Department of Conservation and Recreation
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Department of Conservation and Recreation
Table of ContentsMaritime Dune Scrub
The shrublands of this group occupy somewhat protected maritime back dunes and leeward dune slopes, generally along the inland edges of dune systems in zones sheltered from constant ocean salt spray. Maritime Dune Scrub occurs along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New Jersey south to Florida. The vegetation is characterized by several tree, shrub and dwarf shrub species. Dominant scrubby species include northern bayberry (Morella pensylvanica), live oak (Quercus virginiana, southeastern Virginia only), common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), and black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina). Stunted saplings of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) are also present on many sites, and woody vines such as muscadine grape (Muscadinia rotundifolia var. rotundifolia), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) are often abundant. Many woody species are significantly stunted in this habitat and, like the live oak, are often much broader than tall. Few herbaceous species are present under the shrub canopy, but occasional gaps support most of the species found in the dune grasslands.
On some high, remnant dunes and areas of dune blowouts, the dwarf shrub sand heather (Hudsonia tomentosa) forms an assemblage with seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens), bitter seabeach grass (Panicum amarum var. amarum), Gray's flatsedge (Cyperus grayi), and beach pinweed (Lechea maritima var. virginica). This community type, present on Assateague Island, Parramore Island, and the southeastern Virginia coast, often occurs in a mosaic with maritime dune woodlands. Maritime shrublands are threatened by coastal development and by natural and anthropogenic disturbances that destroy the protective primary dune system.
References: Clovis (1968), The Nature Conservancy (1997).
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© DCR-DNH, Gary P. Fleming.
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