba, glabra, ovata) Forest Alliance
              Quercus prinus-Quercus rubra-Liriodendron tulipifera-(Carya alba, glabra) Quercus rubra Forest Alliance
              Quercus rubra var. ambigua-Betula alleghaniensis-(Acer rubrum, Fagus grandifolia) Forest Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Carya carolinae-septentrionalis Forest Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Quercus marilandica Forest Alliance
              Robinia pseudo-acacia Forest Alliance
              Tilia americana var. caroliniana-Celtis occidentalis Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Acer saccharum-Betula spp.- (Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana) Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Fagus grandifolia-Tilia spp.- Aesculus octandraForest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Fraxinus americana-Quercus spp. Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Quercus rubra-Carya cordiformis Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Tilia americana-(Quercus rubra) Forest Alliance
              Acer spicatum Forest Alliance?
              Betula papyrifera Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia-Acer saccharum-(Liriodendron tulipifera) Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia-Quercus spp.- Acer spp. Forest Alliance
              Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance
              Populus tremuloides-Betula papyrifera Forest Alliance
              Quercus alba Forest Alliance
              Quercus alba-Q. rubra-(Carya ovata) Forest Alliance
              Quercus alba-Q. rubra-Q. mcrocarpa Forest Alliance
              Quercus falcata-Q. alba-Carya spp. (texana, alba) Forest Alliance
              Quercus macrocarpa Forest Alliance
              Quercus muehlenbergii-(Q. shumardii-Fraxinus quadrangulata) Forest Alliance
              Quercus prinus-Q. coccinea-Q. velutina Forest Alliance
              Quercus rubra Forest Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Q. marilandica Forest Alliance
              Quercus velutina-Q. alba-Caryaspp. (glabra, texana) Forest Alliance
              Quercus velutina-Q. ellipsoidalis Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Quercus macrocarpa Forest Alliance
              Sapindus saponaria Forest Alliance

I.B.2.b     Montane or boreal cold-deciduous forest 
            (e.g., broadleaf forests of the mountains)        
                    
              WEST
              Acer grandidentatum Forest Alliance
              Acer macrophyllum Forest Alliance
              Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance

I.B.2.c     Subalpine or subpolar cold-deciduous forest

              WEST
              Larix lyallii Forest Alliance
              Larix occidentalis Forest Alliance

I.B.2.d     Cold-deciduous intermittently flooded forest 
            (e.g., woody draws) 
                    
              MIDWEST
              Fraxinus pennsylvanica-Ulmus americana Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Fraxinus pennsylvanica Forest Alliance

I.B.2.e     Cold-deciduous seasonally/temporarily flooded forest 
            (e.g., alluvial bottomland hardwoods)
                    
              EAST
              Quercus (palustris, bicolor) Wetland Forest Alliance 
              Acer saccharinum-(Populus deltoides) Wetland Forest Alliance
              Platanus occidentalis-Betula nigra-Acer negundo Wetland Forest Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Acer negundo Forest Alliance
              Acer negundo-Salix nigra Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharinum Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Carya cordiformis Forest Alliance
              Betula nigra-(Platanus occidentalis) Forest Alliance
              Carpinus caroliniana Forest Alliance
              Carya myristiciformis-Carya aquatica Forest Alliance
              Fagus grandifolia Wetland Forest Alliance
              Liquidambar styraciflua-(Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum) Wetland Forest Alliance
              Liriodendron tulipifera Wetland Forest Alliance
              Nyssa sylvatica Wetland Forest Alliance
              Platanus occidentalis-(Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Celtis laevigata, Acer saccharinum) Forest Alliance
              Platanus occidentalis-(Liquidambar styraciflua,Liriodendron tulipifera) Forest Alliance
              Populus deltoides Forest Alliance
              Populus deltoides-Salix (caroliniana, nigra) Forest Alliance
              Quercus laurifolia Wetland Forest Alliance
              Quercus (lyrata, palustris)-Liquidambar styraciflua Forest Alliance
              Quercus macrocarpa-Quercus bicolor-Carya laciniosa Forest Alliance
              Quercus (michauxii, pagoda, shumardii)-Liquidambar styraciflua Forest Alliance
              Quercus (michauxii, pagoda, shumardii) Forest Alliance
              Quercus pagoda-Carya (glabra, ovata) Forest Alliance
              Quercus palustris-(Quercus bicolor) Forest Alliance
              Quercus phellos  Forest Alliance
              Quercus (phellos, nigra, laurifolia)-Liquidambar styraciflua Forest Alliance
              Quercus phellos-Quercus lyrata Forest Alliance
              Quercus stellata-(Quercus palustris) Forest Alliance
              Salix (nigra, caroliniana, sericea) Forest Alliance
              Taxodium distichum-Platanus occidentalis Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Acer negundo Forest Alliance
              Acer rubrum-Fraxinus spp. (pennsylvanica, nigra) Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharinum Forest Alliance
              Acer saccharum-Carya cordiformis Forest Alliance
              Betula nigra-(Platanus occidentalis) Forest Alliance
              Fraxinus pennsylvanica-(Ulmus americana)-Celtis spp. (occidentalis, laevigata) Forest Alliance
              Liquidambar styraciflua-Quercus spp. (lyrata, palustris) Forest Alliance
              Liquidambar styraciflua-Quercus spp. (michauxii, pagoda, shumardii) Forest Alliance
              Populus deltoides Forest Alliance
              Populus deltoides-Salix nigra Forest Alliance
              Quercus lyrata-Carya aquatica Forest Alliance
              Quercus macrocarpa-Q. bicolor-(Carya laciniosa) Forest Alliance
              Quercus palustris-(Q. bicolor) Forest Alliance
              Quercus phellos-Quercus lyrata Forest Alliance
              Quercus stellata-(Q. palustris) Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Acer negundo Forest Alliance
              Aluns rhombifolia Forest Alliance
              Alnus rubra Forest Alliance
              Fraxinus latifolia Forest Alliance
              Platanus wrightii Forest Alliance
              Populus angustifolia Forest Alliance
              Populus deltoides Forest Alliance
              Populus fremontii Forest Alliance
              Populus tremuloides Wetland Forest Alliance
              Populus trichocarpa Forest Alliance
              Populus wislizeni Forest Alliance
              Salix bonplandiana Forest Alliance

I.B.2.f     Cold-deciduous seasonally flooded/saturated forest 
            (e.g., deciduous forest in Alaska, Peat forests)
                    
              EAST
              Acer rubrum-Fraxinus pennsylvanica Wetland Forest Alliance
              Acer rubrum-Fraxinus nigra Wetland Forest Alliance
              Acer rubrum-Nyssa sylvatica Wetland Forest Alliance 
              Acer rubrum-Liquidambar styraciflua Wetland Forest Alliance 
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Fraxinus pennsylvanica-(Ulmus americana)-Celtis (occidentalis, laevigata) Forest Alliance
              Nyssa biflora-(Taxodium distichum, ascendens) Forest Alliance
              Nyssa ogeche Forest Alliance
              Quercus (lyrata, nuttallii)-Carya aquatica Forest Alliance
              Taxodium ascendens Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Acer rubrum-(Fraxinus spp.) Forest Alliance
              Fraxinus nigra Forest Alliance
              Larix laricina Forest Alliance

I.B.2.g     Cold-deciduous semipermanently flooded forest 
            (e.g., cypress swamp)
                    
              EAST
              Taxodium distichum-Nyssa biflora Forest Alliance 
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Acer rubrum-Gleditsia aquatica-(Planera aquatica) Forest Alliance
              Gleditsia aquatica-Carya aquatica Forest Alliance 
              Nyssa aquatica-(Taxodium distichum) Forest Alliance
              Taxodium distichum Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Acer rubrum-Gleditsia aquatica-(planera aquatica) Forest Alliance
              Nyssa aquatica-(taxodium distichum) Forest Alliance
              Taxodium distichum Forest Alliance

I.B.3.    EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC DECIDUOUS FOREST
I.B.3.a     Deciduous thorn forest (other formation may be added)

I.C.    MIXED EVERGREEN-DECIDUOUS FOREST 
I.C.1.    TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL SEMI-DECIDUOUS FOREST
I.C.1.a     Tropical or subtropical lowland semi-deciduous forest
I.C.1.b     Tropical or subtropical montane or cloud semi-deciduous forest

I.C.2.    MIXED BROAD LEAVED EVERGREEN - COLD-DECIDUOUS FOREST

I.C.2.*     Cold-deciduous forest with evergreen broad-leaved trees
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Fagus grandifolia-Magnolia grandiflora Upland Forest Alliance
              Quercus hemisphaerica-Carya glabra-(Fagus grandifolia) Forest Alliance
              Tilia americana var. caroliniana-Magnolia grandiflora Forest Alliance 

I.C.2.*     Mixed broad-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous seasonally flooded/saturated forest
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Magnolia virginiana-Nyssa biflora Wetland Forest Alliance

I.C.3.    MIXED NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN - COLD-DECIDUOUS FOREST
I.C.3.a     Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest
                    
              EAST
              Quercus-Pinus (rigida, echinata) Forest Alliance 
              Pinus virginiana-Pinus taeda-Quercus falcata Forest Alliance
              Pinus virginiana/Quercus marilandica Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Quercus (nigra, falcata) Forest Alliance 
              Pinus strobus-Quercus (rubra, velutina) Forest Alliance
              Tsuga canadensis-Acer saccharum-Betula allegheniensis Forest Alliance
              Betula allegheniensis-Picea rubens Forest Alliance
                    

              SOUTHEAST
              Betula alleghaniensis-(Abies fraseri, Picea rubens) Forest Alliance
              Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana-Fraxinus americana-Quercus shumardii Forest Alliance
              Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana-Quercus stellata-Quercus muehlenbergii Forest Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Quercus (alba, stellata, falcata, velutina) Forest Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Quercus stellata-Quercus marilandica Forest Alliance
              Pinus (echinata, rigida, pungens)-Quercus (prinus, coccinea) Forest Alliance
              Pinus (echinata, taeda, virginiana)-Quercus (alba, rubra)-Liriodendron tulipifera Forest Alliance
              Pinus (echinata, virginiana)-Liriodendron tulipifera Forest Alliance
              Pinus (glabra, taeda)-Fagus grandifolia-Quercus alba-Magnolia grandiflora Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus echinata-Quercus (stellata, falcata) Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus echinata-Pinus taeda-Quercus (stellata, falcata) Forest Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus taeda-Quercus incana Forest Alliance
              Pinus (palustris, taeda)-Quercus (margaretta, falcata, laevis) Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus-Acer saccharum-Fagus grandifolia-Betula (alleghaniensis, lenta) Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Liquidambar styraciflua Upland Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Quercus (alba, falcata, stellata) Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Quercus (marilandica, falcata, stellata) Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Quercus nigra Barrier Island Forest Alliance
              Pinus virginiana-Liquidambar styraciflua-Liriodendron tulipifera Forest Alliance
              Pinus virginiana-Quercus (alba, stellata, falcata, velutina) Forest Alliance
              Pinus virginiana-Quercus (coccinea, prinus) Forest Alliance
              Quercus falcata-Fagus grandifolia-Pinus taeda Forest Alliance
              Sorbus americana-(Abies fraseri, Picea rubens) Forest Alliance
              Tsuga canadensis-Liriodendron tulipifera Upland Forest Alliance
              Tsuga canadensis-Acer saccharum-Fagus grandifolia-Betula (alleghaniensis, lenta, papyrifera) Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Juniperus virginiana-Quercus spp. (muehlenbergii, stellata) Forest Alliance
              Picea glauca-Abies balsamea-Populus spp. Forest Alliance
              Picea mariana-Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance 
              Pinus banksiana-Populus tremuloides-Betula Papyrifera Forest Alliance 
              Pinus banksiana-Quercus spp. Forest Alliance 
              Pinus echinata-Quercus spp. (alba, stellata, velutina) Forest Alliance 
              Pinus strobus-(P. resinosa)-Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus-(P. resinosa)-Quercus spp. (alba, rubra, velutina) Forest Alliance
              Pinus virginiana-Quercus spp. (coccinea, prinus) Forest Alliance
              Tsuga canadensis-Fagus grandifolia-Acer Saccharum Betula spp. Forest Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Acer macrophyllum Forest Alliance
              Betula papyrifera Forest Alliance
              Laris lyallii Forest Alliance
              Populus tremuloides Forest Alliance
              Quercus garryana Forest Alliance
                    
I.C.3.b     Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous seasonally flooded/saturated forest
                    
              EAST
              Chamaecyparis thyoides-Acer rubrum  Forest Alliance 
              Acer rubrum-Picea rubensWetland Forest Alliance
              Thuja occidentalis-Acer rubrum Wetland Forest Alliance
              Quercus phellos-Pinus taeda Wetland Forest Alliance 
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus taeda-Liquidambar styraciflua-Acer rubrum Wetland Forest Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Pinus spp.- Acer rubrum swamp Forest Alliance

I.C.3.*     Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous seasonally/temporarily flooded forest
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus elliottii-Magnolia virginiana-Taxodium ascendens-Nyssa biflora Forest Alliance
              Pinus glabra-Pinus taeda-Liquidambar styraciflua-Quercus phellos Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus serotina-Chamaecyparis thyoides-Acer rubrum-Nyssa biflora Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Liquidambar styraciflua-Liriodendron tulipifera Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Fraxinus pennsylvanica-Ulmus americana-Celtis laevigata Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Quercus laurifolia-Chamaecyparis thyoides Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Quercus lyrata Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Quercus (pagoda, michauxii, shumardii) Wetland Forest Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Quercus (phellos, nigra, laurifolia) Forest Alliance
              Pinus virginiana-Liriodendron tulipifera-Platanus occidentalis Forest Alliance
              Tsuga canadensis-Magnolia tripetala Wetland Forest Alliance

              WEST
              Quercus garryana Wetland Forest Alliance            

I.C.3.*     Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous saturated forest

              SOUTHEAST
              Chamaecyparis thyoides-Liriodendron tulipifera Forest Alliance
              Pinus strobus-Pinus rigida-Tsuga canadensis-Liriodendron tulipifera-Acer rubrum Forest Alliance

I.C.4.    EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC MIXED EVERGREEN - DECIDUOUS FOREST
I.C.4.a     Mixed evergreen - deciduous thorn forest

II.  WOODLAND
II.A.   EVERGREEN WOODLAND
II.A.1.   BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN WOODLAND
II.A.1.a    Broad-leaved evergreen woodland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Quercus laceyi Woodland Alliance
              Quercus virginiana Upland Woodland Alliance
              Quercus virginiana-Sabal palmetto Upland Woodland Alliance
              Sabal palmetto Upland Woodland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Quercus arizonica Woodland Alliance
              Quercus emoryi Woodland Alliance
              Quercus grisea Woodland Alliance

II.A.1.b    Broad-leaved evergreen (wetland) woodland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Sabal palmetto Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Gordonia lasianthus-Pinus serotina Woodland alliance

II.A.2    NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN WOODLAND
II.A.2.a    Needle-leaved evergreen woodland with rounded crowns 
            (e.g., pine, western juniper)
                    
              EAST
              Pinus rigida/Quercus ilicifolia Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris/Quercus laevis Woodland Alliance
              Pinus (banksiana, resinosa, rigida) Woodland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus clausa Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata Upland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus rigida Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus virginiana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus taeda-Pinus virginiana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus taeda-Pinus palustris-Pinus virginiana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus elliottii-Pinus (taeda, palustris, echinata) Upland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus elliottii var. densa Upland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris Upland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus clausa Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus echinata Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus taeda Upland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus taeda-Pinus echinata Woodland Alliance
              Pinus pungens Woodland Alliance
              Pinus rigida Woodland Alliance
              Pinus rigida-Pinus pungens Woodland Alliance
              Pinus taeda Upland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus taeda-Pinus echinata Woodland Alliance
              Pinus virginiana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus virginiana-Pinus rigida Woodland Alliance
              
              MIDWEST
              Juniperus ashei Woodland Alliance
              Juniperus scopulorum Woodland Alliance
              Juniperus virginiana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus banksiana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata Woodland Alliance
              Pinus flexilis Woodland Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa Woodland Alliance
              Pinus strobus-Pinus resinosa Woodland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Juniperus deppeana Woodland Alliance
              Juniperus erythrocarpa Woodland Alliance
              Juniperus monosperma Woodland Alliance
              Juniperus occidentalis Woodland Alliance
              Juniperus osteosperma Woodland Alliance
              Juniperus scopulorum Woodland Alliance
              Pinus albicaulis Woodland Alliance
              Pinus aristata Woodland Alliance
              Pinus attenuata Woodland Alliance
              Pinus contorta Woodland Alliance
              Pinus discolor Woodland Alliance
              Pinus edulis Woodland Alliance
              Pinus engelmannii Woodland Alliance
              Pinus flexilis Woodland Alliance
              Pinus jeffreyi Woodland Alliance
              Pinus leiophylla Woodland Alliance
              Pinus monophylla Woodland Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa Woodland Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa-Quercus garryana Woodland Alliance

II.A.2.b    Needle-leaved evergreen woodland with conical crowns e.g., spruce in the west)
                    
              EAST
              Picea rubens Woodland Alliance
              Thuja occidentalis Woodland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Juniperus ashei Woodland Alliance
              Juniperus virginiana Woodland Alliance
              Thuja occidentalis Upland Woodland Alliance
              Tsuga caroliniana Woodland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Thuja occidentalis Woodland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Abies concolor Woodland Alliance
              Picea engelmannii Woodland Alliance
              Picea pungens Woodland Alliance
              Pseudotsuga menziesii Woodland Alliance
              Tsuga heterophylla Woodland Alliance
              Tsuga mertensiana Woodland Alliance

II.A.2.c    Needle-leaved evergreen woodland with very narrow cylindro-conical crowns
            (e.g., some spruce in Alaska)

II.A.2.d    Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded/saturated woodland with rounded crowns
          
              EAST
              Pinus rigida Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus strobus Wetland Woodland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus elliottii var. densa Wetland Woodland Alliance   
              Pinus serotina Woodland Alliance
              Pinus serotina-Pinus elliottii Woodland Alliance
              Pinus serotina-Pinus taeda Wetland Woodland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Abies grandis Woodland Alliance
              Abies lasiocarpa Woodland Alliance

II.A.2.e    Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded/temporarily flooded woodland with rounded crowns
                    
              EAST
              Pinus serotina Wetland Woodland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus echinata Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus elliottii Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus elliottii Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus serotina Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus taeda Wetland Woodland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Pinus ponderosa Wetland Woodland Alliance

II.A.2.f    Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded/saturated woodland with conical crowns
                    
              EAST
              Chamaecyparis thyoides Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Picea rubens Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Picea mariana Wetland Woodland Alliance

II.A.2.g    Needle-leaved evergreen saturated woodland with conical crowns 
            (e.g., black spruce bogs)
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Picea rubens Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Thuja occidentalis Wetland Woodland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Picea mariana Woodland Alliance

II.A.2.h    Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded/saturated woodland with cylindro-conical crowns

II.A.2.*    Needle-leaved evergreen seasonally/temporarily flooded woodland
                    
              WEST
              Abies concolor Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Picea pungens Wetland Woodland Alliance   

II.A.3.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC EVERGREEN WOODLAND
II.A.3.a    Evergreen sclerophyllous woodland
II.A.3.b    Evergreen succulent woodland (assumed evergreen)

II.B.   DECIDUOUS WOODLAND
II.B.1.   TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS WOODLAND
II.B.1.a    Lowland and submontane broad-leaved drought-deciduous woodland
II.B.1.b    Montane (and cloud) drought-deciduous woodland

II.B.2.   COLD-DECIDUOUS WOODLAND
II.B.2.a    Cold-deciduous woodland
                    
              EAST
              Quercus muehlenbergii Woodland Alliance
              Tilia americana-Fraxinus americana Woodland Alliance
              Quercus rubra Woodland Alliance
              Quercus velutina-Quercus alba Woodland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Acer saccharum-Quercus muehlenbergii Woodland Alliance
              Populus fremontii Woodland Alliance
              Quercus arkansana Woodland Alliance
              Quercus hemisphaerica-Quercus margaretta Woodland Alliance
              Quercus incana Woodland Alliance
              Quercus laevis Woodland Alliance
              Quercus muehlenbergii-(Quercus macrocarpa) Woodland Alliance
              Quercus prinus Woodland Alliance
              Quercus prinus-Quercus coccineaWoodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata Woodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Quercus marilandica Woodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Quercus velutina-Quercus alba-(Quercus falcata) Woodland Alliance
              Quercus velutina-Quercus alba-Carya (texana, glabra) Woodland Alliance
              Robinia pseudo-acacia Woodland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Betual papyrifera Woodland Alliance
              Fraxinus pennsylvanica-(Ulmus americana) Woodland Alliance
              Populus Tremuloides Woodland Alliance
              Quercus alba Woodland Alliance
              Quercus macrocarpa Woodland Alliance
              Quercus macrocarpa-Quercus spp. (alba, velutina) Woodland Alliance
              Quercus muehlenbergii Woodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Q. marilandica Woodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Q. velutina-Q. alba-(Q. falcata) Woodland Alliance
              Quercus velutina-Q. ellipsoidalis Woodland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Populus angustifolia Woodland Alliance
              Populus fremontii Woodland Alliance
              Populus tremuloides Woodland Alliance
              Salix amygdaloides Woodland Alliance
              Salix laevigata Woodland Alliance
              Larix lyallii Woodland Alliance

II.B.2.b    Cold-deciduous intermittently flooded woodland
II.B.2.c    Cold-deciduous seasonally/temporarily flooded woodland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Acer negundo Woodland Alliance
              Acer negundo-Salix nigra Woodland Alliance
              Salix gooddingii Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Salix (nigra, caroliniana) Woodland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Populus deltoides Woodland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Acer negundo Woodland Alliance
              Platanus wrightii Woodland Alliance
              Populus deltoides Woodland Alliance

II.B.2.d    Cold-deciduous seasonally flooded/saturated woodland

II.B.3.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC DECIDUOUS WOODLAND
II.B.3.a    Deciduous thorn woodland 
            (may not be represented in the U.S.)

II.C.   MIXED EVERGREEN-DECIDUOUS WOODLAND
II.C.1.   TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL SEMI-DECIDUOUS WOODLAND

II.C.2.   MIXED BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN - COLD DECIDUOUS WOODLAND
                    
              WEST
              Quercus chrysolepsis Woodland Alliance
              Quercus garryana Woodland Alliance

II.C.3.   MIXED NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN - COLD-DECIDUOUS WOODLAND
II.C.3.a    Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous woodland
                    
              EAST
              Juniperus virginiana-Fraxinus americana Woodland Alliance
              Quercus (coccinea, velutina)-Pinus rigida Woodland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana-Quercus muehlenbergii Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata/Quercus incana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus rigida-Quercus prinus Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Quercus (alba, stellata, falcata, velutina) Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Quercus (prinus, coccinea) Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Quercus stellata-Quercus marilandica Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris/Quercus falcata-Carya texana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris/Quercus incana Woodland Alliance
              Pinus (rigida, pungens, virginiana) Quercus (prinus, coccinea) Woodland Alliance
                              
              MIDWEST
              Pinus banksiana-Quercus spp. (Q. velutina-Q. ellipsoidalis) Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Quercus spp. (alba, stellata, velutina) Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Quercus spp. (coccinea, prinus) Woodland Alliance
              Pinus strobus-Quercus alba Woodland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Populus angustifolia Woodland Alliance

II.C.3.b    Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous seasonally flooded/saturated woodland

II.C.3.*    Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous saturated woodland     

              EAST
              Fraxinus nigra-Abies balsamea Wetland Woodland Alliance

II.C.4.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC MIXED EVERGREEN - DECIDUOUS WOODLAND

II.C.4.a    Mixed evergreen-deciduous thorn woodland

              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus strobus-Acer rubrum Wetland Woodland Alliance

II.B.4.*    Cold-deciduous freshwater tidal regularly flooded woodland 
                    
              EAST
              Acer rubrum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Wetland Woodland Alliance

II.B.4.*    Cold-deciduous saturated woodland
                    
              EAST
              Acer rubrum Wetland Woodland Alliance

III.  SPARSE WOODLAND
III.A.  EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND
III.A.1.  BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
III.A.1.a   Broad-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with tall graminoids (includes tuft plants)
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Sabal palmetto/Muhlenbergia capillaris Upland Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.A.1.b   Broad-leaved evergreen sparse wooldand with medium tall graminoids 
            (includes tuft plants)
III.A.1.c   Broad-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with short graminoids 
            (includes tuft plants)
III.A.1.d   Broad-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded sparse wooldand with tall graminoids
            (includes tuft plants)
III.A.1.e   Broad-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded sparse wooldand with medium tall
            graminoids (includes tuft plants)
III.A.1.f   Broad-leaved evergreen seasonally flooded sparse wooldand with short graminoids
            (includes tuft plants)

III.A.2.  NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A DOMINANT SHRUB STRATUM

III.A.2.a   Needle-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with deciduous or mixed shrubs 
            (e.g., pitch pine-scrub oak)
                    
              EAST
              Pinus rigida/Quercus ilicifolia-Rhododendron canadense Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.A.2.b   Needle-leaved evergreen saturated sparse woodland with evergreen shrubs 
            (e.g., pocosins)

III.A.2.c   Needle-leaved evergreen saturated sparse woodland with deciduous or mixed evergreen shrubs 
            (e.g., pocosins)
                         
              SOUTHEAST
              Picea rubens/Ilex collina Sparse Wetland Woodland Alliance
              Picea rubens/Kalmia carolina Sparse Wetland Woodland Alliance

III.A.3.  NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND WITH DOMINANT DWARF SHRUB STRATUM
III.A.3.a   Needle-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with microphyllous dwarf shrubs
III.A.3.b   Needle-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with evergreen dwarf shrubs
III.A.3.c   Needle-leaved evergreen saturated sparse woodland with evergreen dwarf shrubs

III.A.3.*   Needle-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with broad-leaved dwarf shrubs
                    
              EAST
              Picea mariana/Kalmia-Ledum Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.A.4.  NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM

III.A.4.a   Needle-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with medium tall graminoids 
            (e.g., serpentine barrens, jack pine barrens)
                    
              EAST
              Pinus (virginiana, rigida)/Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Woodland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana/Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-Pinus taeda/Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus echinata-(Pinus virginiana)/Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus elliottii var. densa/Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris/medium-tall grass Sparse Upland Woodland Alliance
              Pinus virginiana-(Pinus rigida)/Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Woodland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Pinus banksiana-(Pinus resinosa) Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa Sparse Woodland Alliance?

III.A.4.b   Needle-leaved evergreen (wetland) sparse woodland with tall graminoids
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus elliottii/Ctenium aromaticum Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus elliottii-Pinus palustris/tallgrass Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris/Ctenium aromaticum Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus palustris-Pinus serotina/tallgrass Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus serotina/Arundinaria gigantea Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.A.4.c   Needle-leaved evergreen (wetland) sparse woodland with medium tall graminoids
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus elliottii var. densa/?? Sparse Wetland Woodland Alliance

III.A.5.  NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A DOMINANT NON-VASCULAR STRATUM

III.A.5.a   Needle-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with lichen cover
                    
              MIDWEST
              Pinus banksiana Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.A.5.b   Needle-leaved evergreen saturated sparse woodland with moss cover

III.A.6.  NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A SPARSELY-VEGETATED GROUND LAYER
III.A.6.a   Needle-leaved evergreen sparse (wetland) woodland on mudflats

III.A.6.*   Needle-leaved evergreen sparse woodland on rocky substrates

              SOUTHEAST
              Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana/Limestone Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.A.7.  EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND 
          (lower strata undefined)

III.B.  DECIDUOUS SPARSE WOODLAND
III.B.1.  TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS SPARSE WOODLAND  
          (lower strata undefined)

III.B.2.  COLD-DECIDUOUS SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
III.B.2.a   Cold-deciduous sparse woodland with tall graminoids
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Fraxinus quadrangulata-Quercus macrocarpa Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Populus deltoides/tallgrass Sparse Upland Woodland Alliance 
              Quercus muehlenbergii/tallgrass Sparse Woodland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Populus deltoides Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Populus tremuloides tallgrass Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus alba-Q. palustris Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus macrocarpa-Quercus spp. (alba, velutina, stellata) Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus velutina-Q. ellipsoidalis Sparse Woodland Alliance  

III.B.2.b   Cold-deciduous sparse woodland with medium tall graminoids
               
              SOUTHEAST
              Quercus alba-Quercus coccinea-Quercus velutina/Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Quercus marilandica Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Quercus velutina-Quercus alba-(Quercus falcata) Sparse Woodland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Populus tremuloides Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus macrocarpa Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Q. marilandica Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus stellata-Q. velutina-Q. alba-(Q. falcata) Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.B.2.c   Cold-deciduous sparse woodland with short graminoids
III.B.2.d   Cold-deciduous seasonally flooded sparse woodland with tall graminoids.
                    
              WEST
              Populus deltoides Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Populus fremontii Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.B.2.*   Cold-deciduous seasonally flooded/saturated sparse woodland with tall graminoids
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Taxodium ascendens Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.B.3.  COLD-DECIDUOUS SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A SPARSELY-VEGETATED GROUND LAYER
III.B.3.a   Cold-deciduous sparse woodland on rocky substrate
          
              SOUTHEAST
              Quercus coccinea-Quercus prinus/(Sandstone, Shale) Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Quercus muehlenbergii-Fraxinus quadrangulata-Acer saccharum/Limestone Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.B.4.  EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC DECIDUOUS SPARSE WOODLAND (lower strata undefined)

III.B.*   Cold-deciduous sparse woodland with a dominant shrub stratum

III.B.*   Cold-deciduous saturated sparse woodland with evergreen shrubs 
          
              SOUTHEAST
              Liriodendron tulipifera/Rhododendron maximum Sparse 
          	Wetland Woodland Alliance

III.C.  MIXED EVERGREEN-DECIDUOUS SPARSE WOODLAND
III.C.1.  BROAD-LEAVED SEMI-EVERGREEN SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
III.C.1.a   Broad-leaved semi-evergreen sparse woodland with tall graminoids
III.C.1.b   Broad-leaved semi-evergreen sparse woodland with medium tall graminoids
III.C.1.c   Broad-leaved semi-evergreen sparse woodland with short graminoids

III.C.2.  MIXED NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN - COLD-DECIDUOUS SPARSE WOODLAND 
III.C.2.a   Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous saturated sparse woodland with evergreen shrubs 
            (e.g., pocosins)

III.C.3.  MIXED NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN - COLD-DECIDUOUS SPARSE WOODLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
III.C.3.a   Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous sparse woodland with tall graminoids
III.C.3.b   Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous sparse woodland with medium tall graminoids
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus (virginiana, echinata)-Quercus (coccinea, alba, velutina)/Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Woodland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Pinus banksiana-Quercus spp. (velutina, ellipsoidalis) Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa-Quercus macrocarpa Sparse Woodland Alliance
              Pinus strobus-Quercus alba Sparse Woodland Alliance

III.C.3.c   Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous (wetland) sparse woodland with forbs
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Pinus rigida-Nyssa sylvatica Sparse Wetland Woodland Alliance

III.C.4     MIXED EVERGREEN - DECIDUOUS EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC SPARSE WOODLAND 
            (lower strata undefined)

III.C.*     Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous sparse woodland with a sparsely vegetated ground layer

III.C.*     Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous sparse woodland on rocky substrates
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Juniperus virginiana-(Quercus muehlenbergii, Fraxinus quadrangulata, Acer saccharum) Limestone Sparse Woodland Alliance

IV.  SHRUBLAND (SCRUB)
IV.A.   EVERGREEN SHRUBLAND
IV.A.1.   BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN SHRUBLAND
IV.A.1.a    Evergreen low bamboo shrubland
IV.A.1.b    Evergreen tuft-tree shrubland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Serenoa repens Upland Shrubland Alliance

IV.A.1.c    Broad-leaved evergreen hemisclerophyllous shrubland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Baccharis halimifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus chapmanii Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus havardii Shrubland Alliance
              Ilex vomitoria-Myrica cerifera Upland Shrubland Alliance

IV.A.1.d    Broad-leaved evergreen sclerophyllous shrubland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Ceratiola ericoides Shrubland Alliance
              Pithecellobium ebano-Phaulothamnus spinescens Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus myrtifolia-Serenoa repens Shrubland Alliance
              Rhododendron catawbiense Shrubland Alliance
              Rhododendron maximum Shrubland Alliance
              Rhododendron maximum-Kalmia latifolia Shrubland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Ceanothus velutinous Shrubland Alliance?
                    
              WEST
              Ambrosia deltoidea Shrubland Alliance
              Arctostaphylos patula Shrubland Alliance
              Arctostaphylos pungens Shrubland Alliance
              Arctostaphylos viscida Shrubland Alliance
              Cercocarpus ledifolius Shrubland Alliance
              Gaultheria shallon Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus oblongifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus toumeyi Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus turbinella Shrubland Alliance
              Simmondsia chinensis Shrubland Alliance

IV.A.1.e    Evergreen suffruticose shrubland
IV.A.1.f    Broad-leaved evergreen (wetland) shrubland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Cyrilla racemiflora Shrubland Alliance
              Hypericum fasciculatum Shrubland Alliance

IV.A.2.   NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN SHRUBLAND
IV.A.2.a    Needle-leaved evergreen shrubland 
            (e.g., krumholtz)
                    
              EAST
              Picea mariana-Abies balsamea Shrubland Alliance  
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Juniperus communis Shrubland Alliance
              Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana Shrubland Alliance
              Pinus taeda Upland Shrubland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Juniperus communis Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Abies lasiocarpa Shrubland Alliance

IV.A.2.b    Needle-leaved evergreen shrubland 
            (e.g., scrub bog)

IV.A.3.   MICROPHYLLOUS EVERGREEN SHRUBLAND 
            (e.g., sagebrush)
                    
              MIDWEST
              Aretmisia cana ssp. cana Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia longifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tridentata Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia bigelovii Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tridentata Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Shrubland Alliance
              Cowania mexicana Shrubland Alliance
              Purshia tridentata Shrubland Alliance

IV.A.3.*    Microphyllous evergreen seasonally/temporarily flooded Shrubland
                    
              WEST
              Allenrolfea occidentalis Shrubland Alliance

IV.A.4.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC EVERGREEN SHRUBLAND
IV.A.4.a    Evergreen subdesert shrubland 
            (e.g., cresote bush)
                    
              WEST
              Encelia farinosa Shrubland Alliance
              Ephedra nevadensis Shrubland Alliance
              Ephedra nevadensis-Ephedra viridis Shrubland Alliance
              Ephedra viridis Shrubland Alliance
              Eriogonum fasciculatum Shrubland Alliance
              Larrea tridentata Shrubland Alliance
              Mortonia scabrella Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.   DECIDUOUS SHRUBLAND (SCRUB)
IV.B.1.   DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS SHRUBLAND

IV.B.2.   COLD-DECIDUOUS SHRUBLAND
IV.B.2.a    Temperate deciduous shrubland 
            (e.g., serviceberry, some oaks)
                    
              EAST
              Myrica pensylvanica-Prunus maritima Shrubland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Quercus alba Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus ilicifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus stellata Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium vacillans Shrubland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Amelanchier alnifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia filifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Atriplex confertifolia-(Sarcobatis vermiculatus) Shrubland Alliance
              Betula occidentalis Shrubland Alliance
              Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance
              Cornus racemosa-C. drummondii-Rhus glabra Shrubland Alliance?
              Corylus americana-Rhus spp.- Salix humilis Shrubland Alliance
              Malus ioensis-Crataegus spp. Shrubland Alliance?
              Pentaphylloides floribunda Shrubland Alliance
              Populus tremuloides-Quercus spp.- Salix spp. Shrubland Alliance
              Prunus americana Shrubland Alliance?
              Quercus marilandica scrub Alliance
              Shepherdia argentea Shrubland Alliance
              Symphoricarpos occidentalis Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Acer glabrum Shrubland Alliance
              Amelanchier alnifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Amelanchier utahensis Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia cana Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia cana ssp. viscidula Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia filifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Betula glandulosa Shrubland Alliance
              Celtis reticulata Shrubland Alliance
              Cercocarpus montanus Shrubland Alliance
              Crataegus douglasii Shrubland Alliance
              Elaeagnus commutata Shrubland Alliance
              Glossopetalon nevadense Shrubland Alliance
              Juglans major Shrubland Alliance
              Juglans microcarpa Shrubland Alliance
              Physocarpus malvaceus Shrubland Alliance
              Potentilla fruticosa Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus gambelii Shrubland Alliance
              Quercus undulata Shrubland Alliance
              Rhus aromatica Shrubland Alliance
              Rhus glabra Shrubland Alliance
              Rhus virens var. choriophylla Shrubland Alliance
              Ribes cereum Shrubland Alliance
              Robinia neomexicana Shrubland Alliance
              Rubus parviflorus Shrubland Alliance
              Spiraea douglasii Shrubland Alliance
              Symphoricarpos albus Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.2.b    Subalpine or subpolar deciduous shrubland 
            (e.g., willow, alder)
                    
              WEST
              Rhamnus alnifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Salix brachycarpa Shrubland Alliance
              Salix glauca Shrubland Alliance
              Salix pseudomonticola Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium spp. caespitosum-scoparium Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.2.c    Deciduous seasonally/temporarily flooded shrubland
                    
              EAST
              Alnus (incana, serrulata) Shrubland Alliance
              Betula nigra Shrubland Alliance
              Salix nigra Shrubland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Alnus serrulata Seasonally/temporarily Flooded Shrubland Alliance
              Salix caroliniana Shrubland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Salix spp. (S. exigua) Shrubland Alliance
              Salix spp. Shrubland Alliance Shrub Prairie
                    
              WEST
              Alnus incana Shrubland Alliance
              Alnus oblongifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Alnus sinuata Shrubland Alliance
              Alnus spp. Shrubland Alliance
              Baccharis sarothroides Shrubland Alliance
              Betula occidentalis Shrubland Alliance
              Celtis reticulata Shrubland Alliance
              Chilopsis linearis Shrubland Alliance
              Cornus sericea Shrubland Alliance
              Crataegus succulenta Shrubland Alliance
              Forestiera pubescens Shrubland Alliance
              Hymenoclea monogyra Shrubland Alliance
              Philadelphus lewisii Shrubland Alliance
              Physocarpus malvaceus Shrubland Alliance
              Prunus virginiana Shrubland Alliance
              Ribes lacustre Shrubland Alliance
              Rosa woodsii Shrubland Alliance
              Salix bebbiana Shrubland Alliance
              Salix boothii Shrubland Alliance
              Salix candida Shrubland Alliance
              Salix commutata Shrubland Alliance
              Salix drummondiana Shrubland Alliance
              Salix eastwoodiae Shrubland Alliance
              Salix exigua Shrubland Alliance
              Salix geyeriana Shrubland Alliance
              Salix hookeriana Shrubland Alliance
              Salix irrorata Shrubland Alliance
              Salix lasiandra Shrubland Alliance
              Salix lasiolepis Shrubland Alliance
              Salix ligulifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Salix lutea Shrubland Alliance
              Salix monticola Shrubland Alliance
              Salix planifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Salix rigida Shrubland Alliance
              Shepherdia argentea Shrubland Alliance
              Symphoricarpos occidentalis Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.2.d    Deciduous seasonally flooded/saturated shrubland 
            (e.g., blueberry-azalea thickets)
                    
              MIDWEST
              Alnus incana Shrubland Alliance
              Alnus serrulata Shrubland Alliance
              Salix bebbiana Shrubland Alliance
              Salix spp. -Cornus sericea Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Betula occidentalis Shrubland Alliance
              Salix wolfii Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.2.e    Deciduous saturated shrubland 
            (e.g. on peat)
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Alnus serrulata Saturated Shrubland Alliance
              Asimina triloba Shrubland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Cornus spp.- Rhus spp.- Vaccinium spp. Saturated Shrubland Alliance
              Cornus spp.- Salix spp. Saturated Shrubland Alliance
              Salix spp.- Betula pumila Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Salix brachycarpa Shrubland Alliance
              Salix geyeriana Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium occidentale Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium uliginosum Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.2.f    Deciduous semipermanently flooded shrubland (e.g., butonbush thickets)
                    
              EAST
              Cephalanthus occidentalis Shrubland Alliance
              Cornus (sericea/amomum)-Pentaphylloides floribunda Shrublands (Shrub fens): 
                 see Pentaphylloides floribunda-Carex spp. Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Decodon verticillatus Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium corymbosum Shrubland Alliance
              
              SOUTHEAST
              Cephalanthus occidentalis Shrubland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Cephalanthus occidentalis Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.2.g    Saltwater-tidal irregularly flooded shrubland (e.g., high tide bush)
          
              EAST
              Baccharis halimifolia-Iva frutescens Shrubland Alliance 

IV.B.3.*    Freshwater-tidal irregularly flooded shrubland
                    
              EAST
              Alnus (incana, serrulata)-Cornus amomum Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.3.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC DECIDUOUS SHRUBLAND
IV.B.3.a    Deciduous subdesert shrubland without succulents
                    
              WEST
              Acacia neovernicosa Shrubland Alliance
              Eriogonum corymbosum Shrubland Alliance
              Grayia spinosa Shrubland Alliance
              Psorothamnus polydenius var. polydenius Shrubland Alliance
              Rhus microphylla Shrubland Alliance
              Sarcobatus vermiculatus Shrubland Alliance
              Sarcobatus vermiculatus var. baileyi Shrubland Alliance

IV.B.3.*    Deciduous seasonally/temporarily flooded subdesert Shrubland      
                    
              WEST
              Acacia greggii Shrubland Alliance
              Sarcobatus vermiculatus Wetland Shrubland Alliance

IV.C.   MIXED EVERGREEN-DECIDUOUS SHRUBLAND (SCRUB)
IV.C.1.   MIXED EVERGREEN - DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS SHRUBLAND
IV.C.2.   MIXED EVERGREEN - COLD-DECIDUOUS SHRUBLAND

IV.C.2.*    Mixed evergreen - cold-deciduous shrubland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Gaylussacia brachycera-Vaccinium arboreum Shrubland Alliance     

IV.C.3.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC MIXED EVERGREEN - DECIDUOUS SHRUBLAND
IV.C.3.a    Deciduous subdesert shrubland with succulents 
            (e.g., palo verde)
                    
              WEST
              Cercidium floridum Shrubland Alliance
              Cercidium microphyllum Shrubland Alliance
              Fouquieria splendens Shrubland Alliance
              Lycium berlandieri Shrubland Alliance
              Prosopis glandulosa Shrubland Alliance
              Prosopis pubescens Shrubland Alliance
              Prosopis velutina Shrubland Alliance

IV.C.3.b    Facultatively deciduous subdesert shrubland 
            (e.g., saltbush)
                    
              WEST
              Aloysia wrightii Shrubland Alliance
              Atriplex canescens Shrubland Alliance
              Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland Alliance
              Atriplex cuneata Shrubland Alliance
              Atriplex hymenelytra Shrubland Alliance
              Atriplex polycarpa Shrubland Alliance
              Ceratoides lanata Shrubland Alliance
              Chrysothamnus albidus Shrubland Alliance
              Chrysothamnus nauseosus Shrubland Alliance
              Chrysothamnys parryi Shrubland Alliance
              Coleogyne ramosissima Shrubland Alliance
              Encelia virginensis Shrubland Alliance
              Flourensia cernua Shrubland Alliance
              Poliomintha incana Shrubland Alliance

IV.C.3.c    Mixed evergreen - deciduous subdesert shrubland


V.   SPARSE SHRUBLAND (SCRUB)
V.A.    EVERGREEN SPARSE SHRUBLAND (SCRUB)
V.A.1.    BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
V.A.1.a     Broad-leaved evergreen sparse shrubland with tall graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Yucca glauca Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.1.b     Broad-leaved evergreen sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids 
            (including tuft shrubs)
                    
              WEST
              Purshia tridentata Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Yucca glauca Sparse Shrubland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Kalmia latifolia/Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Serenoa repens Upland Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.1.c     Broad-leaved evergreen sparse shrubland with short graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Bouteloua eriopoda Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Carex Stenophylla Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Eriogonum spp. Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.1.d     Broad-leaved evergreen saturated sparse shrubland with tall graminoids
V.A.1.e     Broad-leaved evergreen saturated sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Ilex (glabra, coriacea) Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.2.    NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
V.A.2.a     Needle-leaved evergreen sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Muhlenbergia Setifolia Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Sporobolus Cryptandrus Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Sporobolus nealleyi Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.2.*     Cold-deciduous Sparse Shrubland with Tall Graminoids 
                    
              WEST
              Leymus cinereus Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.3.    MICROPHYLLOUS EVERGREEN SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
V.A.3.a     Microphyllous evergreen sparse shrubland with tall graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia tridentata Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.3.b     Microphyllous evergreen sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia longifolia Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tridentata Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tripartita Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia tripartita ssp. rupicola Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Hilaria mutica Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Hilaria rigida Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Muhlenbergia setfolia Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Sporobolus cryptandrus Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Sporobolus nealleyi Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.3.c     Microphyllous evergreen sparse shrubland with short graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Bouteloua eriopoda Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Bouteloua gracilis Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.A.3.d     Tropical alpine evergreen tuft plant sparse shrubland with short bunch graminoids
            (e.g., Paramo)
V.A.3.e     Tropical or subtropical alpine evergreen sparse shrubland with short bunch graminoids 
            (e.g., Puna)

V.A.4.    EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC EVERGREEN SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
V.A.4.a     Evergreen sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids (e.g. Larrea
            tridentata/Hilaria mutica)

V.B.    DECIDUOUS SPARSE SHRUBLAND (scrub)
V.B.1.    DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
V.B.1.a     Drought-deciduous thorny sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids 
            (grasses may be 1>m - needs review)
                    
              EAST
              Myrica pensylvanica-Schizachyrium scoparium Sparse Shrubland                    

              WEST
              Prosopis glandulosa Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.B.1.b     Drought-deciduous thorny sparse shrubland with short graminoids

V.B.2.    COLD-DECIDUOUS SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
V.B.2.a     Cold-deciduous sparse shrubland with tall graminoids
                    
              MIDWEST
              Corylus americana-(Rubus spp.) Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Populus tremuloides-Quercus spp. Sparse Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia filifolia Sparse Shrubland Alliance                            
              Rhus aromatica Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.B.2.b     Cold-deciduous sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids
                    
              MIDWEST
              Rhus aromatica Sparse Shrubland Alliance?
              Sarcobatus vermiculatus Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Yucca glauca Sparse Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia cana Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia cana ssp. cana Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia filifolia Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Cercocarpus montanus Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Festuca idahoensis Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Potentilla fruticosa Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Rhus aromatica Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Rhus glabra Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Sarcobatus vermiculatus Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.B.2.c     Cold-deciduous sparse shrubland with short graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia cana Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.B.2.d     Cold-deciduous saturated sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids 
            (e.g., shrub/herb fen)
                    
              EAST
              Alnus serrulata/Sanguisorba canadense Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Chamaedaphne calyculata-Carex lasiocarpa Sparse shrubland Alliance  
              Pentaphylloides floribunda-Carex (flava, interior, sterilis, lasiocarpa) Sparse Shrubland Alliance 
              Physocarpus opulifolius-Calamagrostis canadensis Sparse Shrubland Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Alnus serrulata/Carex crinita Sparse Shrubland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Alnus serrulata/Carex crinita Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Pentaphylloides floribunda-Carex spp. Sparse Shrubland Alliance
              Salix petiolaris-Carex spp. Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.B.2.*     Cold-deciduous saturated sparse shrubland with tall graminoids
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Myrica cerifera Sparse Wetland Shrubland Alliance
              Physocarpus opulifolius/Calamagrostis canadensis Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.B.3.    COLD-DECIDUOUS SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A SPARSELY VEGETATED GROUND LAYER
V.B.3.a     Cold-deciduous sparse shrubland on rocky substrate
                    
              EAST
              Kalmia latifolia-Schizachyrium scoparium-Helianthemum bicknellii Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.B.4.    EXTREMELY XEROMOROPHIC EVERGREEN SPARSE SHRUBLAND  
          (LOWER STRATA UNDEFINED)

V.C.    MIXED EVERGREEN-DECIDUOUS SPARSE SHRUBLAND (SCRUB)
V.C.1.    MIXED EVERGREEN - DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM

V.C.2.    BROAD-LEAVED SEMI-EVERGREEN SPARSE SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
V.C.2.a     Broad-leaved semi-evergreen sparse shrubland with tall graminoids
V.C.2.b     Broad-leaved semi-evergreen sparse shrubland with medium tall graminoids
V.C.2.c     Broad-leaved semi-evergreen sparse shrubland with short graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Chrysothamnus nauseosus Sparse Shrubland Alliance

V.C.3.    EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC MIXED EVERGREEN - DECIDUOUS SPARSE SHRUBLAND

VI.  DWARF SHRUBLAND (DWARF-SCRUB)
VI.A.   EVERGREEN DWARF SHRUBLAND (DWARF-SCRUB)
VI.A.1.   NEEDLE-LEAVED AND MICROPHYLLOUS EVERGREEN DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.A.1.a    Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen caespitose dwarf-shrubland 
            (e.g., alpine azalea)
                    
              WEST
              Ambrosia dumosa Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.A.1.b    Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen creeping or matted dwarf-shrubland 
                    
              EAST
              Hudsonia (tomentosa, ericoides) Dwarf Shrubland Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Juniperus horizontalis Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Juniperus horizontalis Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.A.1.c    Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen cushion dwarf-shrubland
                    
              WEST
              Cassiope mertensiana Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Empetrum nigrum Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Eriogonum ovalifolium var. depressum Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Phyllodoce empetriformis Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Phyllodoce glanduliflora Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.A.1.d    Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen caespitose saturated dwarf-shrubland
            (e.g., dwarf shrub bogs)
                    
              MIDWEST
              Chamaedaphne calyculata-Andromeda glaucophylla Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.A.1.e    Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen creeping or matted saturated dwarf-shrubland

VI.A.1.*    Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen cushion saturated dwarf-shrubland
                    
              WEST
              Kalmia microphylla Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.A.1.*    Broad-leaved evergreen dwarf shrubland

VI.A.1.*    Broad-leaved evergreen saturated dwarf shrubland 
                    
              EAST
              Chamaedaphne calyculata Dwarf Shrub Alliance 

VI.A.2.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC EVERGREEN DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.A.2.a    Evergreen subdesert dwarf-shrubland
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia pygmaea Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.B.   DECIDUOUS DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.B.1.   DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.B.1.a    Drought-deciduous caespitose dwarf-shrubland
VI.B.1.b    Drought-deciduous creeping or matted dwarf-shrubland
VI.B.1.c    Drought-deciduous cushion dwarf-shrubland

VI.B.2.   COLD-DECIDUOUS DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.B.2.a    Cold-deciduous caespitose dwarf-shrubland
            (Diapensia lapponica dwarf-shrubland see Carex bigelowii-Juncus trifidus Herbaceous Alliance) 
            Vaccinium (myrtilloides, vacillans, angustifolium) Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Baccharis pilularis Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium deliciosum Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium membranaceum Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.B.2.b    Cold-deciduous creeping or matted dwarf-shrubland
                    
              WEST
              Salix arctica Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Salix cascadensis Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Salix nivalis Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Salix reticulata Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.B.2.c    Cold-deciduous cushion dwarf-shrubland
VI.B.2.d    Cold-deciduous saturated dwarf-shrubland
                    
              EAST
              Gaylussacia baccata (dumosa) Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium macrocarpon Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Vaccinium uliginosum Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.B.3.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC DECIDUOUS DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.B.3.a    Deciduous subdesert dwarf-shrubland without succulents
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia pedatifida Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia spinescens Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Salvia dorrii Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.C.   MIXED EVERGREEN-DECIDUOUS DWARF-SHRUBLAND (DWARF SCRUB)
VI.C.1.   MIXED EVERGREEN - DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.C.1.a    Facultatively drought-deciduous dwarf-shrubland
VI.C.1.b    Mixed evergreen - cold-deciduous dwarf-shrubland

VI.C.2.   MIXED EVERGREEN- COLD-DECIDUOUS DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.C.2.a    Mixed evergreen - cold-deciduous dwarf-shrubland

VI.C.3.   EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC MIXED EVERGREEN - DECIDUOUS DWARF-SHRUBLAND
VI.C.3.a    Deciduous subdesert dwarf-shrubland with succulents
VI.C.3.b    Facultatively deciduous subdesert dwarf-shrubland
                    
              WEST
              Atriplex corrugata Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Atriplex gardneri Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Atriplex obovata Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Eriogonum sphaerocephalum Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Eriogonum thymoides Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VI.C.3.c    Mixed evergreen - deciduous subdesert shrubland
VI.A.3.*    Microphyllous evergreen saturated dwarf-shrubland
                    
              EAST
              Empetrum nigrum Dwarf Shrub Alliance

VII. SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND (SPARSE DWARF-SCRUB)
VII.A.  EVERGREEN SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND (SPARSE DWARF-SHRUB)
VII.A.1.  NEEDLE-LEAVED AND MICROPHYLLOUS EVERGREEN SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
VII.A.1.a   Needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen sparse dwarf-shrubland with medium tall graminoids
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia arbuscula Sparse Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia longiloba Sparse Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia nova Sparse Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia pedatifida Sparse Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance
              Artemisia rigida Sparse Dwarf-Shrubland Alliance

VII.A.1.b   Needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen sparse dwarf-shrubland with short bunch graminoids 
            (e.g., Puna of Oruru Bolivia)
VII.A.1.c   Temperate or subpolar alpine and subalpine needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen sparse dwarf-shrub meadows
VII.A.1.d   Needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen seasonally flooded/saturated sparse dwarf-shrubland with short bunch graminoids 
            (e.g., mixed shrub/sedge tussock tundra)

VII.A.2   NEEDLE-LEAVED AND MICROPHYLLOUS EVERGREEN SPARSEDWARF-SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT NON-VASCULAR STRATUM
VII.A.2.a   Needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen caespitose saturated sparse dwarf-shrubland
VII.A.2.b   Needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen creeping or matted saturated sparse dwarf-shrubland
VII.A.2.c   Needle-leaved or microphyllous sparse dwarf-shrubland with lichens (wetland?)

VII.A.3   NEEDLE-LEAVED AND MICROPHYLLOUS EVERGREEN SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND WITH A SPARSELY VEGETATED STRATUM
VII.A.3.a   Needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen sparse dwarf-shrubland with rocky cover 
            (e.g., alpine)
VII.A.3.b   Needle-leaved or microphyllous evergreen intermittently flooded sparse dwarf-shrubland on semi-arid alluvial substrate

VII.A.*   Broad-leaved evergreen sparse dwarf-shrubland with a dominant herbaceous stratum
VII.A.*.  Broad-leaved evergreen sparse dwarf shrubland with medium-tall graminoids
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Sibbaldiopsis tridentata/Danthonia compressa Sparse Dwarf Shrubland Alliance

VII.B.  DECIDUOUS SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND (SPARSE DWARF-SCRUB)
VII.B.1.  DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
VII.B.1.a   Drought deciduous sparse dwarf-shrubland with medium tall graminoids 
            (e.g., Artemisia pedatafida)

VII.B.2.  COLD-DECIDUOUS SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
VII.B.2.a   Cold-deciduous seasonally flooded/saturated sparse dwarf-shrubland with graminoids (height?) 
            (e.g., sedge tundra)

VII.B.3.  EXTREMELY XEROMORPHIC DECIDUOUS SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND (LOWER STRATA UNDEFINED)

VII.C.    MIXED EVERGREEN - DECIDUOUS SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND (SCRUB)
VII.C.1   MIXED EVERGREEN - DROUGHT-DECIDUOUS SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM
VII.C.1.a   Facultatively drought-deciduous sparse dwarf-shrubland 
            (herbaceous strata undefined)

VII.C.2   MIXED EVERGREEN - COLD-DECIDUOUS SPARSE DWARF-SHRUBLAND WITH A DOMINANT HERBACEOUS STRATUM

VIII. HERBACEOUS
VIII.A. TALL GRASSLAND (GRAMINOIDS)
VIII.A.1. TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL TALL GRASSLAND 
          (graminoids can be >2m)
VIII.A.1.a  Tropical and subtropical tall grassland
VIII.A.1.b  Tropical and subtropical seasonally flooded tall grassland
VIII.A.1.c  Tropical and subtropical semipermanently flooded tall grassland 
            (e.g., Everglades)
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2. TEMPERATE (AND SUBPOLAR?) TALL GRASSLAND

VIII.A.2.a  Dense tall grassland (>60% cover) 
            (including sod or mixed sod-bunch graminoids; e.g., tallgrass prairie)
                    
              EAST
              Andropogon geradii-Sorgastrum nutans Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Andropogon gerardii-Sorghastrum nutans Herbaceous Alliance
              Andropogon gerardii-Panicum virgatum Herbaceous Alliance
              Schizachyrium scoparium-Andropogon glomeratus Herbaceous Alliance
              Schizachyrium scoparium-Sorghastrum nutans Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus silveanus Herbaceous Alliance
              Tripsacum dactyloides-Panicum virgatum Upland Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Andropogon gerardii-Panicum virgatum Herbaceous Alliance
              Andropogon gerardii-(Sorghastrum nutans) Herbaceous Alliance
              Andropogon hallii Herbaceous Alliance
              Calamovilfa longifolia Herbaceous Alliance
              Schizachyrium scoparium-Sorghastrum nutans Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Andropogon gerardii-(Sorghastrum nutans) Herbaceous Alliance
              Andropogon hallii Herbaceous Alliance
              Calamovilfa longifolia Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2.b  Open tall grassland (< 60% cover) 
            (including sod or mixed sod-bunch graminoids)
VIII.A.2.c   Tall bunch grassland
                    
              WEST
              Leymus cinereus Herbaceous Alliance
              Panicum virgatum Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus wrightii Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2.d  Seasonally/temporarily flooded tall grassland 
            (e.g., low prairie, meadow)
                    
              EAST
              Calamagrostis canadensis-Phalaris arundinacea Herbaceous Alliance
              Juncus balticus Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Carex trichocarpa-Lysimachia quadriflora-Lythrum alatum Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex walteriana Seasonally/temporarily Flooded Herbaceous Alliance
              Panicum hemitomon Herbaceous Alliance
              Spartina pectinata Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Calamagrostis spp.- Carex spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex lacustris-Carex atherodes Herbaceous Alliance
              Cyperus spp. Herbaceous Alliance?
              Phalaris arundinacea Herbaceous Alliance
              Polygonus spp.- Echinochloa spp.- Distichlis stricta Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus spp.- Typha spp.- Juncus spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Spartina pectinata-Carex spp.-Calamagrostis spp. Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Phalaris arundinacea Herbaceous Alliance
              Phragmites australis Herbaceous Alliance
              Spartina pectinata Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2.e  Semipermanently flooded tall grassland (e.g., cattail marsh)
                    
              EAST
              Typha latifolia Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus spp. Herbaceous Alliance 
              Scirpus (robustus/maritimus) Herbaceous Alliance 
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Phragmites australis Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus spp.- Typha spp.- Sparganium spp.- Juncus spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Typha latifolia Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Phragmites australis Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus acutus-S. validus Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus maritimus-S. acutus-S. fluviatilis Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus spp.- Typha spp.- Sparganium spp.- Juncus spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Typha spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Zizania spp. (aquatica, palustris) Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2.f  Saturated tall grassland
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Carex interior-Carex lurida Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex walteriana Saturated Herbaceous Alliance
              Ctenium aromaticum-Muhlenbergia capillaris var. trichopodes Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Andropogon gerardii-Carex spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Calamagrostis canadensis-Carex Wide-Leaved spp. (lacustris-stricta) Herbaceous Alliance
              Typha spp. Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2 g  Brackish-tidal regularly flooded tall grassland
                    
              EAST
              Typha angustifolia-Hibiscus palustris Herbaceous Alliance
              Spartina cynosuroides Herbaceous Alliance
              Phragmites australis Herbaceous Alliance
              Spartina alterniflora-Lilaeopsis chinensis Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2.h  Freshwater-tidal regularly flooded tall grassland
                    
              EAST
              Zizania aquatica Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2.i  Saltwater-tidal regularly flooded tall grassland 
            (e.g., big cordgrass marsh)
                    
              EAST
              Spartina alterniflora Herbaceous Alliance
              
              SOUTHEAST
              Juncus roemerianus Saline Herbaceous Alliance
              Spartina alterniflora Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.A.2.*  Brackish-tidal irregularly flooded tall grassland
          
              SOUTHEAST
              Juncus roemerianus Brackish/Intermediate Herbaceous Alliance
              Spartina patens-Juncus roemerianus Brackish Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.B. MEDIUM TALL GRASSLAND (graminoids)
VIII.B.1. TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL MEDIUM TALL GRASSLAND

VIII.B.2. TEMPERATE AND SUBPOLAR MEDIUM TALL GRASSLAND
VIII.B.2.a  Dense medium tall grassland (>60% cover) 
            (including sod or mixed sod-bunch graminoids; e.g., mixed grass prairie)
                    

              MIDWEST
              Elymus lanceolatus (Agropyron dasystachyum)-Koeleria macrantha Herbaceous Alliance
              Festuca scabrella Herbaceous Alliance
              Muhlenbergia cuspidata Herbaceous Alliance?
              Pascopyrum (Agropyron) Smithii-Stipa comata Herbaceous Alliance
              Poa spp.- Sporobolus spp. Montane Herbaceous Alliance?
              Schizachyrium scoparium-Boutelous curtipendula Herbaceous Alliance
              Schizachyrium scoparium-Sporobolus cryptandrus-Cyperus schweinitzii Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus heterolepis Herbaceous Alliance
              Stipa comata-Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous Alliance
              Stipa curtiseta-Elymus lanceolatus (Agropyron dasystachyum) Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.B.2.b  Open medium tall grassland (< 60% cover) 
            (including sod or mixed sod-bunch graminoids; e.g., glades and dune grasslands)
                    
              EAST
              Dactylis glomerata-Rumex acetosella Herbaceous Alliance
              Danthonia compressa Herbaceous Alliance
              Ammophila breviligulata Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Schizachyrium scoparium-(Aristida spp.) Herbaceous Alliance
              Schizachyrium scoparium-Bouteloua curtipendula Herbaceous Alliance
              Schizachyrium scoparium-Sporobolus (asper-heterolepis) Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus flexuosus Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Schizachurium scoparium-(Aristida spp.) Herbaceous Alliance
              Schizachyrium scoparium-Bouteloua curtipendula-(Ophioglossum engelmannii) Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Agrostis stolonifera Herbaceous Alliance
              Calamagrostis canadensis Herbaceous Alliance
              Elymus glaucus Herbaceous Alliance
              Elymus hirsutus Herbaceous Alliance
              Festuca rubra Herbaceous Alliance
              Glyceria borealis Herbaceous Alliance
              Panicum obtusum Herbaceous Alliance
              Pascopyrum smithii Herbaceous Alliance  

VIII.B.2.c  Medium tall bunch grassland
                    
              WEST
              Aristida longiseta Herbaceous Alliance
              Bouteloua curtipendula Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex hoodii Herbaceous Alliance
              Danthonia californica Herbaceous Alliance
              Festuca arizonica Herbaceous Alliance
              Festuca idahoensis Herbaceous Alliance
              Festuca scabrella Herbaceous Alliance
              Festuca thurberi Herbaceous Alliance
              Festuca viridula Herbaceous Alliance
              Hilaria mutica Herbaceous Alliance
              Leymus ambiguus Herbaceous Alliance
              Muhlenbergia emersleyi Herbaceous Alliance
              Muhlenbergia montana Herbaceous Alliance
              Oryzopsis hymenoides Herbaceous Alliance
              Panicum bulbosum Herbaceous Alliance
              Poa cusickii Herbaceous Alliance
              Poa nervosa Herbaceous Alliance
              Poa nevadensis Herbaceous Alliance
              Poa palustris Herbaceous Alliance
              Pseudoroegneria spicata Herbaceous Alliance
              Schizachurium scoparium Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus airoides Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus flexuosus Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus nealleyi Herbaceous Alliance
              Stipa comata Herbaceous Alliance
              Stipa nelsonii Herbaceous Alliance
              Stipa neomexicana Herbaceous Alliance
              Stipa richardsonii Herbaceous Alliance
              Stipa viridula Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.B.2.d  Seasonally/temporarily flooded medium tall grassland
                    
              EAST
              Carex striata Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex stricta Herbaceous Alliance
              Cladium mariscoides Herbaceous Alliance
              Deschampsia cespitosa Herbaceous Alliance
              Dulichium arundinaceum Herbaceous Alliance 
              Rhynchospora macrostachya Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus heterolepis-Eleocharis compressa Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Carex torta Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              MIDWEST
              Carex stricta-Carex spp. (aquatilis, rostrata) Herbaceous Alliance
              Eleocharis melanocarpa-Rhynchospora macrostachya Herbaceous Alliance
              Distichlis spicata-(Hordeum jubatum) Herbaceous Alliance
              Salicornia rubra Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus maritimus Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Agrostis scabra Herbaceous Alliance
              Deschampsia cespitosa Herbaceous Alliance
              Leymus triticoides Herbaceous Alliance
              Panicum bulbosum Herbaceous Wetland Alliance
              Spartina gracilis Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus airoides Wetland Herbaceous Alliance
              Sporobolus flexuosus Wetland Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.B.2.e  Semipermanently flooded medium tall grassland (e.g., sedge meadows)
                    
              MIDWEST
              Carex crinita-Osmunda spp.- Sphagnum spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex interior-Carex lurida Herbaceous Alliance?
              Carex lanuginosa-(C. nebrascensis)-Scirpus spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex oligosperma-C. lasiocarpa Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              WEST
              Carex rostrata Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus americanus Herbaceous Alliance
              Scirpus pungens Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.B.2.f  Saturated medium tall grassland (e.g., fens, seeps)
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Cladium mariscoides Herbaceous Alliance
              Rhynchospora gracilenta Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.B.2.g  Saltwater-tidal regularly flooded medium tall grasslands 
            (e.g., saltwater cordgrass)
                    
              EAST
              Panicum virgatum Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.B.2.h  Brackish-tidal regularly flooded medium tall grassland 
            (e.g., black needle rush)

VIII.B.3. POLAR MEDIUM TALL GRASSLAND
VIII.B.3.a  Saturated medium tall grassland with non-vascular plants 
            (e.g., sedge/moss tundra)

VIII.C. SHORT GRASSLAND (GRAMINOIDS)
VIII.C.1. TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL SHORT GRASSLAND
VIII.C.1.a  Tropical alpine short bunch grassland 
            (e.g., Super-paramo)
VIII.C.1.b   Tropical or subtropical (wetland) short grassland

VIII.C.2. TEMPERATE AND SUBPOLAR SHORT GRASSLAND
VIII.C.2.a  Dense short grassland (>60% cover) 
            (including sod or mixed sod-bunch graminoids, e.g., short grass prairie)
                    
              MIDWEST
              Bouteloua gracilis-Buchloe dactyloides Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.C.2.b  Open short grassland (< 60% cover)
            (including sod or mixed sod-bunch graminoids)
                    
              WEST
              (Agropyron caninum)-Festuca rubra-(Koeleria macrantha) Herbaceous Alliance
              Agropyron dasystachyum Herbaceous Alliance
              Bouteloua eriopoda Herbaceous Alliance
              Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous Alliance
              Bouteloua hirsuta Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex douglasii Herbaceous Alliance
              Hilaria jamesii Herbaceous Alliance
              Muhlenbergia filiculmis Herbaceous Alliance
              Poa secunda Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.C.2.c  Short bunch grassland
                    
              WEST
              Carex straminiformis Herbaceous Alliance
              Danthonia intermedia Herbaceous Alliance
              Danthonia parryi Herbaceous Alliance
              Puccinellia nuttalliana Herbaceous Alliance
              Stipa lemmonii Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.C.2.d  Alpine and subalpine meadows rich in forbs
                    
              WEST
              Carex aperta Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex aquatilis Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex breweri Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex buxbaumii Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex capitata Herbaceous Alliance
              Festuca ovina Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.C.2.e  Saltwater-tidal irregularly flooded short grassland 
            (e.g., salt meadows)
                    
              EAST
              Spartina patens Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.C.2.*  Alpine and subalpine short grassland
                    
              EAST
              Carex bigelowii-Juncus trifidus Alliance
              Scirpus cespitosus Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.C.2.*  Saturated short grassland
                    
              WEST
              Carex microptera Herbaceous Alliance
              Carex saxatilis Herbaceous Alliance
              Distichlis spicata var. stricta-(Hordeum jubatum) Herbaceous Alliance
              Hordeum jubatum Herbaceous Alliance
              Muhlenbergia asperifolia Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.C.3. POLAR SHORT GRASSLAND
VIII.C.3.a  Polar dense short grassland (>60% cover) 
            (including sod or mixed sod-bunch grassland; e.g., spd grass tundra)
VIII.C.3.b  Polar short bunch grassland 
            (e.g. Eriophorum tussok tundra)
VIII.C.3.c  Polar seasonally flooded/saturated dense short grassland
VIII.C.3.d  Polar seasonally flooded/saturated short bunch grassland

VIII.D. TALL FORB VEGETATION
VIII.D.1. PERENNIAL TALL FORB VEGETATION 
          (dominated by perennial plants)
VIII.D.1.a  Perennial tall forb vegetation 
            (e.g., tall forb meadows, Utah mountains)
                    
              MIDWEST
              Pteridiub aquilinum-Bromus kalmii Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.D.1.b  Tall fern thickets 
VIII.D.1.c  Semipermanently flooded perennial tall forb vegetation
                    
              MIDWEST
              Justicia americana Herbaceous Alliance?? Temporary Pond 

VIII.D.1.d  Saturated perennial tall forb vegetation
                    
              MIDWEST
              Symplocarpus foetidus-Caltha palustris Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.D.1.e  Saltwater-tidal semipermanently flooded perennial tall forb vegetation

VIII.D.2. ANNUAL TALL FORB VEGETATION 
          (DOMINATED BY ANNUAL SPECIES)

VIII.E. LOW FORB VEGETATION
VIII.E.1. PERENNIAL LOW FORB VEGETATION 
          (dominated by perennial plans)
VIII.E.1.a  Perennial low forb vegetation 
            (e.g., Aleutian forb meadows)
                    
              EAST
              Phlox subulata-Solidago simplex Herbaceous Alliance
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Bigelowia nuttallii Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.E.1.b  Saltwater-tidal semipermanently flooded perennial low forb vegetation 
            (e.g., Salicornia saltpan)
VIII.E.1.c  Seasonally flooded perennial low forb vegetation 
            (e.g., pond shores)
VIII.E.1.*  Freshwater tidal regularly flooded perennial forb vegetation
                    
              EAST
              Pontederia cordata-Peltandra virginica Herbaceous Alliance
              Eriocaulon parkeri Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.E.1.*  Saltwater tidal regularly/irregularly flooded low perennial forb vegetation
                    
              EAST
              Salicornia-Spartina alterniflora (short form) Herbaceous Alliance
              Cakile edentula Herbaceous Alliance


VIII.E.1.*  Brackish tidal regularly/irregularly flooded low perennial forb vegetation 

              EAST
              Amaranthus cannabinus Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.E.1.*  Saturated perennial short forb vegetation
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Vittaria appalachiana Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.E.2. ANNUAL LOW FORB VEGETATION (dominated by annual species)
VIII.E.2.a  Tropical and subtropical ephemeral annual low forb vegetation
VIII.E.2.b  Desert or subdesert ephemeral or episodic annual low forb vegetation
VIII.E.2.c  Intermittently exposed annual low forb vegetation

VIII.E.2.*  Seasonally flooded annual low forb vegetation
                    
              EAST
              Gratiola aurea-Rhexia virginica Herbaceous Alliance
              Eleocharis robbinsii-Proserpinaca pectinata Herbaceous Alliance
              Tofieldia glutinosa-Spiranthes spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Chysosplenium americanum-Nasturtium officinale Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.F. HYDROMORPHIC ROOTED VEGETATION
VIII.F.1. TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL HYDROMORPHIC ROOTED VEGETATION WITHOUT SEASONAL CONTRASTS

VIII.F.2.*  Freshwater hydromorphic rooted vegetation
                    
              EAST
              Nuphar lutea Herbaceous Alliance
              Potamogeton perfoliatus-Vallisneria americana Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.F.2.*  Tidal saltwater (polyhaline) permanently flooded hydromorphic vegetation
                    
              EAST
              Zostera marina Herbaceous Alliance
              Ruppia maritima Herbaceous Alliance
              Potamogeton pectinatus-Zannichellia palustris Herbaceous Alliance

VIII.F.2. TEMPERATE, SUBPOLAR AND POLAR HYDROMORPHIC ROOTED VEGETATION WITH SEASONAL CONTRASTS
                    
              MIDWEST
              Nelumbo spp.- Nymphaea spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Potamoegton spp.- Ceratophyllum spp.- Elodea spp. Herbaceous Alliance
              Ruppia maritima Herbaceous Alliance
              Vallisneria americana Herbaceous Alliance?

VIII.F.2.x  Temperate hydromorphic rooted vegetation with seasonal contrasts
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Eichhornia crasipes Herbaceous Alliance

IX.  SPARSELY VEGETATED/NON-VASCULAR
IX.A.   SPARSELY VEGETATED CONSOLIDATED ROCKS (cliff and pavement)
IX.A.1.   SPARSELY VEGETATED CLIFFS
IX.A.1.a    Cliffs with chasmophytic vegetation.  Plant rooting in fissures of rocks or walls
IX.A.1.b    Cliffs with adnate Bromeliaceae (neotropical)
IX.A.1.c    Cliffs with sparse to dense non-vascular mats          
                    
              MIDWEST
              Open Bluff/Cliff
              Rock Outcrop
              Shaded Inland Bluff/Cliff
              Wet Cliff

IX.A.2.   SPARSELY VEGETATED PAVEMENT
IX.A.2.a    Pavement with chasmophytic vegetation in fissures of rock
IX.A.2.b    Pavement with sparse to dense non-vascular mats
                    
              MIDWEST
              Open Pavement

IX.B.   SPARSELY VEGETATED GRAVEL, COBBLE, ROCKS
IX.B.1.   COBBLE/GRAVEL ROCKS
IX.B.1.a    Cobble/gravel beach
                    
              MIDWEST
              Cobble/Gravel Shore
              Gravel Wash

IX.B.1.b    Cobble/gravel pavement

IX.C.   SPARSELY VEGETATED SCREES AND TALUS
IX.C.1.   SPARSELY VEGETATED SCREES
IX.C.1.a    Lowland and submontane scree
                    
              WEST
              Artemisia tridentata Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

IX.C.1.b    Montane scree
                    
              WEST
              Abies concolor Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Pinus contorta Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Pinus flexilis Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Pinus ponderosa Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Populus tremuloides Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Pseudotsuga menziesii Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

IX.C.1.c    High mountain scree
                    
              WEST
              Abies lasiocarpa Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Picea engelmannii Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Pinus aristata Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Rubus idaeus var. sachalinensis Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

IX.C.2.   SPARSELY VEGETATED TALUS
IX.C.2.a    Lowland and submontane talus
IX.C.2.b    Mountain talus
                    
              WEST
              Carex foenea Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Ribes montigenum Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

IX.D.   SPARSELY VEGETATED SAND ACCUMULATIONS
IX.D.1.   SPARSELY VEGETATED SAND DUNES
IX.D.1.a    Tall-grass dune
                    
              MIDWEST
              Ammophila breviligulata Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

IX.D.1.b    Short-grass dune
                    
              WEST
              Elymus mollis-Poa macrantha Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Festuca rubra Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

IX.D.1.c    Forb dune 
            (possibily existing)
                    
              MIDWEST
              Cakile Edentula Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Inland Strand Beach

IX.D.1.d    Shrub dune
                    
              WEST
              Ambrosia dumosa Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Sarcobatus vermiculatus Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

IX.D.1.*    Medium tall grass dune                                             
                    
              WEST
              Elymus flavescens Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Juncus falcatus Sparsely Vegetated Alliance
              Oryzopsis hymenoides Sparsely Vegetated Dune Alliance
              Schizachurium scoparium var. neomexicanum Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

IX.D.2.   BARE SAND DUNES
IX.D.2.a    Shifting dunes in desert climate
IX.D.2.b    Shifting dunes in forest climate

IX.D.3.   SAND FLATS
                    
              MIDWEST
              Sand Flat

IX.E.   TRUE DESERTS 
        (vegetation largely absent)

IX.F.   SPARSELY VEGETATED MUD FLATS AND ERODING SLOPES
IX.F.1.   SPARSELY VEGETATED MUD FLATS
IX.F.1.a    (wetland, non-tidal) mud flat
                    
              MIDWEST
              Mud Flat

IX.F.1.b    Saltwater-tidal regularly flooded mud flat
IX.F.1.c    Brackish-tidal regularly flooded mud flat
IX.F.1.d    Freshwater-tidal regularly flooded mud flat

IX.F.2.   ERODING SLOPES
IX.F.2.a    Lake/river bluff eroding slope
                    
              MIDWEST
              Small Eroding Cliffs/Banks
              Eroding Clay Slopes

IX.F.2.b    Large eroding slope 
            (e.g., Badlands)
                    
              MIDWEST
              Large Eroding Cliffs
                    
              WEST
              Oryzopsis hymenoides Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

X.A.1.*     Cliffs with chasmophytic vegetation--Plants rooting in fissures of rocks or walls
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Celtis tenuifolia-Rhus aromatica Sparsely Vegetated/Nonvascular Alliance
              Sedum nuttallianum Sparsely Vegetated/Nonvascular Alliance

X.D.3.*     Saltwater tidal irregularly flooded sand flats
                    
              SOUTHEAST
              Salicornia bigelovii-Salicornia virginica Sparsely Vegetated/Nonvascular Alliance


11.2 Examples of Community Descriptions

Quercus alba-Carya ovata/(Ostrya virginiana) Forest

COMMON NAME              		White oak-Shagbark hickory/(Ironwood) Forest

SYNONYM                  		White oak-Hickory Forest

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS       	        Forest

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS    	        Deciduous forest

FORMATION GROUP          	        Cold-deciduous forest

FORMATION                		Lowland and submontane broad-leaved cold-deciduous forest

ALLIANCE                 		Quercus alba-Quercus rubra-(Carya ovata) Forest 
  
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENCE LEVEL         2

RANGE     
This community is found in E Kansas, SE Nebraska, W Iowa, and N Missouri. In Nebraska, it is
most abundant on the bluffs of the Missouri River as far north as Omaha. It occurs on flat 
uplands in central Iowa and along the lower courses of tributaries of the Missouri River, such 
as the Nemaha River, Platte River, and Weeping Water Creek. In the extreme SE corner of the 
state, it may extend as far as 35 km west of the Missouri River on uplands; this distance 
gradually decreases as one moves north.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
Quercus alba-(Carya ovata)/(Ostrya virginiana) Forest occurs on gentle to moderately steep
slopes on uplands and on steep valley sides. In Iowa, this type is typically found on flat 
uplands. This community does not flood or have saturated soils. Soils are silt, clay, or loam, 
moderately deep to deep, and somewhat poorly drained to well drained. The parent material is 
loess, glacial till, limestone, shale, or sandstone.

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM     Not applicable.

STRATA         	  MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Tree canopy         Carya cordiformis, Carya ovata, Ostrya virginiana, Quercus alba,
             	  Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina, Tilia americana

Short shrub         Ribes spp., Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Herbaceous          Information not available.

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Carya ovata, Ostrya virginiana, Quercus alba, Ribes spp., Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
This is a mesic forest community with a tall deciduous tree canopy and a poorly developed sub-
canopy. Short shrub and herbaceous layers are well developed. Short shrub species present in
Nebraska communities include Ribes spp. and Symphoricarpos orbiculatus. Among the
herbaceous species present in Nebraska communities are Aquilegia canadensis, Arnoglossum
atriplicifolium, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Dicentra cucullaria, Laportea canadensis, Smilax
tamnoides, and Verbena urticifolia. Near the more xeric bluff tops this community is more open
with a great abundance of shrubby plants. In Nebraska, this type is dominated by Quercus
velutina and Carya ovata, and Quercus alba is at its western range limit. Weaver (1965)
described this type as a Quercus velutina-Carya ovata community. In Iowa, the absence of
Carpinus caroliniana could be used to separate this type from Quercus alba dominated stands in
e.g. Ledges State Park (Johnson-Groh 1985).

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES Information not available.

CONSERVATION RANK   G2/G3

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
Many sites have been cleared or degraded by overgrazing.

COMMENTS  
Many eastern oak-hickory forest species reach their northern and western distributional limit 
in this community type.

REFERENCES     
Clausen, M., M. Fritz, and G. Steinauer. 1989. The Nebraska Natural Heritage Program: Two
Year Progress Report. Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Lincoln, NE. 154 pp.

Johnson-Groh, C. 1985. Vegetation Communities of Ledges State Park, Boone County, Iowa.
Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science 92(4): 129-136.

Lauver, C. L. 1989. Preliminary Classification of the Natural Communities of Kansas. Kansas
Natural Heritage Program, Lawrence, KS. 21 pp.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 1991a. Kansas State Community Abstract - Eastern Upland
Forest, Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 1991b. Nebraska State Community Abstract - Southeastern
Upland Forest, Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN.

Weaver, J. E. 1965. Native Vegetation of Nebraska. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln,
Nebraska. 185 pp.


Pinus banksiana/Aronia melanocarpa-Xanthoparmelia spp. Woodland

COMMON NAME              		Jack pine/Black chokeberry/Lichen Woodland
  
SYNONYM                  		Sandstone pavement barren

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS       	         Woodland

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS	         Evergreen woodland

FORMATION GROUP          	         Needle-leaved evergreen woodland

FORMATION                		Needle-leaved evergreen woodland with rounded crowns

ALLIANCE                 		Pinus (banksiana, resinosa, ridiga) Woodland

CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENCE LEVEL      2

RANGE     
This community type is known only from the northernmost counties of New York and southern
Quebec. Its distribution outside of this range is not well known and similar communities may
occur in Ontario, Minnesota and Iowa.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
The Pinus banksiana/Aronia melanocarpa-Xanthoparmelia spp. Woodland occurs on very
shallow soils over sandstone bedrock. It is best developed where the bedrock forms a nearly 
level pavement.

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM     Not applicable.

STRATA         	   MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Tree canopy	   Pinus banksiana

Shrub		   Vaccinium angustifolium, Gaylussacia baccata

Herbaceous	   Pteridium aquilinum

Non-vascular	   Xanthoparmelia spp., Cladonia spp.

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Pinus banksiana, Aronia melanocarpa, Vaccinium angustifolium, Gaylussacia baccata,
Pteridium aquilinum, Cladonia spp., Xanthoparmelia spp.

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
The dominant tree is generally Pinus banksiana, although Pinus strobus or Pinus resinosa may be
locally dominant at some sites. Other characteristic trees include Acer rubrum, Betula 
papyrifera, Quercus rubra and Quercus coccinea. The shrub layer is dominated by heaths including
Vaccinium angustifolium, Gaylussacia baccata, as well as Aronia melanocarpa and Comptonia
peregrina. The groundcover includes several lichens and mosses which may form a continuous
cover in some areas. Characteristic lichens include Cladonia spp., Cladina spp., Sterocaulon sp.
and Xanthoparmelia sp.; characteristic mosses include Polytrichum spp. and Pleurozium
schreberi. Herbs including Pteridium aquilinum, Gaultheria procumbens, Danthonia spicata and
Deschampsia flexuosa are scattered throughout.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES Information not available.

CONSERVATION RANK   G2

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
This community type is found in a restricted range and has few occurrences. 

COMMENTS  
This community is related to jack pine woodlands in Maine and New Hampshire and also to acidic
rock outcrop communities throughout New England. Floristically, it is quite depauperate, and its
distinctiveness may be partially a function of the lichen flora. Comparable information is not 
yet available for many similar types.

REFERENCES     
Coles, J.J. 1990. By fire and ice: the evolution of an unusual landscape. Unpublished MS thesis,
University of Vermont, Burlington.

Franzi, D.A. and K.B. Adams. 1993. The Altona flat rock jack pine barrens: a legacy of fire and
ice. Vermont Geology 7:43-61.

Reschke, C. 1990. Ecological Communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage
Program. N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation. Latham, N.Y. 96 pp.

Stergas, R.L. and K.B. Adams. 1989. Jack pine barrens in northeastern New York: postfire
macronutriemt concentrations, heat content, and understory biomass. Can. J. Forest Research
19:904-910.

New York Natural Heritage Program field survey forms, Dept. of Environmental Conservation,
Latham, New York.



Pinus serotina/Arundinaria gigantea Sparse Woodland

COMMON NAME              		Pond Pine/Giant Cane Sparse Woodland 

SYNONYM                  		Peatland Canebrake

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS       	         Sparse Woodland

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS	         Evergreen sparse woodland

FORMATION GROUP          	         Needle-leaved evergreen sparse woodland with a dominant herbaceous 
			 	stratum

FORMATION                		Needle-leaved evergreen sparse wetland woodland with tall graminoids

ALLIANCE                 		Pinus serotina/Arundinaria gigantea Sparse Woodland

CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENCE LEVEL      2

RANGE     
The potential range of this community is the mid-Atlantic coastal plain from Virginia to South
Carolina. Occurrences are known from the coastal plain of North Carolina and Virginia.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
This community occurs on shallow organic soils 10 cm to 100 cm deep, in areas burned at a
frequency of every 3-12 years (Frost 1989). Typically this community is found "around the
periphery of deep peat deposits; where peat feathers out onto mineral soil; in peat-filled
depressions and sloughs in pine barrens; and on upland flats where drainage is poor enough to
permit accumulation of an organic layer thick enough to support the cane rhizome mat" (Frost n.
d.). Soils supporting this type are Histosols, especially Terric Medisaprists and shallow Typic
Medisaprists, and other soils with histic epipedons such as Umbraquults, Ochraquults and
Fluvaquents. It is likely that the soil is saturated throughout most of the winter and spring, 
and probably dries in the summer and fall. Organic matter depth, fire frequency, and nutrient
availability are the primary factors controlling vegetation structure and composition in this
community (Frost n. d.)  

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM     Palustrine

STRATA         	  MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Tree canopy         Pinus serotina

Herbaceous          Arundinaria gigantea

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Pinus serotina, Arundinaria gigantea, Smilax laurifolia, Rubus hispidus

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
This community is characterized by a dense stand of Arundinaria gigantea occasionally reaching
9 m to 10 m in height with scattered to fairly dense Pinus serotina. Physiognomy and structure
vary with time since last burn. In areas that burn every 3 to 5 years the appearance of the
community will be that of pure Arundinaria gigantea with, perhaps, scattered Pinus serotina
(Frost 1989). Cover of pocosin shrubs (eg. Ilex glabra, Ilex coriacea, Lyonia lucida, Lyonia
ligustrina, Cyrilla racemiflora, Zenobia pulverulenta, Magnolia virginiana, Aronia arbutifolia)
and Acer rubrum increase with lack of fire and, with greater than 15 years of fire suppression,
these species will overtake the cane.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES Information not available.
                  
CONSERVATION RANK   G1  

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
This community is thought to have been common in presettlement times, existing as large, open
tracts. Frost (n. d.) estimates that, prior to european settlement, there were no less than 101,
170 ha of canebrake in southeastern Virginia alone, and that, as of 1989, less than 800 ha 
remain in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Most of the presettlement acreage has 
succeeded to pocosin vegetation because of fire exclusion or has been drained and cleared for 
agriculture.    

COMMENTS  
This pyrophytic wetland community is dependant on the maintenance of the natural hydrologic
and fire regime. Stand height, density and species composition vary with organic matter depth,
fire frequency and fertility (Frost 1989). This community may grade into woodlands on mineral
soil dominated by Pinus palustris, Pinus serotina, and/or Pinus taeda. On areas of deeper peat,
this community grades into forests dominated by Chamaecyparis thyoides and into pocosin
shrublands.

This community, or one similar to it, may be present in southern Georgia and in Florida (S. 
Orzell, pers. comm). 

REFERENCES     
Frost, C. C. 1989. History and status of remnant pocosin, canebrake and white cedar wetlands in
Virginia. Unpubl. rep. Virg. Dep. Conserv. and Recreation, Div. Nat. Her. Richmond.

Frost, C. C. n. d. Presettlement vegetation of the Albemarle-Pamlico region, North Carolina.
Draft of Ph.D. diss. Univ. of N. C., Chapel Hill. 

Heineke, T. E. 1987. The flora and plant communities of the middle Mississippi River Valley.
Ph.D. diss. South. Ill. Univ., Carbondale. 653 pp.

Hughes, R. H. 1966. Fire ecology of canebrakes. Proc. Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Conf. 5:149-158.

Meanley, B. 1972. Swamps, river bottoms and canebrakes. Barre Publishing, Barre, Mass. 142
pp. 

Orzell, S. 1994. Personal communication. Fla. Game and Freshwater Fish Comm., Nongame
Wildl. Prog., Nat. Areas Inv. Tallahassee.


Sanguisorba canadensis-Parnassia grandifolia-Helenium brevifolium Shrubland

COMMON NAME              		American burnet-Big leaved grass of parnassus-Few headed
                         		sneezeweed Shrubland
  
SYNONYM                  		Oligotrophic saturated scrub

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS       	         Shrubland

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS	         Deciduous shrubland

FORMATION GROUP          	         Cold-deciduous shrubland

FORMATION                		Deciduous seasonally/temporarily flooded shrubland

ALLIANCE                 		Alnus serrulata/Sanguisorba canadensis Shrubland

CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENCE LEVEL      2

RANGE     
Apparently restricted to western Virginia in Grayson and Carrol counties. A similar type of
vegetation occurs on Bluff Mountain in North Carolina.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
All known occurrences are in seepage areas underlain by hornblende, gabbro or gniessic bedrock
at elevations ranging from about 2400 ft. to 3500 ft. 

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM      Palustrine

STRATA         	  MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Tall shrub          Alnus serrulata, Rosa palustris

Herbaceous          Cladium mariscoides

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Alnus serrulata,  Sanguisorba canadensis, Parnassia grandifolia, Carex atlantica, Helenium
brevifolium, Solidago uliginosa, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Ranunculus caroliniana,
Rhynchospora capitellata, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Calopogon tuberosa, Cladium mariscoides. 

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
This community has a mixed physiognomy ranging from shrub thicket to herbaceous. In general it
occurs as a shrubland of Alnus serrulata, Spirea latifolia, Spirea tomentosa and Lyonia
ligustrina. Typically there are a few scattered individuals of Pinus strobus and Acer rubrum but
tree cover rarely reaches 10%. The herbaceous layer is relatively continuous and may be quite
diverse. Herbaceous species include Glyceria striata, Juncus subcaudatus, Osmunda regalis,
Oxypolis rigidior,  Viola cucullata, Eleocharis tenuis, Cirsium muticum, Panicum dichotomum,
Hedyotis caerulea, Oenothera perennis, Sanguisorba canadensis, Parnassia grandifolia, Aster
nova-belgii, Carex atlantica, Helenium brevifolium, Solidago uliginosa, Calopogon tuberosus,
Muhlenbergia glomerata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Xyris torta, Panicum virgatum,
Rhynchospora capitellata, Rhynchospora alba, Selaginella apoda. 

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES 
The rare species Trillium pusillum and Euphorbia purpurea may occur in this community type. 

CONSERVATION RANK   G1

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
There are very few occurrences in a restricted range. 

COMMENTS  
This community is floristically related to some of Virginia's mafic woodlands. Generally this
community is less "seepy" and lacks the tree canopy of the woodland types. The species
Calopogon tuberosus, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Xyris torta, Panicum
virgatum, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rhynchospora alba, and Selaginella apoda are probably
differential to this type. 
 
REFERENCES     
Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, field survey forms and particularly the draft table 
entitled: A classification of seepage wetland vegetation in Virginia based on character-species. 
T.J. Rawinski,  Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, Richmond, VA.


Purshia tridentata/Stipa comata Sparse Shrubland

COMMON NAME              		Antelope Bitterbrush/Needle-and-Thread Sparse Shrubland

SYNONYM                  		None

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS		         Sparse Shrubland

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS    	         Mixed evergreen-deciduous sparse shrubland

FORMATION GROUP          	         Broad-leaved semi-evergreen sparse shrubland with a
                         		dominant herbaceous stratum

FORMATION                		Broad-leaved semi-evergreen sparse shrubland with medium
                         		tall grasses

ALLIANCE                 		Purshia tridentata Sparse Shrubland

CONFIDENCE LEVEL                     1

RANGE     
The Purshia tridentata/Stipa comata sparse shrubland is found in the Columbia Basin and
Okanogan Valley east-central and southeastern Washington, northeastern Oregon and into
western Idaho. Occurrences are known from Douglas, Franklin and Grant Counties, Washington;
Morrow County, Oregon; and Ada and Payette Counties, Idaho.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
The Purshia tridentata/Stipa comata association occurs in the Columbia Basin, a downwarped,
basalt-floored region. Loess is thick in some portions of the region, and alluvial deposits of
variable parent materials are patchy along streams and rivers. Thick mantles of sands from
periodically glacially-dammed lakes cover some portions of the region. In other areas, valleys 
and canyons (coulees) have been deeply scoured into the basalt by glacial flooding.

The climate of the region is characterized by a mix of continental and maritime influences. It 
is in the rain shadow of the Cascades, with annual precipitation between 22.8 cm and 50.8 cm.
Between 55% and 75% of the precipitation falls during October through March as snow, 
and summers are typically dry. Summer temperatures can be hot and winters are typically cold.

This association occurs on flats to gentle slopes of old sand dunes, from 500 ft. to 1300 ft.
elevation. It often occurs in a patchwork with sand dunes and sandy Palouse grasslands. The 
soils are deep, infertile sands.

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM     Not applicable.

STRATA         	  MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Short shrub         Purshia tridentata

Herbaceous          Stipa comata, Poa secunda var. secunda

Non-vascular   	  Information not available.

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Purshia tridentata, Stipa comata

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
The broad-leaved, semi-evergreen shrub, Purshia tridentata, is scattered (averaging 20% cover)
over an herbaceous layer dominated by the 0.5 m tall perennial bunchgrass Stipa comata
(averaging greater than 50% cover). The evergreen, microphyllous shrubs, Chrysothamnus
nauseosus and C. viscidiflorus are occasionally present, and increase in cover with disturbance.
Another bunchgrass, Poa secunda var. secunda forms a lower graminoid layer, with 20% to 50%
cover. Other locally abundant perennial grasses include Oryzopsis hymenoides, Koeleria
macrantha and Elymus lanceolatus. The most constant perennial forb is Lithophragma glabrum.
A cryptogammic layer is well-developed in the most undisturbed stands.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES 
The introduced annual grass, Bromus tectorum, and annual forb, Plantago patagonica, are
invaders and increasers in stands of this association disturbed by grazing.

CONSERVATION RANK   G2

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
This association occurs on an unusual substrate. Additionally, most stands have been converted 
to circle irrigation croplands, or to cheatgrass-dominated stands, as this type is very 
sensitive to grazing. Most stands in Oregon have been converted to a Bromus tectorum-
dominated vegetation type.

COMMENTS  
This association is similar to the Purshia tridentata-Artemisia frigida/Stipa comata association
described for the north-central Colorado by Hess (1981). However, this Pacific Northwest type
occurs on old, stabilized sand dunes and has a differing florisitc component from the Colorado
association.

REFERENCES     
Daubenmire, R. 1970. Steppe vegetation of Washington. Washington Agricultural Experiment
Station, Technical Bulletin 62. 131 pp.

Poulton, C.E. 1955. Ecology of the non-forested vegetation in Umatilla and Morrow Counties,
Oregon. Ph.D. Dissertation, Washington State University, Pullman, WA. 166 pp.


Dryas integrifolia/Carex spp. Dwarf Shrubland

COMMON NAME              		Alpine Avens/Sedge Dwarf Shrubland

SYNONYM                  		None

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS		         Dwarf-shrubland

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS    	         Evergreen dwarf-shrubland

FORMATION GROUP          	         Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen dwarf-shrubland

FORMATION                		Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen creeping or
                         		matted dwarf-shrubland

ALLIANCE                 		Dryas integrifolia Dwarf Shrubland

CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENCE LEVEL      1

RANGE     
This association is known only from the alpine area of the Big Snowy Mountains of central
Montana.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
This plant association occurs from 7550 ft. to 8850 ft. elevation in the alpine of an isolated
mountain range (separated from the main crest of the Rockies by 240 km). The climate is unusual
in that there is a distinct summer peak of precipitation and a winter minimum. Summers are cool
and winters cold.

The geologic substrate is Madison limestone, and has formed a gentle topography of low relief.
The limestone is very resistant to chemical erosion but is mechanically fractured and has been
shaped into numerous frost-patterning phenomena.

Soils are very shallow, alkaline and cobbly, with carbonate accumulations in the lower horizons
and high clay content. The surface is covered with a 5 cm - 18 cm deep layer of small gravel and
rock fragments, overlying small ridges of soil. The top soil horizon is characterized by organic
enrichment (26% organic matter). The soils are unstable and in a constant state of change due to
the action of frost.

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM     Not applicable.

STRATA         	  MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Short shrub         Dryas integrifolia

Herbaceous          Carex rupestris, Carex pseudoscirpoidea, Bistorta vivipara

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Dryas integrifolia, Aquilegia jonesii

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
This is an alpine tundra association dominated by the low, mat-forming evergreen shrub Dryas
integrifolia and the perennial sedge Carex rupestris. The mats of Dryas and Carex occur within a
matrix of active frost-patterned bare soil, cobbles and rocks. Most other species occurring in 
this association are found within these Dryas mats. In addition to the abundant or constant 
species, the perennials Aquilegia jonesii, Physaria didymocarpa, Sedum rosea and Saxifraga 
oppositifolia grow scattered in the rock rubble covering the soil. Richness is relatively low 
compared to other Rocky Mountain alpine tundras.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES Information not available.

CONSERVATION RANK   G2

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
Known only from a small alpine area of 607 ha, this association is, however, not threatened by
any known development activities.

COMMENTS  
Dryas integrifolia occurs primarily in Canada and Alaska, with only a few populations occurring
in the continental US (Montana and reportedly New Hampshire).

REFERENCES     
Bamberg, S.A. and J. Major. 1968. Ecology of the vegetation and soils associated with calcareous
parent materials in three alpine regions of Montana. Ecological Monographs 38:127-167.


Atriplex obovata/Sporobolus airoides-Sporobolus cryptandrus Sparse Dwarf Shrubland

COMMON NAME              		New Mexico Saltbush/Alkali Sacaton-Sand Dropseed
                         		Sparse Dwarf Shrubland

SYNONYM                  		None

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS       	         Sparse Dwarf-Shrubland

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS    	         Evergreen sparse dwarf-shrubland

FORMATION GROUP          	         Needle-leaved and microphyllous evergreen sparse dwarf-
                         		shrubland with a sparsely vegetated stratum

FORMATION           		Needle-leaved or microphylous evergreen intermittently
                    		flooded sparse dwarf-shrubland on semi-arid alluvial
                    		substrate

ALLIANCE                 		Atriplex obovata Sparse Dwarf Shrubland

CONFIDENCE LEVEL                     3

RANGE     
The Atriplex obovata/Sporobolus airoides-Sporobolus cryptandrus association is known only
from the upper Rio Puerco watershed of northwestern New Mexico, in Sandoval and McKinley
Counties.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
The Atriplex obovata/Sporobolus airoides-Sporobolus cryptandrus association occurs in a semi-
arid basin of northwestern New Mexico, between 5400 ft. and 6000 ft. elevation. Annual
precipitation is variable, ranging from 21 cm to 33 cm, with a peak during July through
September. These summer rains are convectional, of short duration and high intensity. Summers
are hot.

This association is found on alluvial flats, with 0-2% slopes and fine textured alluvial parent
materials. Soils are calcareous Typic Torrifluvents, with clay, fine sandy loam, or silty clay 
loam textures. Soil depths ranged from 25 to 50 cm, and had little to no rock in the profile.

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM     Not applicable.

STRATA         	  MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Short shrub         Atriplex obovata

Herbaceous          Sporobolous airoides, Hilaria jamesii

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Atriplex obovata, Sporobolous airoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
This is a sparsely vegetated dwarf shrubland, with total plant cover < 20%. The dwarf, evergreen
shrub Atriplex obovata is the dominant species, with cover ranging from 5% to 20%. Other
shrubs with trace cover include the succulents Opuntia imbricata, O. polyacantha, and the
deciduous dwarf shrub Krascheninnikovia lanata. Several perennial grass species may be present;
Sporobolus airoides is the most constant and abundant, with Sporobolus cryptandrus and Hilaria
jamesia typically present. Total herbaceous cover averages 4% to 6%, with forbs contributing
only trace amounts. Species diversity is very low.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES Information not available

CONSERVATION RANK   G1

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
This association has been described from a small area in northwestern New Mexico. Only 2-4
occurrences known. It occurs in a semi-arid region that has been heavily utilized by livestock,
resulting in permanent degradation of many vegetation types there, including this one.

COMMENTS  
Other associations dominated by Atriplex obovata have not been described for the western United
States.

REFERENCES     
Francis, R.E. 1986. Phyto-edaphic communities of the upper Rio Puerco watershed, New Mexico.
USDA Forest Service Research Paper RM-272. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment
Station, Fort Collins, CO. 73 pp.


Andropogon gerardii-Panicum virgatum/(Pycnanthemum virginianum-Solidago ohioensis) 
Herbaceous Vegetation
 
COMMON NAME              		Big bluestem-Switchgrass/(Mountain mint-Ohio goldenrod)
                         		Herbaceous Vegetation

SYNONYM                  		Lakeplain Wet-mesic Tallgrass Prairie

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS       	         Herbaceous

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS    	         Tall grassland

FORMATION GROUP          	         Temperate tall grassland

FORMATION           		Dense tall grassland (> 60% cover) (including sod or mixed
                    		sod-bunch graminoids) 

ALLIANCE                 		Andropogon gerardii-Panicum virgatum Herbaceous
                         		Alliance
 
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENCE LEVEL      2

RANGE     
This community is found on glacial lakeplain areas in extreme SE Wisconsin (Kenosha county), N
Illinois, N Indiana, S Michigan, S Ontario, and N Ohio. 

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
Andropogon gerardii-Panicum virgatum/(Pycnanthemum virginianum-Solidago ohioensis)
Herbaceous Vegetation occurs on level, sandy glacial outwash, sandy glacial lakeplains, and
deposits of dune sand in silty/clayey glacial lake plains. The soils are sands, sandy loams, 
loams, or silty clays with poor to moderate water retaining capacity. There may be temporary 
inundations after heavy rains or in the spring. 

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM     Not applicable.

STRATA         	  MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Herbaceous          Andropogon gerardii, Carex spp., Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium
                    scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Andropogon gerardii, Carex spp., Panicum virgatum, Pedicularis lanceolata, Pycnanthemum
virginianum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Solidago ohioensis, Vernonia spp.

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
The vegetation of this community is dominated by tallgrass species typically 1-2 meters high.
Trees and shrubs are very rare. There is very little bare ground. Andropogon gerardii, Carex 
spp., Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans are the most abundant
species. Solidago ohioensis is found in both fens and Great Lakes interdunal wetlands as well as
this community. Pycnanthemum virginianum is common in this community but may also occur in
woodlands.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES 
Disturbed sites may contain considerable amounts of Poa compressa and Agrostis gigantea.

CONSERVATION RANK   G2

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
This community has nearly been eliminated. Most sites have been converted to cropland.

COMMENTS  
This community is similar to other wet and wet-mesic grassland types in its range. One feature 
of this community that serves to set it apart from other wet grassland types is the presence of 
species typical of fens and interdunal wetlands. Solidago ohioensis is one such species (Pringle 
1982). In many cases a Lakeplain Wet-mesic Tallgrass Prairie that is even wetter (dominated by 
Spartina pectinata, Calamagrostis canadensis, and Carex spp.) forms a relatively narrow zone 
between Wet-Mesic Tallgrass Prairie and marsh. Occasionally this variant can cover 0.5 ha or 
more.

REFERENCES     
Chapman, K. 1984. An Ecological Investigation of Native Grassland in Southern Lower
Michigan. Master's Thesis, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo.

Faber-Langendoen, D. and P. F. Maycock. 1994. A Vegetation Analysis of Tallgrass Prairie in
Southern Ontario. Proceedings of the Thirteenth North American Prairie Conference, August 6-9,
1992 Windsor, Ontario Canada.

Hanson, P. C. 1981. The Presettlement Vegetation of the Plain of Glacial Lake Chicago in Cook
County, Illinois. In R. L. Stuckey and K. J. Reese eds. Proceedings of the Sixth North American
Prairie Conference. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

Pringle, J. S. 1982. The Distribution of Solidago ohioensis. Michigan Botanist 21(2):51-57.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 1991a. Michigan State Community Abstract - Lakeplain Wet-
Mesic Prairie. Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 1991b. Michigan State Community Abstract - Mesic Sand
Prairie. Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN.


Sedum nuttalianum-Selaginella peruviana (Granitic Outcrop) Sparse Vegetation

COMMON NAME              		Nuttall's Sedum-Peruvian Spikemoss Sparse Vegetation

SYNONYM                  		Western Acidic Rock Outcrop

TNC SYSTEM               		Terrestrial

PHYSIOGNOMIC CLASS       	         Sparsely Vegetated

PHYSIOGNOMIC SUBCLASS    	         Sparsely vegetated consolidated rocks 

FORMATION GROUP          	         Sparsely vegetated cliffs

FORMATION                		Cliffs with chasmophytic vegetation--Plants rooting in
                         		fissures of rocks or walls

ALLIANCE                 		Sedum nuttallianum Sparsely Vegetated Alliance

CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENCE LEVEL      2

RANGE     
This community occurs on outcrops of granite in Texas and Oklahoma. It is known from
southwestern Oklahoma, in the Wichita Mountains and from central Texas, in the Central Mineral
Region of the Edward's Plateau.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION     
This community occurs on gently sloping, exposed massifs of late Precambrian granite. The
dominant substrate is medium to coarse grained rock, with patches of coarse gravel and shallow
accumulations of organic material in narrow crevices and depressions. Low moisture and nutrient
availability are the primary limiting factors for vegetation in this habitat. The climate is
characterized by dry winters, and hot-humid summers, with drought and high temperatures
occurring during the growing season.

USFWS WETLAND SYSTEM     Not applicable. 

STRATA              MOST ABUNDANT SPECIES
Not applicable      Sedum nuttalianum, Selaginella peruviana, Selaginella riddellii,
                    Plantago wrightiana, Cheilanthes lindheimeri, Pellaea ternifolia,
                    Bouteloua spp., lichens, mosses

DIAGNOSTIC SPECIES  
Sedum nuttalianum, Selaginella peruviana, Plantago wrightiana

VEGETATION DESCRIPTION   
This community contains large expanses of exposed granite surfaces, with scattered soil-filled
depressions, crevices, gravel areas, and shallow pools. The vegetation is dominated by annuals
and species adapted to drought conditions. Bare rock is occupied by scattered patches of 
crustose and foliose lichens, mosses, and several ferns and fern allies including Selaginella 
peruviana, Selaginella riddellii, Cheilanthes lindheimeri, Cheilanthes tomentosa, Woodsia 
obtusa and Pellaea ternifolia. Typical species that occur in areas where shallow sand or gravel 
accumulate include Sedum nuttalianum, Plantago wrightiana, Talinum parviflorum, Helenium amarum,
Campanula reverchonii, Aphanostephus skirrhobasis, Hypericum gentianoides. Areas with
deeper soils are dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium occurring with other grasses such as
Bouteloua hirsuta, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Aristida purpurea. Large crevices that contain
sufficient soil accumulation support woody species characteristic of the surrounding woodland,
including Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica, and, Carya texana.  Narrow. shallow crevices
harbor species tolerant of the most xeric conditions including Echinocereus reichenbachii,
Eriogonum tenellum, and Opuntia leptocaulis.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES 
Isoetes lithophila is endemic to the central Texas granite outcrops (Wyatt and Walters 1982).

CONSERVATION RANK   G2  

RANK JUSTIFICATION  
This community has a restricted distribution and is threatened by overgrazing and mining. 

COMMENTS  
Vegetation dynamics in this community are strongly related to the development of a complex soil
depth gradient involving changes in temperature, soil depth, and water holding capacity. 

This community has similar microhabitats and shares several common genera with granitic
communities in the eastern Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains. Each of these granitic outcrop 
regions have their own endemic suite of granite-outcrop plants. In the western granitic 
outcrops, mosses are not as important and the surrounding woodlands are more xeric than in the 
eastern types (Uno and Collins 1987). The western granitic outcrop communities are typically 
surrounded by dry woodlands dominated by Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica, and Carya 
texana.


REFERENCES     
Collins, S. L., G. S. Mitchell, and S. C. Klahr. 1989. Vegetation-environment relationships in a
rock outcrop community in southern Oklahoma. Amer. Midl. Nat. 122:339-348. 

Uno, G. E., and S. L. Collins. 1987. Primary succession on granite outcrops of southwestern
Oklahoma. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 114:387-392.

Walters, T. W., and R. Wyatt. 1982. The vascular flora of granite outcrops in the Central 
Mineral Region of Texas. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 109:344-364.

Whitehouse, E. 1933. Plant succession on central Texas granite. Ecol. 14:391-405.  


11.3 List of Hydrological Modifiers

Hydrological modifiers used to identify wetland units at the formation level (adapted from
Cowardin et al. 1979).
_________________________________________________________________

Tidal

Irregularly Exposed -- Land surface is exposed by tides less often than daily; the area from 
mean low tide to extreme low spring tide.  The area on NOS charts from seaward edge of light 
green (mean low water) to depth contour (often in blue tone) approximately extreme low water. 
(includes some mangrove and/or bald cypress swamps)

Regularly Flooded -- Tidal water alternately floods and exposes the land surface daily, from 
mean low (lower low on West coast) to mean high (higher high on West coast) tide.  (includes
cordgrass low marshes)

Irregularly Flooded -- Tidal water floods land surface less often than daily.  The area must 
flood by tide at least once yearly as a result of extreme high spring tide plus wind plus flow.  
The area extends from mean high water inland to the maximum extent of tide plus the splash zone. 
(includes salt hay meadows)

Unknown -- The water regime is not known.  Unit is described simply as  '(wetland).'


Non-Tidal

Permanently Flooded -- Water covers land surface at all times of year in all years.  (includes 
many rooted emergent and floating aquatics)

Semipermanently Flooded -- Surface water persists throughout the growing season in most years. 
Land surface is normally saturated when water level drops below soil surface.  (includes most 
bald cypress swamps, marshes)

Seasonally/Temporarily Flooded -- Surface water is present during the growing season, but is
absent by the end of the growing season in most years.  The water table after flooding ceases to
be very variable, extending from saturated to a water table well below the ground surface. 
(includes flood plains and wet meadows)

Saturated -- Surface water is seldom present, but substrate is saturated to surface for extended
periods during the growing season.  (includes bogs and fens)

Seasonally flooded/saturated -- The water table remains at or near the soil surface following
flooding.  Standing water can persist in depressions for much of the growing season; the soils 
are generally saturated when the water table drops below the soil surface.  (includes most 
wooded swamps)

Intermittently flooded -- Substrate is usually exposed, but surface water present for variable
periods without detectable seasonal periodicity.  This modifier was developed for use in arid
Western United States to describe water regimes of playa lakes, and will apply to other areas as
well.   Inundation is not predictable to a given season and is dependent upon highly localized 
rain storms.  Playa lakes, intermittent streams, and dry washes are only considered to be 
wetland if they support hydrophytes and/or have hydric soils.

Unknown -- The water regime of the area is not known.  The unit is simply described as
'(wetland).'  


Salinity/Halinity Modifiers

Inland                             	         Coastal Tidal

Saltwater -		>30 ppt		Saltwater-tidal
Brackish -		0.5-30 ppt	Brackish
No Equivalent		< 0.5 ppt	         Freshwater 


11.4 List of Element Occurrence Record Fields with Brief Descriptions

The purpose of the Element Occurrence Record for Community Elements is to document and describe occurrences of particular community types on the ground.

KEY:  Fields with no designated field type are single value      
           		mv = multivalue field
          		amv = associated multivalue field
          		txt = text field


IDENTIFIERS

Element Occurrence Code
Record key code.
 
STATE Community Code               
10 byte Element Code that state is using to track the type. 

Field Office Number                
Code for the Element assigned by the TNC field office for an EO not yet recorded in the Heritage
database.

Identity                      
Check-off indicating whether taxonomic identity of the Element has been confirmed, refuted, or 
is in question (Y,N,?).

Global Name                   
TNC Global Community Element name based on Latin name of dominant and diagnostic plant
species.  

Common Name 
TNC Global Community Element name based on common name of dominant and diagnostic plant
species. 
                              
Sub-national Name
Sub-national Element scientific name. 

SubNational Common Name            
Sub-national Element common name.  

Global Rank              
Global Element rank.

National Rank                 
National Element rank.

State Rank               
Sub-national Element rank.
          
EO LOCATION AND FILE DATA

Nation                        
Nation where EO is located.

Site Code                
Code for the Site where the EO is located.

Site Name 
Name of Site where EO is located.

Survey Site (mv)         
Name of the area surveyed. 

Precision                     
Code to identify precision used to map Element Occurrence (S,M,G,U)
          
County Code (amv)        
Code(s) for county(ies) where EO is located.

County Name (amv)   
Name(s) for county(ies) where EO is located.

Local Jurisdiction (mv)       
Name(s) of town, township, or borough in which EO is located.

Quad Name (amv)          
Name(s) of topographic map quadrangle(s) where EO is located.

Quad Code (amv)          
Code(s) for topographic map quadrangle(s). 

Margin Number  (amv)          
Map margin number(s) used to reference EO on map.

Dot Number (amv)         
Number on dot used to label EO on map.

Ten Ten (amv)       
Ten-Ten coordinated used to roughly located EO on map.

Latitude                           
Latitude of EO centrum

Longitude                          
Longitude of EO centrum

North                                   
Latitude of northernmost boundary of the EO

East
Longitude of easternmost boundary of the EO

South                                   
Latitude of southernmost boundary
          
West
Longitude of westernmost boundary

Township and Range (amv)      
Code for township and range rectangular survey location of EO.

Section (amv)            
Code for legal section number for the EO centrum.

Township Range & Section Note (amv)               
Additional township, range and section details (esp description of specific legal section 
divisions).

Meridian (amv)      
Legal meridian (2 digits) from which rectangular survey location of EO was based.

Directions (txt)         
Precise directions to the EO from prominent landmark on or near site.

Physiographic Province (mv)             
Code(s) for physiographic province based on Hammond.

Fenneman's Major Division Number (amv)
Code of Fenneman's Major Division in which the EO is located. 

Fenneman's Major Division Name (amv)
Name of Fenneman's Major Division in which the EO is located.

Fenneman's Physiographic Province Number (amv)
Code for Fenneman's physiographic province in which the EO is located. 

Fenneman's Physiographic Province Name (amv)
Name of Fenneman's physiographic province in which the EO is located.

Ecoregion Author Number (amv) 
Code for author(s) whose ecoregionalization was used to locate the EO, (i.e. Bailey, Omernik,
etc.).

Ecoregion Author Name (amv)   
Name for author(s) whose ecoregionalization was used to locate the EO.

Ecoregion Primary Number (amv)     
Code for the primary level of the ecoregionalization hierarchy in which the Element is located.

Ecoregion Primary Number (amv)     
Name for the primary level of the ecoregionalization hierarchy in which the Element is located.

Ecoregion Secondary Number (amv)
Code for the secondary level of the ecoregionalization hierarchy corresponding to the primary
level chosen in the Ecoregion Primary Number field.

Ecoregion Secondary Name (amv)
Name of the secondary level of the ecoregionalization hierarchy.

Other Regions (txt) 
Any other global, national, state, or local locators (Eg. State Ecoregions).

Watershed(mv)       
Code for watershed (from USGS Hydrologic unit map) where EO centrum is located.


STATUS

Survey Type (mv)         
Code indicating the level of detailed data collected on the EO. 

Survey Date                   
Date of most recent field survey.

Last Observance                         
Date EO was last observed at site (yyyy-mm-dd)

First Observance                        
Year EO was first observed at site (yyyy-mm-dd)

Element Occurrence Rank  
Rank indicating the quality, condition, viability, and defensibility of the Element Occurrence.

Element Occurrence Rank Date
Date of field survey used to rank the EO (yyyy-mm-dd).

Element Occurrence Rank Comments (txt)       
Comments justifying the Element Occurrence Rank assigned.

Contact Identifier (amv)      
Code(s) from contacts database for person monitoring EO and any other local residents,
neighbors, etc.

Contact Name (amv)  
Name of the contact cited in the Contact Identifier field.

Contact Note (amv)       
Brief note explaining the relationship of each Contact listed to the Element Occurrence (e.g.
"monitor", "owner", "neighbor").

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA

Latitude Zone (mv)
Latitudinal zone(s) on which EO occurs.

Minimum Elevation
Minimum elevation of EO.

Maximum Elevation
Maximum elevation of EO.                          .

Landform (mv)
Landform(s) on which Element is located.

Topographic Position (mv)
Topographic position of the EO on the landscape.

Slope (mv)
Range of slope(s) on which EO is located

Aspect (mv)
Aspect(s) of slope(s) on which EO is located.

Geology Comments (txt)
Comments on geologic substrate and other important geologic features on which the Element
generally occurs.
     
Soil Type (mv)
Soil type(s) based on any level of taxonomy available: Soil survey map unit, series, great 
group, etc. as detailed as existing information allows.

Soil Moisture (mv)
The amount of water available to plants. Based on soil drainage, soil structure and texture, 
and climate.

Soil Comments (txt)
Comments on soil properties. Include information on how soil information was collected, a
description of soil texture, stoniness, root penetration, notes on horizon depths, mottling, pH 
etc. Comment on the level of taxonomy of soil listed in Soil Type field.

Hydrologic Influence (txt)
Comments on hydrologic influences on the community including: zonation reflecting water level
fluctuations, tidally influenced, permanent or temporary, hydrologic seasonality, standing 
water, etc. 

Environment Comments (txt)
Summary of environmental conditions associated with the EO, and any additional comments on
important environmental factors.


DESCRIPTION

General Description(txt)           
General description of area of the EO. Including information on state/health of the landscape 
unit; degree of fragmentation and overall disturbance/conversion; any distinguishing features of 
the landscape.

Size
Size of EO in acres.

System
Name for TNC System.
          
Class
Name of physiognomic class. 

Subclass
Name of physiognomic subclass.

Group
Name of formation group.

Formation 
Name of formation.

Alliance
Name of alliance.

Leaf Type 
Leaf morphology of the dominant strata in the Element.
 
Leaf Phenology 
Leaf phenology of the dominant strata in the Element.

Strata and Lifeform (amv)     
Layers of vegetation occurring within the Element.          

Percent Cover (amv)
Percent cover of each layer.

Height (amv)
Height of each layer. 

Most Abundant Species (amv)
Most abundant (in terms of percent cover) plant species in each layer.  

Diagnostic Species (amv)
Diagnostic plant species (dominant, differential, characteristic, or indicator) which are 
relatively constant among occurrences of the Element and help to classify it.

Unvegetated Surface (amv)
Description of unvegetated substrate.
     
Unvegetated Surface Cover (amv)
Percent cover of unvegetated substrate.

Other Species Comments (txt)  
Other species found in EO.  This may include comments on known endemics or exotics.

Fauna (mv)                    
Animal species sighted in the EO.

Homogeneity (txt)        
Comments indicating the degree of homogeneity of the EO. Describe any heterogeneous features. 
     
Spatial Distribution (txt)    
Comments on whether this Element Occurrence is patchy, or one continuous patch on the
landscape.

Adjacent Communities (txt)
Name(s) of communities adjacent to the EO.  Comment on their spatial relationship to this
Element Occurrence. 

Inclusion Communities (txt)
Name(s) of distinct associations included within the EO (i.e. heath bog within an occurrence of
mixed coniferous forest).

Mosaic Comments (txt)         
If the Element Occurrence represents a complex mosaic of sub-associations such as Dune/Swale
communities, or zonal coastal plain pond shores, indication of the scale and pattern of the
components.

Succession and Dynamics Comments (txt)  
Comments on vegetation successional stage (early, mid, late) and trend or cycle.  Notes on
indicators of successional trends (such as the presence of seedlings/saplings or non-canopy
species). If persistent, indicate as such.  Comments on the age structure/size structure of the
community occurrence.   


DISTURBANCE

Condition                
Code for condition of EO which describes the degree of anthropogenic disturbance to the
community.

Disturbance Comments (txt)    
Comments on any natural or anthropogenic disturbance to community.  Including overstory and
groundcover disturbances, logging, animal use evidence, erosion, disturbance history (if known)
etc.


INVENTORY, SAMPLING, AND ANALYSIS

Image Reference (amv)         
Code of imagery used to identify this EO which is referenced in Source Abstract database. 

Image Citation (amv)     
Citation corresponding to images listed in Image Reference field.

Roll and Frame Note (amv)     
Specific roll and frame numbers or flight-lines for the imagery listed in Image Reference Field.

Annotation (amv)         
If polygon has been annotated on imagery, code that is annotated on the image. 

Imagery Comments (txt)        
Comments on imagery used including level of precision, how EO was transferred from image to
maps, image verification procedures, image classification notes, etc.

Quantitative Method      
If quantitative methods were used to collect data on the EO, indication of whether plot or 
Plotless techniques were used.

Plot Shape (amv)         
If plots used to collect information for this EO, plot shape.

X Dimension (amv)        
Length of one side of rectangular plots.  For circular plots, he length of the radius. If a 
transect was used, enter length. Units should be converted to meters.

Y Dimension (amv)        
Length of second side of rectangular plots.  Blank for circular plots.  For transects, enter a 1. 

Plot Area (amv)          
Plot area calculated from X Dimension and Y Dimension.

Sample Number (amv) 
Number of plots used. If transect used, enter the number of sample points.

Subplot (amv)            
Check-off indicating whether plots are subplots of a larger plot? (Y/N)? 

Permanent (amv)          
Check-off indicating whether any of the plots are permanently marked for future study (Y/N)?

Plot Representativeness (txt) 
Comments on the relative representativeness of the sample plots.  Describe how well they reflect
the EO as a whole.

Sample Location (txt)    
Detailed directions to plot(s).  Give global positioning system (GPS) coordinates if available.
Include the precision of the GPS coordinates for the sample.

Plotless Comments(txt)        
Description of plotless data collection methods used.

Data Location Note (txt)
Storage location of data collected on the occurrence (manual file location, spreadsheet file 
name and location, etc.)

Inventory Comments (txt) 
Comments on any other important information collected in the ground survey. What were the
objectives for the inventory?  Was a species list collected?  Was this a result of a plot
remeasurement?  Reason for no plot? etc.


PROTECTION

Managed Area Code (amv)            
Managed Area code(s) for the Managed Area(s) where the EO is located.

Managed Area Name (amv)       
Name(s) of Managed Area(s) where EO is located.

Managed Area Type (amv)       
Code indicating the type of Managed Area (e.g. National Park, Wildlife Refuge, etc.).

Contained (amv)          
Check-off indicating whether EO is wholly contained in the Managed Areas listed (Y/N/?).

More Land                     
Check-off indicating whether more land (ie. additional acreage) needs to be protected (ie. at 
least registered) in order to adequately protect the EO (Y/N/?).

More Protection                         
Check-off indicating whether a higher level of protection is needed (on existing Managed Areas 
or protected Tracts) in order to adequately protect the EO (Y/N/?).

More Management
Check-off indicating whether more management effort is needed in order to adequately protect
the EO (Y/N/?).

TNC Involvement                    
Check-off indicating whether TNC was involved in protection of this EO (Y/N).

Management Comments (txt)          
Comments concerning the management of the EO.  Describe any known or obvious short- or
long-term threats to the EO and any known economic value(s) associated with this EO.

Protection Comments (txt)               
Comments concerning the protection of the EO.

Monitoring Needs (txt)   
Comments on monitoring needs for EO. 

Research Needs (txt)     
Comments on research needs for EO.


OWNERSHIP

Owner (mv)                    
Name(s) of owner(s) on which EO is located.

Owner Information                  
Check-off indicating whether additional information on the owner is available (Y/N).

Owner Comments (txt)          
Comments concerning the owner(s) of the land where the EO is located.


GENERAL COMMENTS

Comments (txt)      
Any general comments about the EO that don't need to be specifically tracked which haven't been
entered in other fields. 
 

DOCUMENTATION

Data Sensitivity                   
Check-off indicating whether security is needed for sensitive data (Y/N).

Boundaries                    
Check-off indicating whether the EO boundaries have been delineated on a USGS topo map
(Y/N/?).

Photos                        
Check-off indicating whether a photo (not imagery) of the EO exists (Y/N).

Best Source (txt)        
Name of single best source of information on the EO (person or literature).

Source Code    (amv)          
List of sourcecodes for sources about the Element from the Source Abstract.

Citation (amv)      
Citation from source(s) listed in Source Code field.

Transcriber
Date of original EOR transcription, and initials of transcriber (yy-mm-dd abc).

Mapper
Date EO was mapped on the Heritage Program's quad map and initials of the mapper  (yy-mm-dd 
abc).

County of Distribution Revised                         
Check-off indicating whether county of distribution map been revised to reflect location of EO
(Y/N).

Quality Control                              
Check-off indicating whether a full (2 stage) quality control check has been completed for this
record. (Y/N)


ADDITIONAL TOPICS

Additional Topics (txt)       
Specific comments on any significant additional topics concerning the Element Occurrence which
need to be tracked that have not been formally addressed by one of the standard fields in the
record.

Topic Keywords (mv) 
List of topics considered in the preceding Additional Topics field.


RECORD MAINTENANCE

Lead Responsibility                     
Abbreviation for name of the office that is responsible for keeping the data in this record 
up-to-date.

Edition             
Date (yy-mm-dd) of the current edition of this record (either first completed or comprehensively
revised).
          
Edition Author 
Name of author of current edition of this record.
     
Update                   
Date and initials of person to make any revisions to the record, either correction of typos or
comprehensive revisions.


11.5 List of Community Characterization Abstract Fields with Brief Descriptions

The purpose of the Community Characterization Abstract is to summarize classification and descriptive information on a community type.

KEY:  Fields with no designated field type are single value       
          		mv = multivalue field
           		amv = associated multivalue field
           		txt = text field
           

IDENTIFIERS
          
Element Code
Variable length code for the Element. 

Summary
A one paragraph abstract for the Community Element described in this record.

Global Name
TNC Global Community Element based on Latin names of dominant and characteristic plant
species.  Regional names can be used temporarily while global species complex names are being
developed.

Author
Individual(s) responsible for assigning GNAME.

Common Name
TNC Element common name.


CLASSIFICATION

System
Name for TNC System.
          
Class
Name of physiognomic class. 

Subclass
Name of physiognomic subclass.

Group
Name of formation group.

Formation 
Name of formation.

Alliance
Name of alliance.

Crosswalked
Check-off indicating whether the regional classifications been crosswalked to complete this 
Record (Y/N).

Confidence Level
Indication of the level of confidence in the type.

Classification Comments (txt) 
Comments on any taxonomic problems for the type.   

Similar Communities (txt)     
List of closely related or apparently similar communities and comments on how they differ from
the global type.


RELATED NOMENCLATURE

Heritage Names (amv)
List of any regional, state or subnational, and CDC names for the Element. 
          
Heritage Name Relationship (amv)
Indication of the relationship of the Heritage Names to the Global Name (>,<,=).  

Heritage Name Relationship Note (amv)
Brief description of the relationship to the GNAME.
     
Habitat Number (amv)
Code for TNC habitats.

Habitat Name (amv)
Name for TNC habitats.

Habitat Modifier Number (amv)
Code for habitat modifier corresponding to the value chosen in Habitat Number field.

Habitat Modifier Name (amv)
Code for habitat modifier.

Society of American Foresters Region Number (amv) 
Code for Society of American Foresters Cover Type Region.

Society of American Foresters Region Name (amv)   
Name for Society of American Foresters Cover Type Region.
          
Society of American Foresters Covertype Number (amv)   
Code for covertype(s) used by the Society of American Foresters that include this Element
(Popup).

Society of American Foresters Covertype Name (amv)
Name for covertype used by the Society of American Foresters.

Kuchler Lifeform Number (amv)
Code for lifeform of the Element from Kuchler's Potential Vegetation Map of the United States.

Kuchler Lifeform Name (amv)
Name for Kuchler's lifeform.
          
Kuchler Potential Natural Vegetation Type Number (amv) 
Code(s) of Kuchler's potential natural vegetation types that include this Element (Popup).

Kuchler Potential Natural Vegetation Type Name (amv)   
Name(s) of Kuchler's potential natural vegetation types that include this Element.

UNESCO Class Number (amv)
Code for UNESCO's physiognomic class which best describes the Element (Popup).

UNESCO Class Name (amv)
Name for UNESCO's physiognomic class which best describes the Element.

UNESCO Formation Number (amv)      
Code for UNESCO's formation level classification (Popup).

UNESCO Formation Name (amv)        
Name for UNESCO's formation.

USFWS Wetland Type Number (amv)    
Code for US. Fish and Wildlife Wetland Type (Popup).

USFWS Wetland Type Name (amv)
Name for US. Fish and Wildlife Wetland Type.

USFWS Wetland Type Relation (amv)  
Indication of the relationship of the  USFWS Wetland Type Names to the Global Name (>,<,=).

USFWS Wetland Type Relation Note (amv)
Brief description of the relationship to the Global Name
     
Other Names (amv)
Any other names used by other systems or agencies.  Specify the source and provide reference if
available.

Other Names Relation (amv)    
Indication of the relationship of the GOTHER.NAMES to the GNAME.  The relation will be
designated by the author of the Global Element Name.

Other Names Relation Note (amv)
Brief description of the relationship to the Global Name.

Global Names Comments (txt)
Summary of related names used for the Element.  Also comments on the relationship of these
types to the type. Also, any other comments on related nomenclature.


DISTRIBUTION

Fenneman's Major Division Number (amv)
Code of Fenneman's Major Division in which the Element is located. 

Fenneman's Major Division Name (amv)
Name of Fenneman's Major Division in which the Element is located.

Fenneman's Physiographic Province Number (amv)
Code for Fenneman's physiographic province in which the Element is located. 

Fenneman's Physiographic Province Name (amv)
Name of Fenneman's physiographic province in which the Element is located.

Ecoregion Author Number (amv) 
Code for author(s) whose ecoregionalization was used to locate the Element (i.e. Bailey,
Omernik, etc.).

Ecoregion Author Name (amv)   
Name for author(s) whose ecoregionalization was used to locate the Element.

Ecoregion Primary Number (amv)     
Code for the primary level of the ecoregionalization hierarchy in which the Element is located.

Ecoregion Primary Number (amv)     
Name for the primary level of the ecoregionalization hierarchy in which the Element is located.

Ecoregion Secondary Number (amv)
Code for the secondary level of the ecoregionalization hierarchy corresponding to the primary
level chosen in the Ecoregion Primary Number field.

Ecoregion Secondary Name (amv)
Name of the secondary level of the ecoregionalization hierarchy.

Region (mv)
Other geographic regional delimiters where Element is located.

Heritage Task Force Region (mv) 
The Nature Conservancy's Heritage Task Force Region(s) where Element occurs.

Other Regions (txt)
Any other regional locators (government agencies etc.) that describe the regions of occurrence 
of the Element. 

Global Range
Code indicating the estimated present size of the Elements global range.

Global Range Comments (txt)
Description of the Element's present and historic range. Describe the relationship of original 
to current range.  Comment on shifting boundaries of the range and change of the extent of the
occurrence of the community within the range.

Range Map
Check-off indicating whether a range map exist? (Y/). 

Rangemap Location (txt)
Location of range map.

Distribution Comments (txt)   
Summary of the distribution of the Element, and any additional comments on its distribution.  


ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Latitude Zone (mv)
Latitudinal zone(s) over which Element occurs.

Minimum Elevation
Minimum elevation at which Element occurs globally.

Maximum Elevation
Maximum elevation at which Element occurs globally.

Landform (mv)
Landform(s) on which Element is generally located.

Topographic Position (mv)
Topographic position(s) of the Element on the landscape.

Slope (mv)
Range of slopes on which Element occurs.

Aspect (mv)
Range of aspects over which Element occurs.

Geology Comments (txt)
Comments on geologic substrate and other important geologic features on which the Element
generally occurs.
     
Soil Type (mv)
Soil type(s) based on any level of taxonomy available: Soil survey map unit, series, great 
group, etc. as detailed as existing information allows.

Soil Moisture (mv)
The amount of water available to plants. Based on soil drainage, soil structure and texture, 
and climate .

Soil Comments (txt)
Comments on soil properties. Include information on how soil information was collected, a
description of soil texture, stoniness, root penetration, notes on horizon depths, mottling, pH 
etc. Comment on the level of taxonomy of soil listed in Soil Type field.

Hydrologic Influence (txt)
Comments on hydrologic influences on the community including: zonation reflecting water level
fluctuations, tidally influenced, permanent or temporary, hydrologic seasonality, standing 
water, etc. 

Seasonal Variation (txt)
Description of important seasonal influences/variations.

Key Environmental Factors (txt)    
Comments on important environmental determinants of the biological composition or structure of
this community and/or its subtypes. 
                                                                      
Environment Comments (txt)
Summary of environmental conditions associated with the Element, and any additional comments
on important environmental factors.


BIOLOGICAL AND STRUCTURAL DESCRIPTION

Leaf Type 
Leaf morphology of the dominant strata in the Element.
 
Leaf Phenology 
Leaf phenology of the dominant strata in the Element.

Strata and Lifeform (amv)     
Layers of vegetation occurring within the Element.          

Percent Cover (amv)
Percent cover of each layer.

Height (amv)
Height of each layer. 

Most Abundant Species (amv)
Most abundant (in terms of percent cover) plant species in each layer.  

Diagnostic Species (amv)
Diagnostic plant species (dominant, differential, characteristic, or indicator) which are 
Relatively constant among occurrences of the Element and help to classify it.

Unvegetated Surface (amv)
Description of unvegetated substrate.
     
Unvegetated Surface Cover (amv)
Percent cover of unvegetated substrate.

Constant Species (mv)         
Plant species likely to be found in every occurrence of the Element, but that can also be found 
in other communities.
     
Characteristic Species (mv)   
Key plant species which generally occur only in this community type, but may not necessarily be
found in every occurrence of the type.

Vegetation Comments (txt)     
Summary description of the leaf type and phenology, physiognomy and plant species composition
of the Element and any additional comments on vegetation attributes of the Element.  

High Ranking Species (mv)          
Names of rare or threatened plant or animal species that are expected to be found within
occurrences of this Element.

Fauna Comments (txt)          
Comments on animals commonly associated with this type.

Other Species Comments (txt)  
Summary of other noteworthy species associated with the Element and any additional comments
on important species not listed above such as information on endemics or exotics commonly
associated with the type.

Species Composition Variability (txt)
Comments on variability in species composition within and among occurrences. 
 
Physiognomic Variability (txt)
Comments on structural variation and patterns within and among occurrences.

Subtypes (txt) 
Comments on subtypes of this Element recognized at the global level. 
          
Variability Comments (txt)    
Summary of the variability in species composition and physiognomy within and among
occurrences of the type and any additional comments on variability associated with the type.

          
DYNAMIC PROCESSES

Natural Disturbance (txt)     
Comments on the type and duration of natural disturbances (on any scale) particular to this
Element type. 

Successional Status           
Successional status of the community (early, middle, late).

Succession and Dynamics Comments (txt)  
Summary of successional relationships and temporal dynamics.  What are the past and future
successional stages known for this community?  Given the disturbance regimes, what successional
dynamics are predicted?  Include additional comments on age/size structure, dispersal agents, 
old growth forest characteristics, etc.


SPATIAL RELATIONS

Size (txt)               
Comments on the common size of Element Occurrences.    

Spatial Distribution (txt)    
Comments on whether this Element is generally patchy, or often one continuous patch on the 
landscape.

Adjacent Communities (txt)
Name(s) of other community types commonly adjacent to this Element. Comment on their spatial
relationships across the landscape 

Inclusion Communities (txt)   
Name(s) of community types frequently occurring within this Element (ie. heath bog within an
occurrence of mixed coniferous forest).

Mosaic Comments (txt)
If the Element represents a complex mosaic of sub-associations such as Dune/Swale communities,
or zonal coastal plain pond shores, indication of the scale and pattern of the components.

Spatial Comments (txt)         
Summary of and additional comments on spatial relationships of this community to others on the
landscape.


STATUS

Global Rank
Global Element rank which characterizes the relative rarity or endangerment of the Element
world-wide.

Rank Reasons (txt)
Reason for assigning the Global Element Rank.  
          
Exemplary Element Occurrence
Element Occurrence Code for the "best" example of an Element Occurrence.

Exemplary Element Occurrence Site Name  
Name for site on which the Exemplary Element Occurrence is located.

Element Occurrence Specifications (txt)
Specification criteria for an Element Occurrence. 

Status Comments (txt)
Summary of and additional comments on the global conservation status of the Element.  


MANAGEMENT

Economic Importance Comments (txt)
Comments on economic uses of this type. ie. timber and forest products usage, recreation, flood
control, groundwater recharge, any other economically important species, etc.

Management Comments (txt)          
Summary and additional comments on the management of the community including threats,
management strategies for exotics, animal usage, restrictions to size/shape for stability,
sustainability, strategies for compatible uses, etc. 
                                                                      

INVENTORY AND SAMPLING PROCEDURES

Imagery Comments (txt)
Comments on imagery that is useful for identifying the Element - Can the community be easily
distinguished from other communities on imagery, eg. from adjacent communities and from
similar communities; comments on types and scales of useful imagery.
          
Sample Strategy (txt)    
Comments on the best way to sample this community.  Describe any unusual sampling procedures
that are specific to the type.          

Inventory Comments (txt) 
Summary and additional comments on the recommended sampling strategy for the community. 
Include information on the best imagery, overflight, and ground survey methods used for the 
type.


ANALYSIS PROCEDURES AND DATA MANAGEMENT

Analysis Comments (txt)  
Description of the data and analysis procedures that were used to determine this type.

Data Location Note (txt)
Storage location of the numerical data used to determine the type. 

Permanent Plot 
Checkoff indicating whether a permanent plot exists for this type (Y/N).

Permanent Plot Location (txt)
Location of permanent plot.  Include Element Occurrence Numbers and site names, if available.

Analysis and Data Management Comments (txt)       
Summary and additional comments on the analysis procedures and data used to determine the
type.  


GENERAL COMMENTS

Community Comments (txt) 
Any other comments about this community not covered in the fields above.   


REFERENCES

Source Code (amv)        
List of sourcecodes for sources about the Element from the Source Abstract File.

Citation (amv)      
Citation from source(s) listed in Source Code field.


RECORD MAINTENANCE

Edition             
Date (yy-mm-dd) of the current edition of this record (either first completed or comprehensively
revised).
          
Edition Author 
Name of author of current edition of this record.
     
Update                   
Date and initials of person to make any revisions to the record, either correction of typos or
comprehensive revisions.


11.6 The Nature Conservancy's Conservation Ranking System

This table lists the general criteria used by The Nature Conservancy and the Natural Heritage Network to assign global and state (in parentheses) ranks to species and communities.

G1(S1) = Critically imperiled globally (statewide) because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining acres or because of some factor(s) making it particularly vulnerable to extinction).

G2(S2) = Imperiled globally (statewide) because of extreme rarity (6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining acres) or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range.

G3(S3) = Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally, even abundantly, in a restricted range (e.g., a single western state, a physiographic region in the East) or because specific factors make it vulnerable to extinction throughout its range (21 to 100 occurrences).

G4(S4) = Apparently secure globally (statewide), though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

G5(S5) = Demonstrably secure globally (statewide), though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

GU(SU) = Possibly in peril range-wide, but status is uncertain.

GX(SX) = Believed to be eliminated throughout range with virtually no likelihood that it will be rediscovered (e.g., American Chestnut forest).

G?(S?) = Element is not yet ranked.

A "Q" qualifier can be added to any rank to denote questionable taxonomy (e.g., G2Q = Known to be imperiled, but questions exist concerning the classification of this type). A "?" qualifier can be added to any rank to denote an inexact numeric rank (e.g., G1? = Believed to be critically imperiled, but some doubt concerning status exists).

Ranks can be combined to indicate a range. (e.g., G2/G3 = may be imperiled or rare throughout range, but the exact status is uncertain). Combined ranks indicate a larger margin of error than ranks assigned a "?" qualifier.



Return to Table of Contents

USGS Home :: Geology :: Geography :: Water


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices
Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/classification/appendix.html
Page Contact Information:
Page Last Modified: Thursday, 24-Jan-2008 14:03:29 MST