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Home » Natural Heritage » Natural Communities » Low-elevation Woodlands, Barrens and Rock Outcrops

The Natural Communities of Virginia
Classification of Ecological Groups and Community Types

Third Approximation (Version 3.3)

Information current as of March 2021

Table of Contents

Natural Communities of VA
Classification of Ecological Groups and Community Types
Introduction
Overview of VA Physiography & Vegetation
Terrestrial System
Palustrine System
Riverine System
- Riverine Aquatic Beds
Estuarine System
- Tidal Wetlands
Marine System
- Upper Beaches and Overwash Flats
Summary of Procedures for Collection & Analysis of Vegetation Data
Glossary
Literature
How to Cite this Document

Low-Elevation Woodlands, Barrens and Rock Outcrops

Ecological community groups with distributions centered below 1,070 m (3,500 ft) elevation and representing edaphically (or in two cases, fire-) controlled woodland, scrub, herbaceous, and non-vascular moss/lichen vegetation.

photo of Potomac Gorge rock outcrops

© DCR-DNH, Gary P. Fleming

Pine - Oak / Heath Woodlands

Mountain / Piedmont Acidic Woodlands

Mountain / Piedmont Basic Woodlands

Central Appalachian Shale Barrens

Limestone / Dolostone Woodlands and Barrens

Ultramafic Woodlands and Barrens

Low-Elevation Outcrop Barrens

Piedmont Granitic Flatrocks

Piedmont Oak - Hickory Woodlands, Savannas, and Grasslands

Riverside Outcrop Barrens

Mountain / Piedmont Cliffs

Lichen / Bryophyte Nonvascular Cliffs and Boulderfields

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