B. Herbaceous Communities
Herbaceous communities are plant communities characterized by a tree canopy cover of less
than 25%. Herbaceous plants make up the majority of the cover.SERPENTINE BARRENS
The plant communities of the serpentine barrens are a state and globally ranked habitat
because of the geographically restricted serpentine bedrock they are found on. Serpentine
bedrock is light green bedrock that is thought to have been forced from the earth's core 450
million years ago during plate shifting activity. The green color is due to the high concentration
of magnesium in the rock (NYNHP 2011). Staten Island is the only borough where you can find
remnants of this unique habitat. The open grass-savanna communities thrive in the nutrient
poor soils but most sites have been obliterated by forest succession in the absence of wildfire
and later, by conversion to urban uses (Kiviat and Johnson 2013).
Examples Include: Seaview Meadow (SI).
Recommended Plants:
Graminoids
Aristida oligantha Prarie threeawn
Aristida purpurascens Arrowfeather threeawn
Danthonia spicata Poverty oatgrass
Dichanthelium clandestinum Deertongue
Eragrostis spectabilis Purple lovegrass
Juncuis tenuis Path rush
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans Indiangrass
Forbs
Eupatorium serotinum Late eupatorium
Lespedeza capitata Round-headed bush-clover
Potentilla simplex Common cinquefoil
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Narrow-leaved mountain mint
Solidago nemoralis Gray goldenrod
Symphyotrichum ericoides White heath aster
Symphyotrichum laeve Smooth blue aster
Symphyotrichum pilosum Hairy white old field aster
Vines
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper
Shrubs
Rhus aromatica Fragrant sumac