FGDC-STD-005-2008 (Version 2) 

NATIONAL VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION 

STANDARD, VERSION 2 

Vegetation Subcommittee 

Federal Geographic Data Committee 

February 2008
ii 

Federal Geographic Data Committee 

Established by Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16, the Federal Geographic 

Data Committee (FGDC) promotes the coordinated development, use, sharing, and 

dissemination of geographic data. 

The FGDC is composed of representatives from the Departments of Agriculture, 

Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, 

Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, Justice, Labor, State, and Transportation, 

the Treasury, and Veteran Affairs; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Federal 

Communications Commission; the General Services Administration; the Library of 

Congress; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; the National Archives and 

Records Administration; the National Science Foundation; the Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission; the Office of Personnel Management; the Small Business Administration; the 

Smithsonian Institution; the Social Security Administration; the Tennessee Valley 

Authority; and the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Additional Federal agencies participate on FGDC subcommittees and working groups. 

The Department of the Interior chairs the committee. 

FGDC subcommittees work on issues related to data categories coordinated under the 

circular. Subcommittees establish and implement standards for data content, quality, and 

transfer; encourage the exchange of information and the transfer of data; and organize the 

collection of geographic data to reduce duplication of effort. Working groups are 

established for issues that transcend data categories. 

For more information about the committee, or to be added to the committee's newsletter 

mailing list, please contact: 

Federal Geographic Data Committee Secretariat 

c/o U.S. Geological Survey 

590 National Center 

Reston, Virginia 22092 

Facsimile: (703) 648-5755 

Internet (electronic mail): fgdc@usgs.gov 

 World Wide Web: http://www.fgdc.gov

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

The Federal Geographic Data Committee Vegetation Subcommittee would like to 

acknowledge the valuable contributions of the Ecological Society of America’s Vegetation 

Classification Panel. This draft standard is based on the minimum requirements of the 

Panel’s Guidelines for Describing Associations and Alliances of the U.S. National 

Vegetation Classification, Version 4.0 (Jennings et al. 2006) with modifications to satisfy 

the needs of Federal agencies 

[DSP1]
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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CONTENTS 

 Page 

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................1

1.1 DYNAMIC NATURE OF VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION............................................................2

1.2 OBJECTIVE..........................................................................................................................2

1.3 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................3

1.4 APPLICABILITY .....................................................................................................................4

1.5 RELATED STANDARDS.........................................................................................................4

1.6 STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURES .........................................................................5

1.6.1 Guiding Principles.............................................................................................6

1.7 MAINTENANCE AUTHORITY ..................................................................................................7

2. STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION.......................8

2.1 NATURAL VEGETATION..............................................................................................11

2.1.1 Overview of the Natural Vegetation Hierarchy ...........................................11

2.1.2 Classification Criteria for Natural Vegetation.............................................11

2.1.3 Definitions of Natural Vegetation Hierarchy Levels ..................................12

2.1.4 Criteria for Natural Vegetation Hierarchy Levels .......................................15

2.2 CULTURAL VEGETATION............................................................................................18

2.2.1 Overview of the Cultural Vegetation Hierarchy..........................................18

2.2.2 Criteria for Classification of Cultural Vegetation.......................................18

2.2.3 Definitions of Cultural Vegetation Hierarchy Levels.................................19

2.2.4 Criteria for Cultural Vegetation Hierarchy Levels......................................21

3. DESCRIPTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL VEGETATION...................23

3.1 DATA SOURCES ................................................................................................................23

3.1.1 Collecting Field Plot Data...............................................................................23

3.1.2 Use of Literature and Other Data Sources ..................................................33

3.2 CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................34

3.2.1 Data preparation...............................................................................................34

3.2.2 Classification Analysis and Interpretation ..................................................34

3.2.3 Description of Vegetation Types...................................................................35

3.2.4 Naming of Mid and Lower Level Vegetation Types...................................38

3.2.5 Naming of Upper Level Vegetation Types...................................................39

3.3 PEER REVIEW OF PROPOSED VEGETATION TYPES ............................................................41
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3.3.1 Classification Confidence and Status..........................................................41

3.3.2 Peer Review Process.......................................................................................42

3.4 DATA MANAGEMENT AND DISSEMINATION..........................................................................45

3.4 DATA MANAGEMENT AND DISSEMINATION..........................................................................46

3.4.1 Component Datasets.......................................................................................46

3.4.2 Web Access.......................................................................................................47

3.4.3 Publication ........................................................................................................47

4. DESCRIPTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF CULTURAL VEGETATION ...............48

4.1 DATA SOURCES ................................................................................................................48

4.2 CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................48

4.3 PEER REVIEW ...................................................................................................................49

4.4 DATA MANAGEMENT AND DISSEMINATION..........................................................................49

5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................50

APPENDICES.......................................................................................................................56

APPENDIX A (NORMATIVE): GLOSSARY ...................................................................................56

APPENDIX B (INFORMATIVE). RELATION OF USNVC TO LAND COVER CLASSIFICATIONS .......64

APPENDIX C (INFORMATIVE): MULTILINGUAL VERSION OF NATURAL HIERARCHY. .....................67

APPENDIX D (NORMATIVE): REQUIRED ATTRIBUTES FOR PLOTS ..............................................68

D.1 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN FIELD PLOT DATA SETS...........................................................68

D.2 INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED AS FIELD PLOT METADATA.................................................71

D.3 INFORMATION ABOUT EACH ASSIGNMENT OF A FIELD PLOT TO A VEGETATION TYPE ............75

APPENDIX E (NORMATIVE): GROWTH FORM NAMES, CODES, AND DEFINITIONS.....................76

APPENDIX F (INFORMATIVE): EXAMPLE ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTION........................................80

APPENDIX G. (INFORMATIVE). PILOT EXAMPLES OF UNITS FOR NATURAL VEGETATION: 

LEVELS 1 – 4.............................................................................................................89

APPENDIX H. (INFORMATIVE). PILOT EXAMPLES OF UNITS FOR NATURAL VEGETATION: 

LEVELS 1 – 7 FOR EASTERN U.S. FORESTS. .............................................................91

APPENDIX I. (INFORMATIVE). PILOT EXAMPLE FOR CULTURAL VEGETATION: LEVELS 1 – 8.104

APPENDIX J (INFORMATIVE). COMPARISON OF U.S. NVC AND BRAUN-BLANQUET 

APPROACHES TO CLASSIFYING PASTURES. ...............................................................117

APPENDIX K (INFORMATIVE): A PROCESS FOR ESTIMATING STRATUM COVER FROM SPECIES 

COVER VALUES........................................................................................................118

APPENDIX L (INFORMATIVE): FGDC VEGETATION SUBCOMMITTEE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE 

DEVELOPMENT OF THIS STANDARD ..........................................................................119
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Figures Page 

 2.1 Vegetation classification criteria for the US NVC ..............................16 

 3.1 An illustration of strata showing growth forms of individual plants 

 as may be found in a plot....................................................... 29 

 3.2 Flow of information through the peer-review process for formal 

 recognition of a vegetation type.................................................. 44 

 3.3 Relationship of the peer-review process to the NVC............................. 45 

Tables 

 2.1 Conceptual Categories and Level One of the NVC Hierarchy..................10 

 2.2 Comparison of Revised Hierarchy for Natural Vegetation with 

 the 1997 Hierarchy................................................................12 

 2.3 Revised Hierarchy for Natural Vegetation with Example....................... 14 

 2.4 Summary of Criteria and Rationale for the Natural 

 Vegetation Hierarchy............................................................ 17 

 2.5 Revised Hierarchy for Cultural Vegetation with Examples..................... 19 

 3.1 Comparison of commonly used cover-abundance scales........................ 26 

 3.2 Example of describing growth forms first, then subdividing 

 into size classes................................................................... 27 

 3.3 Example of describing strata first, then subdividing by growth forms......... 28 

 3.4 A crosswalk of strata categories with common growth form and 

 size class categories.............................................................. 30 

 3.5 Required topical sections for monographic description of 

 vegetation types.................................................................. 37 

 

 B.1 Relation of USNVC to land cover classifications................................ 64 

 B.2 Relation of NRCS Natural Resources Inventory classification to the NVC...66 

 C.1 Multilingual version of the natural hierarchy......................................67 

 D.1.1 Information required in the field plot record................................... 68 

 D.1.2 Information required for the plot vegetation................................... 69 

 D.1.3 Information required for the plot location....................................... 70 

 D.1.4 Information about the plot environment (reserved)........................... 70 

 D.2.1 Metadata about the plot and the plot observation.............................. 71 

 D.2.2 Metadata about the methods used to collect the field data................... 72 

 D.2.3 Metadata about the human sources of the field data........................... 72 

 D.2.4 Metadata about references for other sources of plot data.....................73 

 D.3.1 Information about each assignment of a plot to a vegetation type........... 75 

 E.1a General growth forms............................................................... 76 

 E.1b Specific growth forms.............................................................. 77 
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 J.1 A brief comparison of NVC pasture types to the European Braun-Blanquet 

 classification.....................................................................117 

 K.1 A process for estimating canopy cover of a single stratum from the 

 cover values of individual species occurring in that stratum.............. 118 
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1. Introduction 

The United States Federal Geographic Data Committee (hereafter called the FGDC) is 

tasked to develop geospatial data standards that will enable sharing of spatial data among 

producers and users and support the growing National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), 

acting under the Office of Management Budget (OMB) Circular A-16 (OMB 1990, 2000) 

and Executive Order #12906 (Clinton 1994) as amended by Executive Order #13286 

(Bush 2003). FGDC subcommittees and working groups, in consultation and cooperation 

with state, local, tribal, private, academic, and international communities, are to develop 

standards for the content, quality, and transferability of geospatial data. FGDC standards 

are to be developed through a structured process, integrated with one another to the 

extent possible, supportable by the current vendor community (but are independent of 

specific technologies), and are publicly available. 

There is no single agency responsible for classifying, describing, and/or mapping the 

vegetation of the United States, resulting in the current condition of multiple agencies 

inventorying, mapping, analyzing, and reporting vegetation data in a variety of ways, 

sometimes in direct conflict with each other due to differing definitions and protocols. The 

present situation has prevented development of a national synoptic view of the vegetation 

resources of the United States. Federal agencies are encouraged by a variety of executive 

orders and Congressional actions to improve cooperation and to reduce duplication. This 

standard responds to this direction. 

The FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee has responsibility for creating a federal vegetation 

classification standard, which it did in 1997 (FGDC 1997). This document is a revision of 

FGDC-STD-005-1997 and replaces that document. The completion of provisional floristic 

units by NatureServe for the classification (Anderson et al 1998, Drake and FaberLangendoen 1997, Metzler et al. 1994, Reid et al. 1999, and Weakley et al. 1998), the 

need to update the standards for these floristic levels based on the Ecological Society of 

America Vegetation Classification Panel (Jennings et al. 2006), and critiques of the upper 

physiognomic levels by various teams, including that of the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service team (Brohman and Bryant 2005), led to the request 

for the revisions (see also Faber-Langendoen et al. 2007). This document presents a 

process standard to be used to create a dynamic content standard for all vegetation types 

in the classification. The content standard will constitute a “data classification standard” 

(FGDC 1996) which will provide hierarchical groups and categories of vegetation to 

facilitate aggregation of local and regional vegetation inventory data to generate national 

statistics on vegetation resources. The process standard described in this document 

constitutes a “classification methodology standard” describing “the procedures to follow 

to implement a data classification standard” (FGDC 1996). It includes standards for data 

collection, data analysis, data presentation, and quality control and assurance as described 

in the FGDC Standards Reference Model (FGDC 1996). 
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1.1 Dynamic Nature of Vegetation Classification 

Implementation of the classification methodology (process) standard will produce a data 

classification standard, or classification system, consisting of a hierarchical list of 

vegetation types and their descriptions. This vegetation classification system is expected 

to change rapidly for several years as the backlog of provisional types, and pilot examples 

are reviewed and added in, then to continue to change at a slower pace. The standard 

requires that vegetation types be defined and characterized using appropriate data. New 

vegetation types will be defined and previously defined types will be refined as data 

continue to be collected, analyzed, and correlated over time. This process is referred to as 

successive refinement (or successive approximation), and constitutes a fundamental 

feature of vegetation classification (Westhoff and van der Maarel 1973, Gauch 1982). 

Managing the vegetation classification (content standard) dynamically as the classification 

process is implemented will allow development of the national vegetation classification 

system (i.e. data classification standard) to proceed efficiently. 

It must be noted that a vegetation classification system is not synonymous with a map 

legend. Vegetation classification consists of grouping stands or plots into vegetation, or 

plant community, types (Tart et al. 2005a). Each type name represents a taxonomic 

concept with defined limits, about which meaningful and reliable statements can be made 

(Jennings et al. 2006). Vegetation mapping is the process of delineating the geographic 

distribution, extent, and landscape patterns of vegetation types and/or structural 

characteristics. Consistent mapping of vegetation types requires that a classification be 

completed first because classification defines the entities to be mapped (Tart et al. 2005a). 

In turn, mapping and field checking the vegetation types helps improve the classification 

concepts. This revision should facilitate more effective mapping of vegetation at multiple 

scales. None-the-less, due to varying scale of vegetation patterns and technological 

issues, map units may often include more than one vegetation type at any given level of the 

hierarchy. The hierarchical set of vegetation types can be used to describe the content of 

vegetation map units at multiple scales. 

1.2 Objective

The overall purpose of this National Vegetation Classification Standard (hereafter referred 

to as the “Standard”) is to support the development and use of a consistent national 

vegetation classification (hereafter referred to as the “NVC”) in order to produce uniform 

statistics about vegetation resources across the nation, based on vegetation data gathered 

at local, regional, or national levels. This will facilitate cooperation on vegetation 

management issues that transcend jurisdictional boundaries. It is therefore important that, 

as agencies map or inventory vegetation, they collect enough data to translate it for 

national reporting, aggregation, and comparisons. The ability to crosswalk other 

vegetation classifications and map legends to the NVC will facilitate the compilation of 

regional and national summaries. The overall purpose of this standard encompasses four 

broad objectives: 

1. To facilitate and support the development of a standardized vegetation 

classification for the United States and its use for information sharing. 
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2. To define and adopt standards for vegetation data collection and analysis used in 

support of the classification. 

3. To maintain scientific credibility of the national classification through peer review. 

4. To facilitate inter-agency collaboration and inter-agency product consistency. 

This national standard requires all federal vegetation classification efforts to meet core 

data requirements that are the same across all federal agencies to permit aggregation of 

data from all federal agencies. This will facilitate the ongoing, dynamic development of a 

vegetation classification content standard (i.e., the NVC). The Standard also requires that 

vegetation mapping and inventory units crosswalk to the NVC. This means that the 

composition of any map unit or inventory unit can be described in terms of one or more 

vegetation types at an appropriate level of the NVC hierarchy. 

This Standard shall not preclude alternative classification approaches and systems that 

address particular needs of Federal agencies. It is intended to facilitate an orderly 

development of a national vegetation classification as well as collaboration with 

international vegetation classification activities. The standard should not hamper local 

Federal efforts from doing whatever they need to meet their specific purposes, such as 

inventory, monitoring, and mapping. 

This standard requires that when Federal efforts are conducted, they are conducted in 

ways that, whatever else they do, they provide the minimum data needed to integrate plot 

data and crosswalk vegetation types, and map units to the content standard (the NVC). 

Individual plots should be assignable to one vegetation type at the lowest possible level of 

the NVC hierarchy. Local vegetation types and map units may crosswalk to one or more 

NVC vegetation types at a similar level of the NVC hierarchy. 

1.3 Scope 

This Standard applies only to existing vegetation, and the NVC includes only existing 

vegetation types. Existing vegetation is the plant cover, or floristic composition and 

vegetation structure, documented to occur at a specific location and time (Tart et al. 

2005a, Jennings et al. 2006). However, the specific time need not be the present or even 

recent (i.e., historical data may be included). Existing vegetation types are defined on the 

basis of inherent attributes and characteristics of the vegetation, such as structure, growth 

form, floristic composition, and cover (FGDC 1997, Jennings et al. 2006, Tart et al. 

2005a, b). Abiotic factors, geographic and successional relationships are used to help 

interpret the types. This Standard does not directly apply to classification or mapping of 

potential natural vegetation. 

This Standard establishes national procedures for classifying existing vegetation for the 

United States and its Trust Territories that shall be used by Federal agencies to share 

vegetation information and facilitate reporting of national statistics across ownerships. 

The classification system created using these procedures will be referred to as the U.S. 

National Vegetation Classification (i.e., the NVC) This Standard also establishes 
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minimum metadata requirements to ensure consistent reporting on the status of our 

Nation's vegetation resources. Both the NVC and the metadata requirements may be used 

nationally to link local level vegetation inventory and map efforts. 

1.4 Applicability

This Standard is intended to be used for information sharing by federal agencies and as 

needed by other groups, including those engaged in land use planning or management, 

such as county and state governments, teaching or research institutions, and the private 

sector. Widespread use of these standards will facilitate integration of existing vegetation 

data collected by diverse users to address national and regional information needs. 

This standard shall be followed by all Federal agencies for vegetation classification data 

collected directly or indirectly (through grants, partnerships, or contracts) using federal 

funds. The standard should be applied at a level of the hierarchy appropriate to the 

agencies’ needs. Agencies are encouraged to participate in the ongoing development of 

the NVC through implementation of this FGDC Standard. Non-federal organizations 

might find it useful to use the Standard to increase the compatibility of their efforts with 

those of nearby federal land managers and/or to make their efforts more compatible with 

any activities that involve federal agencies. 

Each Federal agency is free to develop vegetation classification systems that meet their 

own information and business needs. The ecological characteristics of such local 

vegetation types can help guide the design of map legends (sets of map units) to address 

varying land management issues at multiple spatial scales. The NVC is expected to 

provide the common link to compare and relate these various map legends to each other 

and facilitate information sharing between federal agencies and other organizations. 

1.5 Related Standards

This standard deals with existing vegetation. It explicitly seeks to avoid land use terms, 

but may be useful to efforts to describe and map land use. 

The NVC overlaps one other federal standard, the FGDC Wetlands and Deep Water 

Habitats Standard (FGDC-STD-004) (Cowardin et al. 1979), wherever vegetation exists 

in wetlands or open water. The NVC classifies vegetation primarily according to 

physiognomic and floristic characteristics, not habitat or related characteristics, whereas 

the Wetlands standard includes soils and other habitat characteristics in its classification 

criteria. The two standards have different purposes and so the two classification systems 

should be viewed as complementary but different systematic approaches in an overall 

analysis of an area. 

The FGDC is working with partners on collaboration of the U.S. NVC in an international 

context, including coordination of the U.S. NVC with NatureServe and other partners of 

the International Vegetation Classification (NatureServe 2006, Faber-Langendoen et al. 

2007), and with other national classifications such as the Canadian NVC (Alvo and 
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Ponomarenko 2003, CNVC Technical Committee 2005) and partners in Mexico and 

other countries in Latin America. 

The NVC overlaps to a degree the Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) of the 

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (see Di Gregorio and Jansen 

1996). The FAO LCCS classifies biological and physical land cover; including nonvegetated land, cultural features, and water bodies; rather than plant communities. It is a 

standardized a priori classification system, designed to meet specific user requirements, 

and created for broad scale mapping exercises. The FAO LCCS is particularly focused on 

developing land cover map units. It does not provide details on plant community or 

vegetation types. In contrast the NVC is an evolving a posteriori classification, based on 

plot data, and is intended to serve a wider variety of purposes. It is intended to facilitate 

understanding of the ecological distribution of plant species and vegetation types. See 

Appendix B for a comparison of the NVC and the LCCS.

1.6 Standards Development Procedures

A Subcommittee on vegetation data (FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee, hereafter called 

the Subcommittee) was established in 1990 by OMB Circular A-16 (OMB 1990) and 

published a vegetation classification standard (FGDC-STD-005) in 1997. This standard is 

a modification of that standard. The Subcommittee consists of representatives designated 

by the Federal agencies that collect, or finance the collection of, vegetation data as part of 

their mission or have direct application of these data through legislated mandate. 

Agencies and organizations that participated in the modification of the 1997 standard 

include: 

U.S. Government: 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

Forest Service (FS) - Chair 

 National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) 

 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

Department of Defense (DOD) 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACERL) 

Department of the Interior (USDI) 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 

 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 

 Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 

 National Park Service (NPS) 

 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 

Non U.S. Government: 

NatureServe 

 Ecological Society of America (ESA) 

The Subcommittee identified a need to establish a hierarchical classification standard and 

associated information standards that will contain an organized list of vegetation types 
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(taxonomic units) with identified relationships among them. Procedures used to develop 

these standards included user surveys, periodic Subcommittee meetings, a vegetation 

classification forum held in 1995, preparation of a draft standard for lower floristic units 

by the Vegetation Classification Panel of ESA (Jennings et al. 2006), preparation of a 

draft standard for higher physiognomic and floristic units by the FGDC Hierarchy 

Revisions Working Group (Faber-Langendoen et al. 2007), and a review of the draft 

standards by the agencies and organizations represented on the Subcommittee. All 

decisions were made by consensus as prescribed by OMB Circular A-119 (OMB 1998). 

1.6.1 Guiding Principles 

The following principles were used to modify the NVC Standard: 

• Develop a scientific, standardized classification system, with practical use for 

conservation and resource management. 

• Classify existing vegetation. Existing vegetation is the plant cover, or floristic 

composition and vegetation structure, documented to occur at a specific location 

and time, preferably at the optimal time during the growing season. This Standard 

does not directly apply to classification or mapping of potential natural vegetation. 

• Classify vegetation on the basis of inherent attributes and characteristics of the 

vegetation structure, growth form, species and cover, emphasizing both 

physiognomic and floristic criteria. 

• Base criteria for the types on ecologically meaningful relationships; that is, abiotic, 

geographic and successional relationships help to organize the vegetation into 

types and levels. 

• Organize types by a hierarchy. The NVC is hierarchical (i.e., multi-leveled), with a 

small number of generalized types at the higher level and an increasingly large 

number of more detailed types at the lower levels. Having multiple levels allows 

for applications at a range of scales (UNEP/FAO 1995, Di Gregorio and Jansen 

1996). 

• The upper levels of the NVC are based primarily on the physiognomy (growth 

form, cover, structure) of the vegetation (not individual species), lower levels are 

based primarily on floristics (species composition and abundance), and mid levels 

are based on a combination of vegetation criteria. 

• Describe types based on plot data, using publicly accessible data wherever 

possible. 

• Modify the classification through a structured peer review process. The 

classification standard shall be dynamic, allowing for refinement as additional 

information becomes available. 

• Facilitate linkages to other classifications and to vegetation mapping (but the 

classification is not a map legend). 
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• The classification is applicable over extensive areas. 

• The classification shall avoid developing conflicting concepts and methods through 

cooperative development with the widest possible range of individuals and 

institutions. 

• Application of the classification shall be repeatable and consistent. 

• When possible, the classification standard shall use common terminology (i.e., 

terms should be understandable and jargon should be avoided). 

1.7 Maintenance Authority 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service was assigned 

responsibility to coordinate vegetation data-related activities under the policy guidance 

and oversight of the FGDC. This modification of the NVC Standard was developed under 

the authority of the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16, revised 2002. 

Through the Subcommittee, the USDA Forest Service will oversee the maintenance and 

updating of the Standard through periodic review, and will oversee maintenance, updating, 

dissemination, and implementation of the NVC that is based on this Standard in 

collaboration with member agencies, professional societies, and other organizations. 

Future revision of this Standard shall follow the standards development process described 

in the FGDC Standards Reference Model (FGDC 1996). The dynamic content of the 

NVC shall be updated under the direction of a national review board authorized by the 

USDA Forest Service through the Subcommittee. 

For more information about the Vegetation Subcommittee or the national review board, 

please contact: 

USDA Forest Service 

Attn: Research and Development 

Yates Federal Building, 1 NW 

201 14th Street 

Washington, DC 20250 
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2. Structure of the National Vegetation Classification 

The structure of the revised NVC hierarchy is a substantial revision of the 1997 hierarchy. 

The revised hierarchy addresses the following issues, among others: a) uses vegetation 

criteria to define all types (de-emphasizing abiotic criteria, such as hydrologic regimes in 

wetland types), b) provides a clear distinction between natural and cultural vegetation 

wherever these can be observed from broad growth form patterns (rather than combining 

natural and cultural vegetation initially and separating them at lower levels), c) for natural 

vegetation, defines the upper levels based on broad growth form patterns that reflect 

ecological relationships (rather than detailed structural criteria, which are more 

appropriate lower down in the hierarchy), d) provides a new set of middle-level natural 

units that bridge the large conceptual gap between alliance and formation, e) integrates the 

physiognomic and floristic hierarchy levels based on ecologic vegetation patterns, rather 

than developing the physiognomic and floristic levels independently and then forcing them 

into a hierarchy, f) provides detailed standards for plot data collection, type description 

and classification, data management and peer review of natural vegetation, and g) for 

cultural vegetation provides an independent set of levels that addresses the particular 

needs of cultural vegetation. See Jennings et al. (2006) and Faber-Langendoen et al. 

(2007) for further details on the rationale behind these changes. 

Several primary categories are helpful in describing the scope of the NVC and placing it 

within a broader land cover context. First, it includes all vegetated areas. That is, all areas 

having typically 1% or more of their surface area with live vegetation cover are classified 

within the NVC. This includes vegetation found on both strictly upland environments and 

in wetlands (rooted emergent and floating vegetation). The NVC excludes non-vegetated 

natural lands (e.g., rock, glaciers, some deserts) and waters (e.g., lakes and rivers) and 

non-vegetated cultural lands (e.g., roads, buildings, mines) and waters (e.g., reservoirs, 

canals). These distinctions are outlined in Table 2.1. The relation of the NVC categories 

to broader land cover classification categories, including the FAO Land Cover 

Classification System (Di Gregorio and Jansen 1996), the U.S. National Land Cover 

Database (NLCD) (USGS 2001), and the National Resources Inventory (NRI 2003) is 

further described in Appendix B. 

Separate categories are provided for natural and cultural vegetation, consistent with many 

other vegetation and land cover classifications (e.g. Küchler 1969, Anderson et al. 1976, 

Di Gregorio and Jansen 1996). Within this categorical framework, the cultural and natural 

vegetation classifications are hierarchical, emphasizing primarily floristics at the lower 

levels, both physiognomic and floristics at mid levels, and primarily physiognomy at upper 

levels. Separate hierarchies are developed for cultural and natural vegetation types, 

allowing for the characterization of their distinctive vegetation patterns at multiple spatial 

and taxonomic scales. The term “vegetation type” is used to name vegetation 

classification units in general, at any level of the vegetation hierarchy (e.g., a Montane 
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Tropical Rainforest Formation unit and a Black Cottonwood Forest Alliance unit are both 

“vegetation types.”). 

Natural (including semi-natural) vegetation is defined as vegetation where ecological 

processes primarily determine species and site characteristics; that is, vegetation 

comprised of a largely spontaneously growing set of plant species that are shaped by 

both site and biotic processes (Küchler 1969, Westhoff and van der Maarel 1973). 

Natural vegetation forms recognizable physiognomic and floristic groupings that can be 

related to ecological site features. Human activities influence these interactions to varying 

degrees (e.g., logging, livestock grazing, fire, introduced pathogens), but do not eliminate 

or dominate the spontaneous processes (Westhoff and van der Maarel 1973). Wherever 

doubt exists as to the naturalness of a vegetation type (e.g., old fields, various forest 

plantations), it is classified as part of the natural / semi-natural vegetation. Semi-natural 

vegetation typically encompasses vegetation types where the species composition and/or 

vegetation growth forms have been altered through anthropogenic disturbances such that 

no clear natural analogue is known, but they are a largely spontaneous set of plants shaped 

by ecological processes. Natural (or near-natural) and semi-natural vegetation are part of 

a continuum of change within natural vegetation that reflects varying degrees of 

anthropogenic and other disturbances. 

The distinctive physiognomy, floristics, and dependence on human activity for its 

persistence set cultural vegetation apart from natural and semi-natural vegetation. 

Cultural vegetation is defined as vegetation with a distinctive structure, composition, 

and development determined by regular human activity (cultural vegetation sensu stricto 

of Küchler 1969). Cultural vegetation has typically been planted or treated, and has 

relatively distinctive physiognomic, floristic, or site features when compared to natural 

vegetation. Distinctive physiognomic and structural attributes typically include one or 

more of the following: 

a. Dominant herbaceous vegetation that is regularly-spaced and/or growing in rows, 

often in areas with substantial cover of bare soil for significant periods of the year, 

usually determined by tillage or chemical treatment. 

b. Dominant vegetation with highly-manipulated growth forms or structure rarely 

found as a result of natural plant development, usually determined by mechanical 

pruning, mowing, clipping, etc. 

c. Dominant vegetation comprised of species not native to the area that have been 

intentionally introduced to the site by humans and that would not persist without 

active management by humans. 
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Table 2.1. Conceptual Categories and Level One of the NVC hierarchy. 

Level 1 units are further explained in section 2.1 and 2.2. 

CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 Level 1 

VEGETATED 

AREAS 

(SEMI) NATURAL 

VEGETATION Forest and Woodland 

 Shrubland and Grassland 

 Semi-Desert Vegetation 

 Polar and High Montane Vegetation 

 Aquatic Vegetation 

 Nonvascular and Sparse Vascular Vegetation 

 CULTURAL VEGETATION Agricultural Vegetation 

 Developed Vegetation 

NONVEGETATED 

AREAS Not included in the NVC. 
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2.1 NATURAL VEGETATION 

 

2.1.1 Overview of the Natural Vegetation Hierarchy 

The natural vegetation hierarchy consists of eight levels, organized into three upper levels, 

three middle levels, and two lower levels (Table 2.2). As noted in section 2.0 above, the 

basis for this hierarchy is a substantial revision of the FGDC 1997 hierarchy, as illustrated 

in Table 2.2, particularly in that levels and requirements for cultural vegetation are now 

defined separately from the natural vegetation levels (see Section 2.2 below). 

2.1.2 Classification Criteria for Natural Vegetation 

Floristic and physiognomic criteria are the primary properties of natural vegetation used to 

define all units of the classification. The choice of how these criteria are used should be 

evaluated in light of ecological and biogeographic considerations: The variety of 

vegetation criteria can be summarized as follows (see also Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 

1974, p. 154-155): 

 A. Physiognomic and structural criteria 

 1. Diagnostic combinations of growth forms 

 2. Ecological patterns of either dominant growth forms or combinations of growth 

forms 

 • Growth forms of similar ecological (habitat) and dynamic significance 

 • Growth forms of similar geographical distribution 

 3. Vertical stratification (layering) of growth forms 

 • Complexity in structure as produced by arrangement of growth forms 

 B. Floristic criteria 

 1. Diagnostic combinations of species (characteristic combinations) 

 • Constant species 

 • Differential and character species 

 • Dominant species 

 
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Table 2.2. Comparison of Revised Hierarchy for Natural Vegetation with the 1997 

Hierarchy. See Appendix C for multilingual (English, French, Spanish) version of the 

hierarchy. In the 1997 version, natural and cultural vegetation were not separated until 

Level 4 – formation subgroup. 

Revised Hierarchy for 

Natural Vegetation 

 1997 FGDC Hierarchy 

 Upper 

 Division - Vegetation vs. Non-vegetation 

 Order – Tree, Shrub, Herb, Nonvascular 

 Level 1 – Formation Class Level 1 – Formation Class 

 Level 2 - Formation Subclass 

 Level 2 – Formation Subclass Level 3 – Formation Group 

 Level 4 – Formation Subgroup – Natural/Cultural 

 Level 3 - Formation Level 5 – Formation 

 Mid 

 Level 4 – Division 

 Level 5 – Macrogroup 

 Level 6 - Group 

 Lower 

 Level 7 – Alliance Level 6 – Alliance 

 Level 8 – Association Level 7 – Association 

 2. Ecological combinations of species 

 • Indicator species of similar ecological (habitat) and/or dynamic 

significance 

 • Species of similar geographical distribution 

 3. Vertical stratification (layering) of species 

 • Species patterns found in the dominant growth forms or strata 

 • Species patterns found between strata (overstory/understory) 

4. Numerical relation criteria (community coefficients, such as indices of similarity 

among plots within a type) 

Habitat factors (e.g., climate, soil type) or anthropogenic management activities are used 

to help interpret the vegetation, as these are expressed through the vegetation, but are not 

an explicit part of the hierarchy. 

All type concepts based on these criteria should be derived from analysis of field plot data 

in which the species, growth forms, and their abundance, along with the plot location, 

overall vegetation structure, and habitat setting are described. These field data provide the 

fundamental information for the numerical description of types.

2.1.3 Definitions of Natural Vegetation Hierarchy Levels 

The natural vegetation hierarchy consists of eight levels (see Table 2.3). 

Upper level (physiognomic-ecological) units: 
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1. Formation Class: A vegetation classification unit of high rank (1st level) defined 

by broad combinations of dominant general growth forms adapted to basic 

moisture, temperature, and/or substrate or aquatic conditions. 

2. Formation Subclass: A vegetation classification unit of high rank (2nd level) 

defined by combinations of general dominant and diagnostic growth forms that 

reflect global macroclimatic factors driven primarily by latitude and continental 

position, or that reflect overriding substrate or aquatic conditions. (Whittaker 

1975). 

3. Formation: A vegetation classification unit of high rank (3rd level) defined by 

combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms that reflect global 

macroclimatic conditions as modified by altitude, seasonality of precipitation, 

substrates, and hydrologic conditions. (Whittaker 1975, Lincoln et al. 1998) 

Mid-level (physiognomic-floristic) units: 

4. Division: A vegetation classification unit of intermediate rank (4th level) defined by 

combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms and a broad set of 

diagnostic plant taxa that reflect biogeographic differences in composition and 

continental differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and 

disturbance regimes. (Westhoff and van der Maarel 1973, pg. 664-665, Whittaker 

1975) 

5. Macrogroup: A vegetation classification unit of intermediate rank (5th level) 

defined by combinations of moderate sets of diagnostic plant species and 

diagnostic growth forms that reflect biogeographic differences in composition and 

sub-continental to regional differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, 

hydrology, and disturbance regimes (cf. Pignatti et al. 1995). 

6. Group: A vegetation classification unit of intermediate rank (6th level) defined by 

combinations of relatively narrow sets of diagnostic plant species (including 

dominants and co-dominants), broadly similar composition, and diagnostic growth 

forms that reflect biogeographic differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, 

hydrology, and disturbance regimes (cf. Pignatti et al. 1995, Specht and Specht 

2001). 
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Lower-level (floristic) units: 

7. Alliance: A vegetation classification unit of low rank (7th level) containing one or 

more associations, and defined by a characteristic range of species composition, 

habitat conditions, physiognomy, and diagnostic species, typically at least one of 

which is found in the uppermost or dominant stratum of the vegetation (Jennings 

et al. 2006). Alliances reflect regional to subregional climate, substrates, 

hydrology, moisture/nutrient factors, and disturbance regimes. 

8. Association: A vegetation classification unit of low rank (8th level) defined on the 

basis of a characteristic range of species composition, diagnostic species 

occurrence, habitat conditions and physiognomy (Jennings et al. 2006). 

Associations reflect topo-edaphic climate, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance 

regimes. 

These eight levels comprise the standard levels of the NVC. Lower level units, such as 

sub-association or variant, may also be used, if desired. See Westhoff and van der Maarel 

(1973) for guidance on the definitions and applications of these levels. 

Table 2.3. Hierarchy for Natural Vegetation with Example. A fuller set of examples 

of natural vegetation units for Levels 1 through 7 are provided in Appendix G and H. 

Hierarchy for Natural 

Vegetation 

 Example 

 Upper Levels 

 1 – Formation Class Scientific Name: Mesomorphic Shrub and Herb Vegetation 

Colloquial Name: Shrubland and Grassland 

 2 – Formation Subclass Scientific Name: Temperate and Boreal Shrub and Herb Vegetation 

Colloquial Name: Temperate and Boreal Shrubland & Grassland 

 3 - Formation Scientific Name: Temperate Shrub and Herb Vegetation

Colloquial Name: Temperate Shrubland & Grassland 

 Mid Levels 

 4 – Division Scientific Name: Andropogon – Stipa – Bouteloua Grassland & Shrubland 

Division 

Colloquial Name: North American Great Plains Grassland & Shrubland 

 5 – Macrogroup Scientific Name: Andropogon gerardii – Schizachyrium scoparium – 

Sorghastrum nutans Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup 

Colloquial Name: Great Plains Tall Grassland & Shrubland 

 6 - Group Scientific Name: Andropogon gerardii – Sporobolus heterolepis 

Grassland Group 

Colloquial Name: Great Plains Mesic Tallgrass Prairie 

 Lower Levels 

 7 – Alliance Scientific Name: Andropogon gerardii – (Calamagrostis canadensis – 

Panicum virgatum) Herbaceous Alliance 

Colloquial Name: Wet-mesic Tallgrass Prairie 

 8 – Association Scientific Name: Andropogon gerardii – Panicum virgatum – Helianthus 

grosseserratus Herbaceous Vegetation 

Colloquial Name: Central Wet-mesic Tallgrass Prairie 
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2.1.4 Criteria for Natural Vegetation Hierarchy Levels 

The natural vegetation hierarchy is based on diagnostic growth forms and species, and 

compositional similarity. These are species and growth forms that exhibit patterns of 

relative fidelity, constancy, or dominance that differentiate one type from another. 

Emphasis is placed on diagnostic growth forms at upper levels; on compositional similarity 

reflecting biogeographic differences, character species and dominant growth forms at 

intermediate levels; and on differential and dominant species and compositional similarity 

at lower floristic levels, in combination with specific physiognomic and habitat conditions. 

The overall classification strategy is depicted in figure 2.1. Vegetation encompasses a 

broad range and scale of types (tundra, aquatic vegetation, woodlands, grasslands, semidesert, etc.), and attempts to coin universal definitions and criteria at the outset that are 

valid for each level are bound to fail (Mucina 1997). Still, a fairly uniform application 

should be possible “within borders of ecologically and structurally similar groups of 

vegetation types” (Mucina 1997). A summary of the diagnostic criteria are provided in 

Table 2.4. For each vegetation type, the diagnostic criteria used to define the units should 

be clearly stated, and the range of variation in composition, habitat, and physiognomy and 

structure should be clearly described, including similarity with other related types. 

For the purposes of this Standard, the various kinds of diagnostic growth forms and 

diagnostic species are defined as follows: 

Dominant Growth Form — a growth form with a high percent cover, usually in the 

uppermost dominant layer. 

Indicator Growth Form — a growth form whose presence, abundance, or vigor is 

considered to indicate certain climatic and site conditions. 

Character species —a species that shows a distinct maximum concentration, 

quantitatively and by constancy, in one well-defined vegetation type; 

sometimes recognized at local, regional, and general geographic scales. 

(Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974, p. 178, 208; Bruelheide 2000) 

Differential Species — A plant species that is distinctly more widespread or 

successful in one of a pair or group of plant communities than in the other(s), 

although it may be still more successful in other communities not under 

discussion (Curtis 1959, Bruelheide 2000). The more limited a species is to 

one or a few plant community types, the stronger its differential value. 

Constant species – species that are present in a high percentage of the plots that 

define a type, often defined as those species with at least 60% constancy 

(Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974, p. 178). 

Dominant Species — species with the highest percent of cover, usually in the 

uppermost dominant layer. In other contexts, dominant species can be defined 

in terms of biomass, density, height, coverage, etc. (Kimmins 1997). 

Indicator Species — a species whose presence, abundance, or vigor is considered to 

indicate certain site conditions (Gabriel and Talbot 1984). 
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Scale

 

Local Subregional Regional Subcontinental Continental Global 

 

Lower Levels Mid Levels Upper Levels 

Figure 2.1. Vegetation classification criteria for the US NVC. 

The pentagon portrays the five vegetation criteria used to classify vegetation at all levels of the 

NVC hierarchy. These criteria are arranged from the most fine-scaled on the left to the most 

broad-scaled on the right. The five criteria are derived from stand attributes or plot data (inside 

oval) and reflect the ecological context (outside oval) of the stand or plot. The ecological context 

includes environmental factors and biogeography considered at multiple scales, as well as 

natural and human disturbance regimes. The upper levels of the NVC hierarchy are based on 

dominant and diagnostic growth forms that reflect environment at global to continental scales. 

The mid levels are based on dominant and diagnostic growth forms and compositional similarity 

reflecting biogeography and continental to regional environmental factors. The lower levels are 

based on diagnostic and/or dominant species and compositional similarity reflecting local to 

regional environmental factors.

Compositional similarity 

Dominant 

growth forms 

Diagnostic 

species 

Dominant species Diagnostic growth forms 

Ecological Context

Biogeography 

Stand Attributes 

Full composition 

Growth forms/strata

Environment
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Table 2.4. Summary of Criteria and Rationale for the Natural Vegetation Hierarchy.

Hierarchy Level Criteria 

Upper: Physiognomy plays a predominant role. 

 L1 – Formation Class Broad combinations of general dominant growth forms that are adapted to 

basic temperature (energy budget), moisture, and/or substrate or aquatic 

conditions. 

 L2 - Formation Subclass Combinations of general dominant and diagnostic growth forms that reflect 

global macroclimatic factors driven primarily by latitude and continental 

position, or that reflect overriding substrate or aquatic conditions. 

 L3 – Formation Combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms that reflect global 

macroclimatic factors as modified by altitude, seasonality of precipitation, 

substrates, and hydrologic conditions. 

Middle: Both floristics and physiognomy play a significant role. 

 L4 – Division Combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms and a broad set of 

diagnostic plant taxa that reflect biogeographic differences in composition 

and continental differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, 

and disturbance regimes. 

 L5 – Macrogroup Combinations of moderate sets of diagnostic plant species and diagnostic 

growth forms that reflect biogeographic differences in composition and subcontinental to regional differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, 

hydrology, and disturbance regimes. 

 L6 – Group Combinations of relatively narrow sets of diagnostic plant species 

(including dominants and co-dominants), broadly similar composition, and 

diagnostic growth forms that reflect biogeographic differences in 

composition and sub-continental to regional differences in mesoclimate, 

geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes 

Lower: Floristics plays a predominant role.

 L7 – Alliance Diagnostic species, including some from the dominant growth form or 

layer, and moderately similar composition that reflect regional to 

subregional climate substrates, hydrology, moisture/nutrient factors, and 

disturbance regimes. 

 L8 – Association Diagnostic species, usually from multiple growth forms or layers, and more 

narrowly similar composition that reflect topo-edaphic climate, substrates, 

hydrology, and disturbance regimes. 
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2.2 CULTURAL VEGETATION 

2.2.1 Overview of the Cultural Vegetation Hierarchy 

The cultural vegetation hierarchy consists of eight levels, organized into four upper, two 

mid, and two lower level units (Table 2.5). As noted in section 2.0 above, the basis for 

this hierarchy is substantially revised from the FGDC 1997 hierarchy, as illustrated in 

Table 2.1, particularly in that levels and requirements for cultural vegetation are now 

defined separately from the natural vegetation levels (see 2.1 above). See FaberLangendoen et al. (2007) for further details on the rationale behind these changes. 

2.2.2 Criteria for Classification of Cultural Vegetation 

Floristic and physiognomic criteria are the primary properties of cultural vegetation used 

to define all units of the classification, but assessed in light of human activities that govern 

these properties. Thus, choice of how these criteria are used should be evaluated in light 

of human management needs. Excluded from these criteria are properties from outside the 

current vegetation, such as explicit habitat factors (e.g., climate, soil type) or land use 

activities (e.g., grazed pasture versus ungrazed pasture), except as these are expressed in 

the vegetation cover. Some types are difficult to place in terms of natural versus cultural 

vegetation (e.g., forest plantation, pastures), and the user may need to look in both parts 

of the hierarchy to determine the type’s location. The broad criteria for classifying cultural 

vegetation may be summarized as follows: 

 A. Growth form criteria 

 1. Diagnostic patterns of growth forms 

 2. Ecologic and managed patterns of growth forms 

 • Growth forms of similar management significance (e.g., crop types)

 • Growth forms of similar ecology and habitat

 3. Vertical stratification (layering) of growth forms 

 B. Floristic (crop or managed species) criteria 

 1. Diagnostic combinations of species/crop or managed types 
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Table 2.5. Hierarchy for Cultural Vegetation with Examples. A fuller set of 

examples of vegetation types for each of these levels is provided in Appendix I. 

Hierarchy for Culturall 

Vegetation 

Example Example 

 Upper 

 Level 1 – Cultural Class Agricultural Vegetation Agricultural Vegetation 

 Level 2 – Cultural Subclass Herbaceous Agricultural 

Vegetation 

Woody Agricultural 

Vegetation 

 Level 3 – Cultural Formation Cultivated Crop Woody Horticultural 

Crop 

 Level 4 – Cultural Subformation Row Crop Orchard 

 Mid 

 Level 5 – Cultural Group [optional] Temperate and Tropical 

Row Crop 

Temperate and Tropical 

Orchard 

 Level 6 – Cultural Subgroup Corn Fruit - Orchards 

 Lower

 Level 7 – Cultural Type Sweet Corn Apple 

 Level 8 – Cultural Subtype [optional] 

 2. Ecologic and managed combinations of species/crop or managed types 

 • Species of similar management significance (e.g., crop types) 

 • Species of similar ecology and habitat

 3. Vertical stratification (layering) of species

All type concepts based on these criteria should be derived from field observations, in 

which the crop or managed species, growth forms, and their abundance, along with the 

field observation record, overall vegetation structure, and habitat setting are described. 

These field data provide the fundamental information for the description of types. All 

types at all levels should be described and characterized. Initially, the new upper and mid 

levels may have only brief characterizations, but shall be elaborated over time.

2.2.3 Definitions of Cultural Vegetation Hierarchy Levels 

The cultural vegetation hierarchy consists of eight levels (see Table 2.5). These levels are 

different from the natural vegetation hierarchy, by providing an additional physiognomic 

level (level 4), placing less emphasis on broad-scale, biogeographic and climate patterns, 

but still providing for multiple scales of floristically and physiognomically defined 

agricultural and developed vegetation types. 

Upper level (physiognomic-ecological) units: 

a. Cultural Class: A cultural vegetation classification unit of high rank (1st level) 

defined by a characteristic combination of dominant growth forms adapted to 

relatively intensive human manipulations, as reflected in relatively rapid changes in 

structure and/or composition. 
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b. Cultural Subclass: A cultural vegetation classification unit of high rank (2nd level) 

defined by combinations and degree of herbaceous versus woody growth forms. 

c. Cultural Formation: A cultural vegetation classification unit of high rank (3rd

level) defined by whether or not canopy structure of dominant growth forms is 

annually converted or heavily manipulated / harvested.

d. Cultural Subformation: A vegetation classification unit of intermediate rank (4th

level) defined by the spatial structure of the vegetation, including whether in swards,

rows, and degree of manipulation to the canopy. 

Mid-level (physiognomic-floristic) units: 

e. Cultural Group: A cultural vegetation classification unit of intermediate rank (5th

level) defined by a common set of growth forms and many diagnostic plant taxa

sharing a broadly similar region and climate, and disturbance factors. 

f. Cultural SubGroup: A cultural vegetation classification unit of intermediate rank 

(6th level) defined by a common set of growth forms and diagnostic species (taxa) 

preferentially sharing a similar set of regional edaphic, topographic, and disturbance 

factors. 

Lower-level (floristic) units: 

g. Cultural Type: A vegetation classification unit, of moderately low rank (7th level) 

defined by one or more dominant or co-dominant species, as well as habitat 

conditions, and physiognomy.

h. Cultural Subtype: A vegetation classification unit, of low rank (8th level) defined 

on the basis one or more dominant or co-dominant species, in conjunction with a

characteristic set of associated species, habitat conditions and physiognomy. 
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2.2.4 Criteria for Cultural Vegetation Hierarchy Levels 

The cultural vegetation hierarchy is based on a combination of growth forms, dominant 

species and associated species. These are species and growth forms that exhibit patterns 

of relative constancy or dominance that differentiate one type from another. Emphasis is 

placed on dominant growth forms at upper levels, on dominant species and dominant 

growth forms at intermediate levels, and on a combination of dominant and associated 

species at lower floristic levels, in combination with specific physiognomic and habitat 

conditions. Cultural vegetation encompasses a broad range and scale of types 

(agricultural fields, orchards, lawns) and, as with natural vegetation, attempts to coin 

universal definitions and criteria at the outset that are valid for each level will be 

challenging. For each vegetation type, the diagnostic criteria used to define the unit 

should be clearly stated, and the range of variation in composition, habitat, and 

physiognomy and structure should be clearly described, including similarity with other 

related types. Cultural vegetation types already in use by the agricultural community 

should be preferentially used (see Appendix I). A comparison with some European 

approaches to some kinds of cultural vegetation (such as pastures and lawns) is provided 

in Appendix J. 

For the purposes of this Standard, the various kinds of diagnostic growth forms and 

species are defined as follows: 

Dominant Growth Form — a growth form with a high percent cover, usually in the 

uppermost dominant layer 

Indicator Growth Form — a growth form whose presence, abundance, or vigor is 

considered to indicate certain climatic, site and/or cultural conditions. 

Dominant Species — species with a high percent of cover, usually in the uppermost 

dominant layer (in other contexts dominant species can be defined in terms of 

biomass, density, height, coverage, etc. (Kimmins 1997).

Indicator Species— a species whose presence, abundance, or vigor is considered to 

indicate certain climate, site and/or cultural conditions (adapted from Gabriel 

and Talbot 1984). 

Diagnostics: 

Diagnostic criteria used to define the units should be clearly stated, and the range of 

variation in composition, habitat, and physiognomy and structure should be clearly 

described, including similarity with other related types. 

Existing vegetation: 

All vegetation units are categories of existing, or actual, vegetation (i.e., the plant species 

present and the vegetation structure found at a given location at the time of observation). 
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Classification hierarchy:

All units recognized within the cultural vegetation part of the NVC shall be defined so as 

to uniquely subdivide or nest within other categories of the recognized hierarchy. 
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3. Description and Classification of Natural Vegetation 

This section describes the process standard for updating and revising the dynamic content 

of the NVC. Standards for field plot data and other data sources are described next, in 

Section 3.1. Conventions for defining, naming, and describing vegetation types are 

provided in Section 3.2. The process for peer review of proposals to change the names or 

concepts of vegetation types is described in Section 3.3. Finally, the component databases 

and the technical structure of the NVC information system are described in Section 3.4. 

The content of each of these sections is in outline format for practical application and 

referencing. 

3.1 Data Sources

Vegetation types may be based on two sources of data: field plot data and scientific 

literature. Plot data are preferred, but literature may be used to expedite the development 

of the NVC. Eventually, all NVC vegetation types should be based on, and linked to, 

publicly available plot data. In the meantime, confidence levels are used to evaluate the 

quality of documentation for each vegetation type (see Section 3.3.1). A fundamental 

goal of the NVC is to have all vegetation types described from quantitative analysis of 

field plot data. 

3.1.1 Collecting Field Plot Data 

The capability to describe vegetation types from quantitative and repeatable measurements 

depends largely on field data that are collected and archived in a consistent manner and are 

publicly available. This section describes the types of information that shall be collected in 

the field. It addresses: selecting vegetation stands for sampling, plot design, recording 

species composition and site conditions, the geographic information required, and the 

types of metadata that shall be provided by field workers for each plot record. The focus 

here is on plot information that is complete enough to serve as classification plots; that is, 

plots which contribute to classification analyses that help define vegetation types. Less 

information is required from plots that are gathered only for the purpose of documenting 

the occurrence of a previously defined vegetation type. These plots are referred to as 

occurrence plots. All of the required data fields are listed and defined in Appendix D. 

1. Stand selection and plot design:

A stand of vegetation may be selected by a variety of methods and the criteria used 

to select stands should be thoroughly documented. Each plot should represent one 

relatively homogeneous stand of vegetation in the field. A plot shall be large 

enough to represent the stand in terms of total species composition and abundance. 

A plot may be either a single large comprehensively sampled plot (macroplot), or a 

set of subsampled areas (microplots) within a larger plot. 
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2. Species composition of the plot: 

Species composition is required for defining units in Levels 4 – 8 of the hierarchy. 

The floristic composition of a plot consists of both the identity and the abundance 

of the genera, species, and finer taxa. The actual identity of a plant taxon can be 

somewhat complicated since it consists of (a) a name, and (b) a dated taxonomic 

reference (for example, the flora or manual used to identify the plant) or an explicit 

statement that the reference is unknown. 

a. For classification plots, sampling should be designed to detect and record 

the complete assemblage of vascular plant species in the stand. Recording 

of nonvascular species is expected in vegetation where nonvascular species 

are dominant. Only one field visit at an appropriate time of year is 

required, though additional visits can improve plot quality and are 

recommended for vegetation types with marked phenological variation. 

b. For classification plots, cover is the required measure of species 

abundance. Measurement of canopy cover, as opposed to foliar cover, is 

recommended. If cover values are in discrete categories rather than 

continuous, the cover scales should be defined quantitatively and able to 

nest within the Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance scale classes (Table 3.1). 

c. For occurrence plots, the minimum requirements are: names of the 

dominant taxa (name plus taxonomic reference if available), their cover 

values (or another suitable measure of abundance), geographic coordinates, 

date of observation, and name(s) of those who made the observation. 

Examples of other suitable measures of abundance include, for trees, basal 

area, density, or some index based on the two; for forbs and graminoids, air 

dried weight or measures of biomass. If such measures are used to 

estimate cover, the methods used for this conversion, including appropriate 

calibration techniques, should be thoroughly documented. 

d. The term species is used here to indicate the fundamental orientation of the 

plot sampling approach – that of a species-based approach. But it may 

include species, subspecies, or varieties. If it is not possible to recognize 

these in the field at the time of sampling, it may include either higher units 

such as genera or family, or ad hoc units (i.e., “Carex fuzzy red base”) that 

aid in later identification and recording. 

For each species listed in a plot, assign each to a stratum (see Table 3.3) or growth 

form (see Table 3.2), with a separate cover estimate for its abundance in each of 

these strata or growth forms. When using strata, epiphytes and lianas are listed in 

the strata in which they occur. At a minimum, total cover of a species in the plot is 

required, though this may be calculated based on the stratum cover values. 

 3. Vertical structure and physiognomy of the plot: 
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To describe the structure and physiognomy of vegetation, record the canopy cover 

of major growth forms (Table 3.2) and strata or layers (Table 3.3, Figure 3.1). 

Two approaches are acceptable 1) growth forms may be described first, then 

subdivided into size classes (or layers), or 2) strata may be described first, then 

subdivided by growth forms. Either approach provides sufficient information on 

the dominant and diagnostic growth forms and their structure to place types into 

the upper levels (levels 1 – 3) of the hierarchy. Where species data are not 

collected, the information represents the minimum required information for 

describing the units in these upper levels. See Tables 3.2 and 3.3 for examples of 

both approaches. It is also possible to approximately convert the data from one 

approach to the other as shown in Tables 3.4 and Appendix I (see also Jennings et 

al. 2006). 

a. Each plant is assigned to a stratum based on its height, and secondarily by its 

growth form. Consequently, a tree species that has both seedlings and saplings 

in a plot could be listed in several strata. However, an individual plant shall be 

assigned only to one stratum. 

b. Provide the prevailing height of the top and the base of each stratum. 

c. The cover of the stratum is the total vertical projection on the ground of the 

canopy cover of all species collectively, not the sum of the individual covers of 

all species in the stratum. The total cover of the stratum will, therefore, never 

exceed 100% (whereas, adding up the individual cover of species within the 

stratum could well exceed 100% since species may overlap in their cover). 

Foliar cover is also acceptable. 

d. The percent cover of at least the three most abundant growth forms in the 

dominant or uppermost stratum should also be estimated (see Appendix E for a 

list of growth forms). 

e. Bryophytes (including liverworts) and lichens growing on the same ground 

substrate as vascular plants are treated as part of the nonvascular strata. 

f. When assessing total cover of each stratum, an epiphyte or liana should be 

included in the stratum where it occurs. 

g. The nonvascular stratum (sometimes called ground, bryoid, or moss stratum) is 

reserved strictly for cryptogams (mosses, lichens, liverworts, algae and 

bacteria), even where herbs or woody plants may be reduced to very short 

heights. 
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Table 3.1. Comparison of Commonly Used Cover-Abundance Scales.

Agencies and authors are abbreviated as: BB=Braun-Blanquet (1928); NC=North Carolina Vegetation 

Survey (Peet et al. 1998); K=Domin sensu Krajina (1933); DAUB=Daubenmire (1959); FS (Db)=Forest 

Service, modified Daubenmire (1959) scale; PA=Pfister and Arno (1980); NZ=New Zealand LandCare 

(Allen 1992, Hall 1992); BDS=Barkman et al. (1964); D=Domin (1928); FS (eco) = Jensen et al. (1994), 

U.S. Forest Service ECODATA software. Break points shown in the Cover-abundance column reflect the 

major break points of the Braun-Blanquet scale, which is considered the minimum standard for cover classes. 

Among the available cover class systems, the NC and K cover class systems can be unambiguously collapsed 

to the B-B standard, and the D, DAUB, FS, PA and NZ scales are for all practical purposes collapsible into 

the B-B scale without damage to data integrity. The BDS is discordant with the B-B standard and should be 

avoided except when required for incorporation of legacy data. 

Cover-abundance BB NC K DAUB FS(Db) PA NZ BDS D FS(eco

Present but not in pl ( )†

 + 

Single individual r 1 + 1 T T 1 - + 1 

Sporadic or few + 1 1 1 T T 1 - 1 1 

0 - 1% 1‡

 2 2 1 T T 1 - 2 1 

1 - 2% 1 3 3 1 1 1 2 - 3 3 

2 - 3% 1 4 3 1 1 1 2 0 3 3 

3 - 5% 1 4 3 1 1 1 2 0 4 3 

5 - 6.25% 2 5 4 2 2 2 3 1 4 10 

6.25 – 10% 2 5 4 2 2 2 3 1 4 10 

10 – 12.5% 2 6 5 2 2 2 3 1 5 10 

12.5 – 15% 2 6 5 2 2 2 3 1 5 10 

15 – 25% 2 6 5 2 2 2 3 2 5 20 

25 – 30% 3 7 6 3 3 3 4 3 6 30 

30 – 33% 3 7 6 3 3 3 4 3 6 30 

33 – 35% 3 7 7 3 3 3 4 3 7 30 

35 – 45% 3 7 7 3 3 3 4 4 7 40 

45 – 50% 3 7 7 3 3 3 4 5 7 50 

50 – 55% 4 8 8 4 4 4 5 5 8 50 

55 – 65% 4 8 8 4 4 4 5 6 8 60 

65 – 75% 4 8 8 4 4 4 5 7 8 70 

75 – 85% 5 9 9 5 5 5 6 8 9 80 

85 – 90% 5 9 9 5 5 5 6 9 9 90 

90 – 95% 5 9 9 5 5 5 6 9 10 90 

95 – 100% 5 10 10 6 6 6 6 10 10 98 

† Species present in the stand but not in the plot are usually added in parentheses to the species list. 

‡ This is a cover/abundance scale; if numerous individuals of a taxon collectively contribute less than 5% 

cover, then the taxon can be assigned a value of 1 or, if very sparse, a “+.” 
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Table 3.2. Example of describing growth forms first, then subdividing into size classes USFS 

Protocol (Tart et al. 2005b). For definitions of optional size classes see Tart et al. (2005b). 

General Growth Form Required Size Classes Optional Size 

Classes 

Overstory: Trees at least 5 meters in height 

that make up the forest canopy or dwarf trees* 

that have attained at least half of their (sitespecific) potential height growth and make up the 

forest canopy

Supercanopy 

Main Canopy Subcanopy 

Trees: Woody plants that generally have a single main stem and 

have more or less definite crowns. In instances where growth form 

cannot be determined, woody plants equal to or greater than 5 meters 

in height at maturity shall be considered trees 

Regeneration: Trees less than 5 meters in 

height or dwarf trees* that have attained less than 

half of their (site-specific) potential height growth 

and are clearly overtopped by the overstory layer.

Sapling 

Seedling 

 Established 

 Non-Established 

Shrubs: Woody plants ... that generally exhibit several erect, 

spreading, or prostrate stems which give it a bushy appearance. In 

instances where growth form cannot be determined, woody plant less 

than 5 meters in height at maturity shall be considered shrubs. 

 Tall Shrubs 

Medium Shrubs 

Low Shrubs 

Herbs: “Vascular plants without significant woody tissue above 

the ground, with perennating buds borne at or below the ground 

surface.” Includes graminoids, forbs, ferns, club mosses, 

horsetails, and quillworts.

 Additional 

recommended 

growth forms: 

Graminoid 

Forb 

Nonvascular: A plant or plant-like organism without specialized 

water or fluid conductive tissue (xylem and phloem). Includes 

mosses, liverworts, hornworts, lichens, and algae). Also called 

thallophytes or “nonvascular cryptogams,” (that is, excluding the fern 

cryptogams) 

 Additional 

recommended 

growth forms: 

Moss 

Lichen 

Floating: Rooted or drifting plants that float on the water surface

(e.g., duckweed, water-lily). 

 

Submerged: Rooted or drifting plants that by-and-large remain 

submerged in the water column or on the aquatic bottom (e.g., sea 

grass). 

 

Epiphyte** A vascular or nonvascular plant that grows by 

germinating and rooting on other plants or other perched structures, 

and does not root in the ground. 

 

Liana:** A woody, climbing plant that begins life as terrestrial 

seedlings but relies on external structural support for height growth 

during some part of its life (Gerwing 2004), typically exceeding 5 m in 

height or length at maturity.

 

*Dwarf trees are defined as trees that are typically less than 12 meters tall at maturity due to 

genetic and/or environmental constraints (e.g., pinyon pines, junipers, and mountain mahogany). 

**Epiphyte and liana growth forms are subdivided by the size classes in which they occur (e.g., 

tree overstory, regeneration, shrub). 
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Table 3.3. Example of describing strata first, then subdividing by growth forms 

(ESA Guidelines - Jennings et al. 2006). 

Stratum Definition Possible General 

Growth Forms in 

Stratum 

Tree Stratum The layer of vegetation where woody plants are typically more 

than 5 m in height, including mature trees, shrubs over 5 m 

tall, and lianas. Epiphytes growing on these woody plants are 

also included in this stratum.

Tree (overstory), 

Shrub*, Liana, 

Epiphyte 

Shrub Stratum The layer of vegetation where woody plants are typically more 

than 0.5 m tall but less than 5 m in height, such as shrubs, 

tree saplings, and lianas. Epiphytes may also be present in 

this stratum. Rooted herbs are excluded even if they are over 

0.5 m in height, as their stems often die back annually and do 

not provide a consistent structure. 

Tree (sapling), Shrub, 

Liana, Epiphyte 

Field (Herb) Stratum The layer of vegetation consisting of herbs, regardless of 

height, as well as woody plants less than 0.5 m in height. 

Herb, Dwarf-shrub**, 

Tree (seedling***) 

Nonvascular 

Stratum (Ground) 

The layer of vegetation consisting of non-vascular plants 

growing on soil or rock surfaces. This includes mosses, 

liverworts, hornworts, lichens, and algae. Sometimes called 

“moss stratum.” 

Nonvascular 

Floating Stratum The layer of vegetation consisting of rooted or drifting plants 

that float on the water surface (e.g., duckweed, water-lily). 

Floating 

Submerged Stratum The layer of vegetation consisting of rooted or drifting plants 

that by-and-large remain submerged in the water column or 

on the aquatic bottom (e.g., sea grass). Emergent plant 

growth forms are excluded (e.g., alder shrubs would be placed 

in the shrub stratum, cattails in the herb stratum). 

Submerged 

*Very tall shrubs are sometimes included in the tree stratum. 

**can also include seedlings of shrubs, i.e. all shrubs less than <0.5 m. 

*** tree seedlings are often defined as up to 1.4 m height or as < 2.5 cm dbh by 

many forest survey methods, in which case they span the shrub and herb strata. 
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Figure 3.1. An illustration of strata showing growth forms of individual plants as 

may be found in a plot (the field stratum is not delineated). Height is shown in meters. The 

field stratum is between 0 and 0.5 m; the shrub stratum is from 0.5 to 3 m; and the tree stratum 

extends from 3 m (bottom of canopy) to 12 m (top of canopy), with the bulk of the canopy clearly 

exceeding 5 m . Assignment of individual plants to a stratum is based on height and growth form 

as follows: A. A plant having an herbaceous growth form. Although projecting vertically into the 

shrub stratum it is excluded from being recorded as part of the shrub stratum canopy cover since 

its stems die and regrow each year. B. A plant having a dwarf shrub growth form is recorded as 

part of the field stratum. If desired, a separate dwarf-shrub substratum may be recognized. C. A 

moss; recorded as part of the nonvascular stratum. D. A plant having a tree growth form but at a 

sapling stage of life. This individual is recorded as part of the shrub stratum canopy. E. A plant 

having a tree growth form but at a seedling stage of life. This plant is recorded as part of the 

field stratum canopy. F. Mature trees, recorded as part of the tree stratum. G. A sapling, as in 

D. H. A plant having a shrub growth form; recorded as part of the shrub stratum canopy cover. 

I. A plant having an herb growth form and projecting into the shrub stratum; excluded from being 

recorded as part of the shrub stratum canopy (as in A). 
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TABLE 3.4. A crosswalk of strata categories (left column) (from Table 3.3) with common 

growth form and size class categories (all other columns) (from Table 3.2). Size classes in 

italics are optional for overall characterization of vegetation structure and physiognomy. 

Stratum Growth Form 

Tree Shrub 

Size Classes: Size Classes: 

Regeneration 

Seedling Sapling 

Overstory 

Tall 

Shrub 

Medium 

Shrub 

Low 

Shrub 

Herb Nonvascular 

Tree Stratum x (x) 

Shrub Stratum x x x x 

Field (Herb) 

Stratum 

x x x 

Nonvascular 

Stratum 

Ground) 

 x 

Floating Stratum x 

Submerged 

Stratum 

 x x 

x – Indicates the most common combination of growth form layer and stratum. 

(x) – Indicates an occasional combination of growth form layer and stratum. 
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4. Physical data of the plot: 

The physical variables relevant to any interpretation of plot data vary 

widely across the range of vegetation types. It is, therefore, difficult to require any 

absolute minimum set of specific environmental criteria. Rather, we provide a set 

of environmental variables that should be given serious consideration in any 

vegetation survey, most especially for classification plots. The following site 

variables should be considered for use describing the environment of the type: 

a. Physical features of the stand, including elevation (in m), slope aspect (in 

azimuth degrees of 0 to 360), and slope gradient (in degrees or percent), 

topographic position, landform, and geologic parent material. 

b. Soil and water features, including soil moisture, drainage, hydrology, depth 

of water, and water salinity (where appropriate). 

c. The soil surface cover of litter, rock, bare ground, coarse woody debris, 

live vascular stem, nonvascular species on the soil surface, surface water, 

or other important surface features. 

d. General vegetation conditions, including landscape context, homogeneity 

of the vegetation, phenological phase at the time of observation, stand 

maturity, successional status, and evidence of disturbance. 

5. Geographic data for plots: 

Information on the location of a plot is vitally important and should be 

carefully recorded in a standard format. For historical, or “legacy”, data where the 

geographic information may have been recorded in different formats and 

measurements, the original information shall be preserved and the methods used to 

transform this information should be described and reproducible. Additional 

details can be found in Appendix D. The standard requires the following data 

when recording geographic information for field plots: 

a. Latitude and longitude in decimal degrees and WGS 84 (NAD83) datum. 

Record the coordinates that were collected in the field and the datum used. 

If a nonstandard projection was used, then record the projection name, 

spatial units (decimal degrees, meters, etc.), size of the spheroid, central 

meridian, latitude of projection's origin, and any other vital parameters such 

as false easting and false northing. 

b. Description of the method used to determine the plot location (e.g., 

estimated from a USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle, GPS, etc.). For example: 

(a) collected in the field with a geographic positioning system (this shall 

include the datum used, or specify if a nonstandard projection) or (b) 

through a narrative that describes how the plot location was determined, 

and the means of locating the plot centroid (e.g., the plot location was 

estimated from the USGS Assateague Park 7.5’ map quadrangle; the 

centroid for locating the plot is the geographic center of Assateague Park). 
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c. An estimate of the accuracy of the plot’s location information in the form 

of the radius in meters, preferably for a 95% certainty. 

d. Narrative information useful for plot relocation. 

6. Metadata for plots:

Careful attention to recording metadata for each plot record is essential to 

maximizing the long term utility of the record. Because many type descriptions 

will necessarily be derived from a variety of plot sources, it is the plot metadata 

that facilitate searching for and identifying useful records. All plots should have a 

project name and description associated with them, the methods used to select and 

lay out the plots, the level of effort expended in gathering floristic data, cover scale 

and strata types used, and the name and contact information of the lead field 

investigators. See Appendix D for detailed criteria. The requirements are: 

a. An author plot code 

b. An author observation code (if there are multiple observations of a plot 

over time). 

c. Observation date and date accuracy. 

d. Lead field investigator’s name 

e. Plot selection approach. 

f. Plot characteristics including: 

i. Plot area in m2

. 

ii. Plot type, indicating if vegetation data were recorded in the entire 

plot or using subplots in a specified configuration. 

iii. If subplots are used then specify the species (taxon) observation 

area in terms of size and total area of subplots (e.g., a plot may be 

100 m2

, but if 10 1 m2 subplots are used then the taxon observation 

area is 10 m2

). 

iv. Subplot distribution (if subplots are used, how they are distributed). 

g. Description of cover or other abundance method for species composition, 

growth form, or strata. 
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3.1.2 Use of Literature and Other Data Sources 

Plot data are not always available, or are available in limited numbers. In some cases, 

published literature and other documentation may be used as a data source to describe the 

vegetation type. 

1. Literature-based Data Sources. 

At times, the source of data for a type description may come from the literature There 

are several scenarios for using this kind of data: 

a. The literature may describe a type that is now either no longer extant or no 

longer available to be described across its historic range. The literature may be 

incomplete, but to be useful it should contain sufficient information to form the basis for a 

type description. 

b. The literature may summarize a type in a region where the NVC is weakly 

developed, and the literature adds information not otherwise available to the NVC. Or, it 

may be a range-wide description of types that have not previously been analyzed to this 

extent, and the analysis is strong. Use of this type of information should accompany an 

estimate of the confidence the user places in it as discussed in Section 3.3.1 

2. Table-based Data Sources 

At times, the original plot data themselves may not be readily available, but the data have 

been carefully summarized in a tabular description (synthesis or synoptic table, typically 

showing the list of species, their constancy and average cover across all plots). As long as 

the original data meet minimum standards (preferably they are stored in accessible 

distributed databases), the summarized data may be used as the basis for describing a type. 

Subsequent classification and description of types may even be based on these data, as the 

use of synthesis tables can greatly increase the speed of analysis, and allows the original 

interpretation of the plots and types to be part of the analysis. In addition, this approach 

has value where the intent of an analysis is to retain direct crosswalk links to a state or 

provincial set of types, where the synthesis tables are a summary of those types. The use 

of synthesis tables may also have value when a plot-based description has been developed, 

and an investigator wants to compare the type to other related types. Synthesis tables 

should be used cautiously because they may combine plots that are part of two types. 

Synthesis tables can help with broader comparisons among types, but individual plot data 

are the best data source for resolving classification issues among types. 
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3.2 Classification and Description 

The most fundamental unit of information for describing and classifying vegetation 

types is the field plot. The quality and extent of the field plot data affect the overall 

confidence in the concept of the type. Literature and other data sources, as described in 

Section 3.1.2, may also be used, but these provide less confidence in the type description). 

Factors affecting the “classification confidence” of the type include: a) type of analyses 

used, b) degree of publicly accessible data, c) quality of the plot data, d) geographical 

scope of analysis, relevance to the type being analyzed, e) effort made to compare the type 

with closely related types (see also 3.3.1 below). The description of a vegetation type is a 

synthesis of data from many plots, possibly from many data sets, through what is termed 

here “classification analysis.” This section summarizes the essential steps needed for data 

preparation, classification analysis, and interpretation of a proposed vegetation type, 

naming conventions for new types, and criteria for describing types. 

Those using the Standard only to crosswalk their plots to an existing set of NVC 

types, may find it helpful to collect plot data according to the standards in Section 3.1.1, 

then use any available descriptions and keys of NVC types to assign their plots to a type. 

Those using the Standard to crosswalk their own type descriptions to NVC types may find 

it helpful to prepare their descriptions using the standard provided in Section 3.2.3 below, 

before comparing their descriptions to any available descriptions of NVC types. Neither 

of these practices is required and they are not intended to replace agency methods 

designed to meet their specific business needs. 

3.2.1 Data preparation 

When preparing plot data for classification analysis one should: 

a. Ensure that the plots used sufficiently sample the biotic and abiotic range of 

the study area. 

b. Ensure a unique and standardized identity for each plant taxon in the data 

set. 

3.2.2 Classification Analysis and Interpretation 

A variety of numerical methods are available for classification analysis, including 

direct gradient analysis, ordination, and clustering (Gauch 1982, Kent and Coker 

1992). No single methodological formula is suitable for all possible analyses. It is 

therefore incumbent on those proposing new or modified types to apply 

contemporary methods of vegetation classification for implementing a sound 

statistical approach, and to explain clearly the rationale for the approach used. The 

general components of a classification analysis are described below: 

a. The plots records used shall be clearly referenced and accessible by others. 
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b. An outlier analysis of the initial set of plots should be provided and the 

criteria used for identification and elimination of outlier plot records should 

be provided. 

c. Show that there is sufficient redundancy in plot composition to identify a 

threshold of significant pattern in compositional variation. That is, that the 

data set has the statistical power needed to be convincing. One example 

would be to explore a null hypothesis that a given collection of plots is 

more self-similar than would be expected of a random collection of plots. 

d. An exact description of the analysis procedure should be provided, 

including careful documentation of assumptions and limitations of the data, 

methods of dimensional reduction, and value transformations. 

e. Results should be presented in tabular and graphical formats as well as 

narrative. 

f. Criteria used to identify diagnostic species, such as constancy and fidelity 

should be specified for mid and lower levels. 

g. Criteria used to identify diagnostic growth forms and other physiognomic 

features, particularly for upper levels, should be specified. 

h. A tabular summary of diagnostic and constant species should be provided, 

where appropriate. 

3.2.3 Description of Vegetation Types 

Formal description of a vegetation type requires that each of the following items be 

addressed. The required topical sections for describing vegetation types are also 

shown in Table 3.5 and a worked example is provided in Appendix F. 

Type Description Sections: 

a. Name. Develop a scientific name for the vegetation type using the 

nomenclatural standards in the nomenclature section. A colloquial name 

may also be provided. 

b. Hierarchy Level. A description shall indicate the hierarchical level of the 

vegetation type being described. 

c. Placement in Hierarchy. Indicate the full name of the vegetation type under 

which the type shall be placed, based on the most current list of NVC types 

available. 

d. Classification Comments. Describe any classification issues relating to the 

definition or concept of the type. 

e. Classification Rationale. Describe basis for choosing the nominal taxa or 

physiognomic criteria (the species or growth forms by which the type is 

named). For mid and lower units, explain the choice of nominal species 
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and growth forms; for example, whether species are dominant, character, 

or indicator. 

f. Type Concept. Provide a concise paragraph describing the overall concept 

of the type based on the structure, composition, environmental setting, and 

geographic range. (See items g through l below.) 

g. Floristics (for mid and lower units). Species composition and average 

cover for species should be provided in the following summary form: 

i. A table of floristic composition showing constancy and mean cover. 

All species should be listed that have more than 20% constancy, 

and diagnostic species should be identified. List species in 

descending order of constancy, then cover. 

ii. Compositional variability of the type across the range of its 

classification plots. A discussion of possible subunits or variants 

may be useful, especially for future refinement of type concepts. 

h. Taxonomic usage in floristic tables should include reference to a taxonomic 

standard so as to define the meaning associated with a name. Reference to 

accepted name in USDA PLANTS or ITIS, coupled with the specific date 

of observation of the website, is sufficient. 

i. Physiognomy. Provide a summary of the physiognomy, structure, and 

dominant species, including an assessment of the physiognomic variability 

of the type. 

j. Dynamics. To the degree possible, provide a summary of the successional 

status of the type and the disturbance factors that influence stability and 

within-plot variation for the type. Describe the extent to which this 

information is known and the limitations and assumptions of the 

assessment. 

k. Environmental description. Provide a description of important factors such 

as climate, elevation (in meters), landscape context, slope aspect, slope 

gradient, geology, soils, hydrology, and any other environmental factors 

thought to be determinants of the biological composition or structure of the 

type. 

l. Description of the range. To the extent possible, provide a brief textual 

description (not a list of places) of the total range (present and historic) of 

the type. List national and subnational (states, provinces, or counties) 

jurisdictions of occurrence across the entire range of the type. Distinguish 

between areas where the type: (a) definitely occurs; (b) probably occurs; or 

(c) does not occur and is believed to have historically occurred. 

m. Identify field plots. Identify plots used to define the type and indicate where 

the plot data are archived and the associated plot identifiers. All plot 

records used shall conform to the standards for classification plots. 
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Identify any occurrence plots that may have been used to help describe the 

geographic range or other characteristics of the type. 

Table 3.5. Required topical sections for monographic 

description of vegetation types. 

OVERVIEW 

Proposed names of the type (scientific, common, colloquial). 

Hierarchical level of the vegetation type. 

Placement in hierarchy. 

A brief description of the overall type concept. 

Classification comments. 

Rationale for nominal species or physiognomic features. 

VEGETATION 

Physiognomy and structure. 

Floristics. 

Dynamics. 

ENVIRONMENT 

Environment description. 

DISTRIBUTION 

A description of the range/distribution. 

A list of U.S. states and Canadian provinces where the type occurs or may occur. 

A list of any nations outside the U.S. and Canada where the type occurs or may 

occur. 

PLOT SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS 

Plots used to define the type. 

Location of archived plot data. 

Factors affecting data consistency. 

The number and size of plots. 

Methods used to analyze field data and identify the type. 

a. Details of the methods used to analyze field data. 

b. Criteria for defining the type. 

CONFIDENCE LEVEL 

Overall confidence level for the type (see Section 4). 

CITATIONS 

Synonymy 

Full citations for any sources 

Author of Description 

 

DISCUSSION 

Possible sub-association or -alliance types or variants, if appropriate, should be 

discussed here along with other narrative information. 
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Supporting Documentation Sections: 

a. Plot data quality. Describe all factors that affect plot data adequacy and 

quality, including such factors as incomplete sampling throughout the range 

or poor quality of floristic information. 

b. The number and size of plots. Justify the number of and sizes of plots used 

in terms of the floristic variability and geographic distribution. 

c. Methods used to analyze and interpret field data. Discuss the analytical 

methods used by the author of the type description to define the types. 

Include software citations. 

d. Overall confidence level for the type. Recommend a level of confidence of 

high, moderate, or low, based on criteria described in Section 3.3.1. The 

peer-review process shall ultimately establish the formal confidence level 

(see Section 3.3.1) for a given type. 

e. Citations. Provide complete citations for all references used in the above 

section. 

f. Vegetation type synonymy. List any names already in use in the NVC or 

other classifications to describe this or closely related types, either in whole 

or in part. Where possible, include comments or explanations on the 

relatedness of the type to other types that are adjacent in the classification. 

For example, is a type listed as being synonymous, broader in concept, 

more narrow, or equal to the type concept being proposed? 

3.2.4 Naming of Mid and Lower Level Vegetation Types

The nomenclature of vegetation types is not to be confused with the nomenclature 

of plant taxa, even though species names are used in the names of associations and 

alliances. To be accepted, a name shall address the following criteria: 

a. Community nomenclature shall contain both scientific and English common 

names, e.g., Pinus taeda - Quercus (alba, falcata, stellata ) Forest Alliance 

as well as Loblolly Pine - (White Oak, Southern Red Oak, Post Oak) 

Forest Alliance. If desirable, common names may also be provided in 

French and Spanish. A colloquial name, e.g., Ozark Dolomite Glade, may 

also be provided. The relevant dominant and diagnostic species that are 

useful in naming a type should be selected from the tabular summaries of 

the types. Dominant and diagnostic species should include at least one 

from the dominant stratum (layer) of the type. 

b. Nomenclature for vascular plant taxa used in scientific type names should 

follow the accepted name in USDA PLANTS or ITIS except when this 

would prevent the recognition of ecologically distinct types, coupled with 

the specific date of observation of the website. Exceptions should be 

documented in the rationale for choosing nominal taxa (see item 3e above). 
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Each plant taxon used in a scientific name shall have only one common 

name that shall form the basis for the common name of types. (e.g. aspen, 

not quaking aspen or trembling aspen) 

c. For alliance and mid-level unit names, taxa from subordinate layers should 

be used sparingly. 

d. Among the taxa that are chosen to name the type, those occurring in the 

same stratum or growth form (tree, shrub, herb, nonvascular, floating, 

submerged) are separated by a hyphen ( - ), and those occurring in different 

strata are separated by a slash ( / ). Diagnostic taxa occurring in the 

uppermost stratum are listed first, followed successively by those in lower 

strata. The order of taxon names within stratum or growth form generally 

reflects decreasing levels of dominance, constancy, or other measures of 

diagnostic value. 

e. Association or alliance names include the name of the level of the hierarchy 

that the unit is placed in, e.g., (e.g., Pinus ponderosa Forest alliance). 

f. In cases where diagnostic taxa are unknown or in question, a more general 

term is currently allowed as a “placeholder” (e.g., Cephalanthus 

occidentalis / Carex spp. Northern shrubland). Associations and alliances 

with placeholders in the name shall not be considered of high or moderate 

confidence. Minimize the use of placeholders. 

g. The least possible number of taxa is used in a name. Up to five species 

may be necessary to define associations in some regions that contain very 

diverse vegetation with relatively even dominance and variable total 

composition. For alliances and other levels, no more than three species 

shall be used. 

 

Nomenclatural rules shall be followed exactly to avoid creating the appearance of distinct 

names that are based on differences in character spacing, punctuation or spelling. 

3.2.5 Naming of Upper Level Vegetation Types

Formation types at Levels 1 -3 are named, defined and organized by structure and 

physiognomy, as these are reflected in broad climatic and site factors. It is a convenient 

aid to naming the formations to use terms based on the habitats that they occupy (though 

it should be re-emphasized that habitat factors are not typically used in defining the 

Formation(s) (Whitmore 1984, pg. 155). The result is a set of easily recognized 

formations with memorable names that say something about the most distinctive 

associated ecological characteristics of the formation. These names serve as both common 

and scientific names. 
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Level 1 (Formation class)

Class names are based on the very broad growth forms that correspond to global 

moisture/temperature regimes. The single name helps identify the broad grouping of 

growth forms that correspond to particular moisture/temperature conditions. A 

parenthetical set of names is included to guide general users to the main kind of vegetation 

included in the class. The level is organized by decreasing complexity and cover of the 

vegetation, reflecting increasingly stressful site factors. Given the wide overlap in use of 

the terms “Forest” and “Woodland” we use both terms to indicate that the class definition 

encompasses all mesomorphic (i.e. broad-leaved or needle-leaved) trees of varying height 

and canopy spacing. 

Examples: 

 Mesomorphic Tree Vegetation (Forest & Woodland) 

 Mesomorphic Shrub & Herb Vegetation (Shrubland & Grassland) 

 Xeromorphic Shrub & Herb Vegetation (Semi-Desert) 

 Hydromorphic Vegetation (Aquatic Vegetation) 

Level 2 (Formation subclass)

The subclass name reflects the structure, physiognomy and environmental factors 

that characterize the subclass. The primary environmental factor is macroclimate. 

Physiognomic terms are sometimes more specific than the class name (e.g., scrub versus 

shrubland where the vegetation may include tall xeromorphic tree-like plants such as tall 

cacti). All such terms, if used, should be defined. 

Examples: 

 Tropical Dry Forest 

Mediterranean Scrub and Grassland 

Cool Semi-Desert Scrub and Grassland 

 Saltwater Aquatic Vegetation 

Level 3 (Formation)

The formation name reflects the structure, physiognomy and environmental factors 

that characterize the formation. The primary environmental factors are soil moisture 

conditions and elevation. Physiognomic terms are sometimes more specific than the class 

or subclass name. All physiognomic terms should be defined in the vegetation type 

description. 

Examples: 

 Tropical Evergreen Sclerophyll Forest 

 Mediterranean Scrub 

 Cool Semi-Desert Sparse Vegetation 

Marine & Estuarine Aquatic Vegetation 
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3.3 Peer Review of Proposed Vegetation Types

Vegetation types shall be established through an authoritative peer review process (Figure 

3.2, 3.3). An authoritative process is necessary to maintain the consistency, credibility, 

orderly change, and rigor of the classification. Peer review of proposals for new 

vegetation types, as well as for changes proposed to type concepts that are already 

recognized, is essential to the long term utility and progressive development of the NVC. 

The peer process requires those proposing new types to make a convincing case based on 

a clear explanation of the data, methods, and results. A unified classification of plant 

communities for the United States can only be viable if peer review of proposed types is 

an integral part of it. The essential components of a peer review system for the NVC are 

summarized below. 

3.3.1 Classification Confidence and Status 

Each accepted vegetation type, particularly for lower and middle level units, shall be 

assigned one of the confidence levels based on the relative rigor of the data and the 

analysis used to identify, define, and describe the type. Upper level vegetation types, 

which are global in scope and typically based on very synthetic data, often from the 

literature, cannot be as easily assigned confidence levels based on these criteria: 

a. High: Type is based on quantitative analysis of classification plots that are 

published in full or are archived in a publicly accessible database. 

Classification plots shall meet the minimum requirements shown in 

Appendix D. Classification plots shall represent the geographic distribution 

and habitat range of the type as known from classification and occurrence 

plots. In addition, plots that form the basis for closely related types shall be 

compared. 

For an alliance, the majority of component associations shall have a high to 

moderate level of confidence. 

b. Moderate: Type is lacking in either geographic scope or degree of 

quantitative characterization and subsequent comparison with related types, 

or plots are published only as a comprehensive summary (floristic) table; 

plot otherwise meets the requirements for a high level of confidence. 

For an alliance, many associations within the type may have a moderate to 

low level of classification confidence. 

c. Low: Type is based on plot data that are incomplete, not accessible to 

others, or not published; or, based on informal analysis, anecdotal 

information, or community descriptions that are not accompanied by plot 

data, or if so, only in an incomplete summary (floristic) table (such as only 

reporting dominant or characteristic species of a type). Local experts have 

often identified these types. Although there is a high level of confidence 

that they represent significant vegetation entities that should be 

incorporated in the NVC, it is not clear whether they would meet the 
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standard for floristic types in concept or in the NVC classification approach 

if data were available. 

Alliances are classified as low confidence if defined primarily from: 

i. incomplete or unpublished and inaccessible plot data (e.g., plots 

may only contain information about species in the dominant layer), 

ii. non-standard, anecdotal, or local vegetation types, or 

iii. imagery, or other information, that relies primarily on the dominant 

species in the dominant canopy layer. 

In addition to the three levels of classification confidence, two categories are 

established to identify vegetation types that have been described to some extent, but 

which have not been formally accepted as an NVC unit of vegetation, and therefore 

are not part of the content standard. These categories are:

d. Proposed: Formally described types that are in some stage of the NVC 

peer review process, but for which the process is still incomplete. For 

example, indicating that a type is “proposed” may be used when 

investigators have a need to refer to these types in publications or reports 

prior to the completion of the peer review process. 

e. Provisional: These types not yet formally described, but are expected to be 

additions to the existing list of NVC types for an area or project. 

Provisional types should only be used when a clear effort is being made to 

apply the NVC, but where some vegetation does not appear to have been 

covered by the concepts of known units for an area or project. For 

example, authors of a report or publication may need to submit a list of 

NVC types and any additional observed types, such as those that have not 

been recognized by the NVC nor have they been formally submitted for 

peer review. Such types may be designated as “provisional.” 

3.3.2 Peer Review Process 

a. The objectives of the peer review process are to: 

i. ensure compliance with classification, nomenclature and 

documentation standards, 

ii. maintain reliability of the vegetation data and other supporting 

documentation, and 

iii. referee conflicts with established and proposed NVC types. 

b. The peer review process shall be administered by the NVC Peer Review 

Board (authorized and overseen by the Lead Agency (USDA Forest 

Service)), which provides independent and scientifically credible reviewers. 
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c. The NVC Peer Review Board may structure a peer review process that is 

different for the various levels of the hierarchy; e.g., a different process 

may be needed for upper levels (which are global in definition), mid levels 

(often national to regional in definition), and lower levels (regional to local 

in definition), but this shall be left to the discretion of the Board. 

d. The Peer Review Board is responsible for ensuring that the criteria 

specified in this standard are followed. This Board shall adhere to the 

scientific and technical principles of the NVC and it shall ensure the good 

order and scientific credibility of the classification. 

e. Investigators wishing to contribute to the NVC by proposing changes to 

the classification shall submit their methods and results to the Peer Review 

Board. 

f. The Peer Review Board shall maintain publicly available Proceedings of all 

official actions. Full descriptions of types shall constitute the NVC primary 

literature and shall be published in the Proceedings. The Proceedings shall 

contain official changes to the list of NVC associations and alliances, and it 

shall include the required supporting information for all changes made to 

the list. 

g. Peer reviewers shall have sufficient regional expertise to understand how a 

given proposed change to the NVC would affect related associations and 

alliances. 

h. Investigators proposing revisions to the NVC shall use a defined template 

for type descriptions that can be readily reviewed. 

i. Investigators who describe types shall place their proposed types within the 

context of existing NVC types so as to determine whether the type under 

consideration is distinct, or whether their proposal will instead refine or 

upgrade the definition of a type or types already on the list. 

j. The peer review process should occur in a reasonable time frame, and 

should balance the need for improvement to the quality and to the stability 

of the NVC. 
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Figure 3.2. Flow of information through the peer review process for formal 

recognition of a vegetation type. 

Beginning at the top, field plot data, existing summary data, or literature based on field 

plot data, are collected or compiled, the data are submitted to a publicly available database 

(such as VegBank), data are analyzed, and a proposal describing a type is submitted for 

review. If accepted by reviewers, the type description is classified under the NVC, the 

monograph is published, and the description made available. 

Vegetation Classification Processes

Output

Proceedings

Field Plot Data

Peer Review

Submission of 

Data

VegBank

Analysis &

Synthesis

Type Proposal

NVC Database

Entity with

Web Interface

An Action

An Entity

Legend

Literature Data Table-based Data

Data Citations Distributed Databases
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Figure 3.3. Relationship of peer review processes to the NVC. 

Initial NVC types are the current set of provisional NVC alliances and associations for 

natural vegetation (FGDC 1997, NatureServe 2006), upper level types developed by the 

Hierarchy Revisions Working Group (Faber-Langendoen et al. 2007), and cultural 

vegetation types developed by NRI (2003). 

1. High confidence types (Level 1) 

A. Quantitative analysis 

B. High quality classification plots 

C. Sufficient geographic and habitat 

coverage 

D. Full peer review

2. Moderate confidence types (Level 2) 

A. Not sufficiently quantitative or 

B. Not sufficiently broad 

geographically 

C. High quality classification plots 

D. Full peer review 

The National Vegetation 

Classification 

3. Low confidence types (Level 3) 

A. Mostly qualitative 

B. Local studies 

C. Expedited peer review 

Investigators Initial NVC types 

Expedited Peer Review 

Proposals 

1. New types 

2. Revisions of types 

3. Promotion of a type’s 

 confidence level 
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3.4 Data Management and Dissemination 

The vegetation classification described in this standard cannot succeed without 

careful and explicit rules for data management. The classification process requires three 

dynamic and interacting datasets of (a) botanical taxonomy and nomenclature, (b) 

vegetation field plots, and (c) classified alliance and associations. It is the synthesis of 

these datasets that will provide a consistent working knowledge of the vegetation of the 

United States and its Trust Terrritories. 

3.4.1 Component Datasets 

a. The Taxonomic Dataset 

i. Each known taxon shall be reported as a name-and-reference 

couplet known as a “taxon-concept”. 

ii. Unknown or irregular taxa (such as composite morphotypes 

representing several similar taxa) should be reported with the 

name of the taxon for the finest taxonomic level with certain 

identification, and should be associated with a note field in the 

dataset that provides additional information. 

iii. Taxonomic names and concepts shall be cross-walked in 

order to classify floristic units. 

iv. Growth form names and concepts used to describe vegetation 

types should be based on a specified reference that contains 

clear definitions. A list of preferred growth form names and 

definitions are provided in Appendix E. 

b. The Plots Dataset 

i. Plot data used to support the NVC shall be archived in 

publicly accessible and searchable datasets. 

ii. Plot data used to support description of a vegetation type 

shall be linked by a unique number to the description of the 

type and shall be publicly available. 

iii. All uses of plot data with respect to the NVC shall cite the 

original author of the plot. 

iv. The Plot dataset shall use concept-based taxonomy by 

allowing multiple interpretations of each taxon (e.g., a plot 

record may contain multiple names for a given taxon in the 

plot, that of the field ecologist who used a name with a 

reference of a regional taxonomy manual and that of another 

person who annotated the name to correspond to the 

PLANTS list. Both names are stored in the database). 
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v. All datasets used to archive plot data supporting the NVC 

shall have assured data permanency and should be able to 

export plot data in a consistent format. 

c. The Vegetation Classification Dataset 

i. The Vegetation Classification Dataset shall contain all fields 

needed for a type description (Section 3). 

ii. The Vegetation Classification Dataset shall use concept-based 

taxonomy for vegetation types. At a minimum this requires 

citing a reference for each type name. 

iii. The Vegetation Classification Dataset shall allow for 

backward compatibility. That is, a user should be able to 

track the history of vegetation type concepts and names used 

in the NVC as they change over time. 

3.4.2 Web Access 

a. Each of these datasets shall be publicly viewable and searchable over the 

web, and shall be regularly updated. 

b. There shall be a primary access point for viewing and retrieving 

information from these datasets over the web. Although mirrors of this 

information may be established at other sites, the primary access point shall 

be the definitive source of information on taxonomy and nomenclature, 

field plots, and recognized alliances and associations, respectively. 

c. The website shall contain an explicit date and version, so that users of the 

NVC can cite the website and the explicit version observed (or date 

observed) so as to allow exact reconstruction of the taxonomic and 

community concepts employed as well as the observation data provided 

from field plots. 

3.4.3 Publication 

Successful proposals for recognized associations and alliances shall be published in the 

Proceedings of the NVC and shall be accessible at the primary access point for the 

Vegetation Classification Dataset. The Proceedings shall constitute the primary literature 

underpinning the NVC, and will be permanently and publicly available.
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4. Description and Classification of Cultural Vegetation 

This section describes the process standard for updating and revising the dynamic 

content of cultural vegetation in the NVC. Standards for field plot data and other data 

sources are described in Section 4.1. Conventions for defining, naming, and describing 

vegetation types are provided in Section 4.2. The process for peer review of proposals to 

change the names or concepts of vegetation types is described in Section 4.3. Finally, the 

component databases and the technical structure of the NVC information system are 

described in Section 4.4. The content of each of these sections is in outline format for 

practical application and referencing. 

4.1 Data Sources 

Assigning a cultural vegetation 'stand' to a classification type at each level of the 

classification hierarchy requires a defined set of information. The cultural vegetation types 

in the NVC may be developed through the analysis of imagery, thematic spatial data 

layers, and field survey data. More and more detailed data are required to derive units at 

consecutively finer levels of the classification hierarchy. Standard sampling methods 

should be followed and documented to identify the sample points, and uniform data 

collection protocols should be followed to ensure consistency and comparability of the 

field data. The standards for vegetation sampling methods for cultural vegetation will be 

completed as a future stage of work by this Subcommittee. In the meantime, standards for 

natural vegetation may be followed, if desired (see Section 3.1).

4.2 Classification and Description 

A comprehensive list of the nation's cultural vegetation types is currently a goal to 

be pursued in the long term application of this Standard. The first approximation of a 

national list of cultural vegetation types is provided in this standard, based on the work of 

NRI (2003) (see Appendix I). This publication shall serve as the initial basis for assigning 

vegetation stands to cultural types within the NVC. A process to help users classify 

cultural vegetation will be developed in the future involving Federal, State, and private 

agencies and professional organizations. The standards for vegetation classification and 

description for cultural vegetation will be completed as a future stage of work by this 

Subcommittee. In the meantime, standards for natural vegetation may be followed, as 

desired (see Section 3.2). 

The nomenclature for planted and cultivated types shall initially follow that of the 

NRI list shown in Appendix I. Where appropriate, it may include the name of the species 

present (e.g., Corn). Preferably a Latin name is also provided. If desired, the name may be 

modified by an appropriate structural (formation) name (e.g. Corn Row Crop).
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4.3 Peer Review 

Questions regarding the use of this part of the classification may be referred to the 

FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee, which shall maintain a professional advisory panel 

authorized by the Subcommittee for review and assistance. The Subcommittee or the 

authorized professional panel shall ensure that the vegetation is classified within the NVC 

at the appropriate level and type within the classification hierarchy. 

4.4 Data Management and Dissemination 

The standards for data management and dissemination of cultural vegetation 

information will be completed as a future stage of work by this Subcommittee. In the 

meantime, standards for natural vegetation may be followed (see Section 3.4). 
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APPENDICES 

Appendix A (Normative): Glossary 

Agricultural Vegetation — a vegetation type that exhibits a) rapid turnover in structure, typically 

at least on an annual basis, either through comprehensive manipulation of physiognomy 

and floristics by harvesting and/or planting, or by continual removal of above ground 

structure (e.g., cutting, haying), or b) showing strong linear (planted) features. The 

herbaceous layer may be bare at various times of the year. 

Abiotic — pertaining to the nonliving parts of an ecosystem, such as soil particles, bedrock, air, 

and water (Helms 1998).

Abundance — the total number of individuals of a taxon or taxa in an area, volume, population, 

or community; often measured as cover in plants (Lincoln et al. 1998). 

Alliance — a vegetation classification unit containing one or more associations, with a 

defined by a characteristic range of species composition, habitat conditions, 

physiognomy, and diagnostic species, typically at least one of which is found in 

the upper most or dominant stratum of the vegetation (Jennings et al.2006). 

Association — a vegetation classification unit defined on the basis of a characteristic range of 

species composition, diagnostic species occurrence, habitat conditions, and physiognomy 

(Jennings et al. 2006).

Basal Area — the cross-sectional area of all stems of a species or all stems in a stand measured at 

breast height (4.5 feet or 1.37 meters above the ground) and expressed per unit of land 

area (Helms 1998). 

Canopy Cover — the percentage of ground covered by the vertical projection of the outermost 

perimeter of the natural spread of foliage of plants. Small openings in the canopy are 

included (SRM 1989, USDA NRCS 1997). cf. foliar cover. 

Character species — a species that shows a distinct maximum concentration (quantitatively and 

by presence) in a well-definable vegetation types, sometimes recognized at local, regional, 

and general geographic scales. Character species may also be viewed as very strong 

differential species (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974, p. 178, 208; Bruelheide 2000). 

cf. differential species, fidelity. 

Class — see Formation Class. 

Classification — the grouping of similar types (in this case – vegetation types) according to 

criteria (in this case - physiognomic and floristic). The rules for classification shall be 

clarified prior to delineation of the types within the classification standard. Classification 

methods should be clear, precise, and based upon objective criteria so that the outcome is 

theoretically independent of who applies the classification. (UNEP/FAO 1995, FGDC 

1997). 

Classification Plot Records — plot records that contain the data necessary to inform the 

development or revision of the floristic units within the NVC. Such plots typically contain 
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high quality data on floristic composition and structure, and conform to the standard 

articulated in Section 3.1.1 (Jennings et al.2006). cf. Occurrence Plot Records. 

Climax Vegetation — the final, relatively stable community at the conclusion of ecological 

succession that is able to reproduce itself indefinitely under existing environmental 

conditions (Gabriel and Talbot 1984). 

Close grown crops — crops that are generally drill-seeded or broadcast, such as wheat, oats, rice, 

barley, and flax, resulting in very narrow regularly spaced, structure (adapted from NRI 

2003).

Community — a group of organisms living together and linked together by their effects on one 

another and their responses to the environment they share (Whittaker 1975). 

Compositional similarity — the degree of commonality in species composition between two plant 

communities, based on either species presence (usually at broad scales) or species 

abundance (usually at fine scales). 

Constancy — the percentage of plots in a given data set that a taxon occurs in (Jennings et al. 

2006). 

Constant species — – species that are present in a high percentage of the plots that define a type, 

often defined as those species with at least 60% constancy (Mueller-Dombois and 

Ellenberg 1974, p. 178). Sometimes referred to as “constant companion” species.

Cover — see canopy cover, foliar cover. 

Cover Type — a vegetation type defined on the basis of the plant species forming a plurality of 

composition and abundance (FGDC 1997; also see Eyre 1980). 

Cropland — see Agricultural Vegetation. 

Cross-walk — to describe and document the relationships between members of one set or series 

and members of another set or series. These relationships may be one-to-one, one-tomany, or many-to-many. 

Cryomorphic — pertaining to plants having structural or functional adaptations to survive cold 

temperatures and resist frost damage (e.g., alpine creeping dwarf-shrubs,krummholz). 

Cultural Vegetation — vegetation with a distinctive structure, composition, and development 

determined by regular human activity (Küchler 1969).

Developed Vegetation — a vegetation type that typically contains an almost continuous 

herbaceous (typically grass) layer, with a closely cropped physiognomy, typically through 

continual removal of above ground structure (e.g. cutting, mowing), and where tree cover 

is highly variable, or other highly manipulated planted gardens. 

Diagnostic Species — any species or group of species whose relative constancy or abundance 

differentiates one vegetation type from another (Jennings et al. 2006). It can include 

Character, Differential, Constant, Indicator or Dominant species. Some authors restrict 

the term to include only Character, Differential and Constant species (Westhoff and van 

der Maarel 1973). 
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Diagnostic Growth Form — any growth form or group of growth forms whose relative constancy 

or abundance differentiates one vegetation type from another. Diagnostic growth forms 

include Dominant Growth Form and Indicator Growth Form.

Differential Species — A plant species that is distinctly more widespread or successful in one of a 

pair of plant communities than in the other, although it may be still more successful in 

other communities not under discussion (Curtis 1959, Bruelheide 2000). cf. character 

species, fidelity. 

Division — the fourth level in the NVC natural vegetation hierarchy, in which each vegetation unit 

is defined by a group of plant communities in a given continental or other broad 

geographic area exhibiting a common set of dominant growth forms and many diagnostic 

plant taxa (including character taxa of the dominant growth forms) corresponding to broad 

climatic and environmental characteristics. (Westhoff and van der Maarel 1973, p 664-

665, Whittaker 1975). 

Dominance — the extent to which a given taxon or growth form has a strong influence in a 

community because of its size, abundance, or cover. (Lincoln et al. 1998). 

Dominance Type — a class of communities defined by the dominance of one or more species, 

which are usually the most important ones in the uppermost or dominant layer of the 

community, but sometimes of a lower layer of higher coverage (Gabriel and Talbot 1984). 

Dominant Growth Form — growth form with the highest percent of cover, usually in the 

uppermost dominant layer (in other contexts dominant growth forms can be defined in 

terms of biomass, density, height, coverage, etc. 

Dominant Species — species with the highest percent of cover, usually in the uppermost dominant 

layer (in other contexts dominant species can be defined in terms of biomass, density, 

height, coverage, etc. (Kimmins 1997). 

Entitation — the process by which we recognize and define entities, usually by dividing a 

continuously varying phenomenon into a set of discreet entities. In vegetation ecology 

entitation refers to the act of segmenting an area of vegetation into homogeneous entities, 

within which samples (plots) can be placed (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974), or the 

division of community data (usually plot data) into discrete vegetation classes. 

Epiphyte — a vascular or nonvascular plant that grows by germinating and rooting on other 

plants or other perched structures, and does not root in the ground (adapted from FGDC 

1997). 

Existing Vegetation — vegetation found at a given location at the time of observation (Jennings et 

al.2006). cf. Potential Natural Vegetation. 

Fidelity — the degree to which a species is confined in a given vegetation unit. The fidelity of a 

species determines whether it can be considered a differential or character species, or just 

a companion (a species not particularly restricted to any vegetation type) or accidental 

species (a species not normally occurring in a particular vegetation type or habitat), 

(Bruelheide 2000, Lincoln et al. 1998). 

Field Stratum — the layer of vegetation consisting of herbs, regardless of height, as well as 

woody plants less than 0.5 m in height (Jennings et al. 2006). 
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Floating Aquatic Stratum — the layer of vegetation consisting of rooted or drifting plants that 

float on the water surface; e.g. duckweed, water-lily (Jennings et al. 2006). 

Foliar Cover — the percentage of ground covered by the vertical projection of the aerial portion of 

plants. Small openings in the canopy and intraspecific overlap are excluded (SRM 1989)

cf. canopy cover. 

Forb — a non-aquatic, non-graminoid herb with relatively broad leaves and/or showy flowers. 

Includes both flowering and spore-bearing, non-graminoid herbs. 

Formation — the third level in the NVC natural vegetation hierarchy, in which each vegetation 

unit is defined by a geographically widespread (global) plant communities of similar 

physiognomy and dominant growth forms, typically related to major topographic and 

edaphic conditions occurring within major climatic conditions (Whittaker 1975, Lincoln et 

al. 1998). 

Formation Class — the first (highest) level in the NVC natural vegetation hierarchy, in which 

each vegetation unit is defined by a characteristic combination of dominant growth forms 

adapted to a very basic set of moisture / temperature regimes. 

Formation Subclass — the second level in the NVC natural vegetation hierarchy, in which each 

vegetation unit is defined by geographically widespread (global) plant communities of 

similar physiognomy and dominant growth forms, typically related to major climatic 

conditions (Whittaker 1975, Lincoln et al. 1998). 

Frequency — percentage of occurrence of a species in a series of samples of uniform size 

contained in a single stand (Daubenmire 1968). 

Graminoid — a non-aquatic, flowering herb with relatively long, narrow leaves and inconspicuous 

flowers with parts reduced to bracts. Includes grasses, sedges, rushes, and arrowgrasses. 

Ground Stratum — cf. nonvascular stratum. 

Group — the sixth level in the NVC natural vegetation hierarchy, in which each vegetation unit is 

defined by a group of plant communities with a common set of growth forms and 

diagnostic species or taxa (including several character species of the dominant growth 

forms), preferentially sharing a similar set of regional edaphic, topographic, and 

disturbance factors. (cf. Pignatti et al. 1995, Specht and Specht 2001) 

Growth form — the shape or appearance of a plant reflecting growing conditions and genetics. 

Growth form is usually consistent within a species, but may vary under extremes of 

environment (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg1974). Growth forms determine the visible 

structure or physiognomy of plant communities (Whittaker 1973a). 

Habitat — a general term referring to the locality, site and particular type of local environment 

occupied by an organisim or community (adapted from Lincoln et al. 1998). 

Habitat Type — a collective term for all parts of the land surface supporting, or capable of 

supporting, a particular kind of climax plant association (Daubenmire 1978; Gabriel and 

Talbot 1984). 

Herb — a vascular plant without perennial aboveground woody stems, with perennating buds 

borne at or below the ground surface (Whittaker 1975, FGDC 1997). Includes forbs (both 

flowering forbs and spore-bearing ferns), graminoids, and herbaceous vines. 
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Herb Stratum — see Field Stratum.

Hydromorphic — pertaining to plants having structural or functional adaptations for living in 

water-dominated or aquatic habitats (adapted from FGDC 1997 and Lincoln et al. 1998).

Indicator Growth Form — a growth form whose presence, abundance, or vigor is considered to 

indicate certain site conditions. 

Indicator Species — a species whose presence, abundance, or vigor is considered to indicate 

certain site conditions (Gabriel and Talbot 1984). 

Informative Appendix — an appendix giving additional information with is not part of the 

Standard. They are provided only for the purposes of clarification, illustration, and 

general information in respect to the standard (FGDC 2002). 

Land Cover — the observed (bio)physical cover of the earth’s surface (Di Gregorio and Jansen 

1996). 

Land Use — the arrangements, activities, and inputs people undertake in a certain land cover type 

to produce, change, or maintain it (Di Gregorio and Jansen 1996). 

Layer (vegetation) — a structural component of a community consisting of plants of 

approximately the same height and growth form (e.g., tree overstory, tree regeneration). cf.

Stratum. 

Liana — a woody, climbing plant that begins life as terrestrial seedlings but relies on external 

structural support for height growth during some part of its life (Gerwing 2004), typically 

exceeding 5 m in height or length at maturity. 

Life form — plant type defined by the characteristic structural features and method of 

perennation, generally as defined by Raunkiaer (1934; see Beard 1973). 

Lithomorphic — pertaining to plants having structural or functional adaptations for living on rock 

surfaces or in rocky substrates (i.e. particle sizes larger than 2 mm diameter (adapted from 

Lincoln et al. 1998).

Macroclimate — the climate of a major geographical region primarily reflecting latitude and 

continental position, excluding the effects of landform and vegetation (adapted from Bailey 

1988, 1996; Lincoln et al. 1998; Forman and Godron 1986).

Macrogroup — the fifth level in the NVC natural vegetation hierarchy, in which each vegetation 

unit is defined by a group of plant communities with a common set of growth forms and 

many diagnostic plant taxa, including many character taxa of the dominant growth forms, 

preferentially sharing a broadly similar geographic region and regional climate, and 

disturbance. (cf Pignatti et al. 1995, and Braun-Blanquet concept of “Class”). 

Mesoclimate — the climate of a geographic area resulting from modification of the macroclimate 

by the influences of landforms, altitude, aspect, and slope gradient (Bailey 1988, 1996).

Mesomorphic — pertaining to plants requiring environmental conditions of moderate moisture and 

temperature or which are only partially protected against desiccation (adapted from 

Lincoln et al. 1998).

Metadata — information about data. This describes the content, quality, condition, and other 

characteristics of a given dataset. Its purpose is to provide information about a dataset or 
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some larger data holdings to data catalogues, clearinghouses, and users. Metadata are 

intended to provide a capability for organizing and maintaining an institution’s investment 

in data as well as to provide information for the application and interpretation of data 

received through a transfer from an external source (FGDC 1997). 

Microclimate — the climate of the immediate surroundings or habitat resulting from modification 

of the mesoclimate by the influences of local topography, vegetation, and soil (adapted 

from Lincoln et al. 1998 and Bailey 1988, 1996).

Moss Stratum — see Ground Stratum. 

Natural Vegetation — vegetation where ecological processes primarily determine species and site 

characteristics; that is, vegetation comprised of a largely spontaneously growing set of 

plant species that are shaped by both site and biotic processes (Kuchler 1969, Westhoff 

and Van der Maarel. 1973). 

Nonvascular — a plant or plant-like organism without specialized water or fluid conductive tissue 

(xylem and phloem). Includes mosses, liverworts, hornworts, lichens, and algae (adapted 

from FGDC 1997).

Nonvascular Stratum — the layer of vegetation consisting of non-vascular plants growing on soil 

or rock surfaces. This includes mosses, liverworts, hornworts, lichens, and algae (Jennings 

et al. 2006). Sometimes called the Ground Stratum.

Non-vegetated — A category used to classify lands with limited capacity to support life and 

typically having less than 1 percent vegetative cover. Vegetation, if present, is widely 

spaced. Typically, the surface of barren land is sand, rock, exposed subsoil, or saltaffected soils. Subcategories include salt flats; sand dunes; mud flats; beaches; bare 

exposed rock; quarries, strip mines, gravel pits, and borrow pits; river wash; oil wasteland; 

mixed barren lands; and other barren land (adapted from NRI 2003). Exceptions include 

vegetation which exhibits a distinct composition under very sparse conditions (e.g., sea 

rocket coastal shore vegetation, or amaranth coastal vegetation). These types rarely have 

greater than 1% cover. 

Normative Appendix — an appendix which contains information which is an integral part of the 

Standard, but for reasons of convenience is placed in an appendix (FGDC 2002). 

Occurrence Plot Records — plot records that contain data valuable for ecological and 

geographical characterization of vegetation, but which do not contain sufficient data to be 

used in quantitative description of an association or alliance (see Section 3.1.1 (Jennings et 

al.2006). cf. Classification Plot Records. 

Physiognomy — the visible structure or outward appearance of a plant community as expressed 

by the dominant growth forms, such as their leaf appearance or deciduousness (Fosberg 

1961, Jennings et al. 2006) cf. structure. 

Plant Community — a group of plant species living together and linked together by their effects 

on one another and their responses to the environment they share (modified from Whittaker 

1975). Typically the plant species that co-occur in a plant community show a definite 

association or affinity with each other (Kent and Coker 1992). 

Planted/Cultivated — see Cultural Vegetation. 
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Plot — in the context of vegetation classification, an area of defined size and shape that is intended 

for characterizing a homogenous occurrence of vegetation. cf. relevé. 

Potential Natural Vegetation — the vegetation that would become established if successional 

sequences were completed without interference by man or natural disturbance under the 

present climatic and edaphic conditions (Tüxen 1956). cf. existing vegetation. 

Range of Variation — the values of an attribute, such as species composition or environmental 

parameters, that fall within the upper and lower bounds determined for that attribute. The 

range of variation in the floristic composition of a vegetation type may, for example, be 

expressed in terms of its beta diversity (cf. Wilson and Shmida 1984, McCune et al. 2002), 

either along an environmental gradient or as the amount of compositional change among a 

group of plots. 

Relevé — a record of vegetation intended for characterizing a stand of vegetation having uniform 

habitat and relatively homogeneous plant cover, and which is large enough in area to 

contain a large proportion of the species typically occurring in the plant community 

(Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974) cf. plot. 

Reserved — a section of the FGDC standard that will be addressed or developed in subsequent 

versions. 

Sampling Strategy — the means and criteria used to select the locations for plots (based on Tart 

et al. 2005b, Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974, and Gauch 1982). 

Seral — a vegetation type (or component species) that is nonclimax; a species or community 

demonstrably susceptible to replacement by another species or community (Daubenmire 

1978). 

Semi-Natural Vegetation — vegetation in which past or present human activities significantly 

influence composition or structure, but do not eliminate or dominate spontaneous 

ecological processes (Westhoff and Van der Maarel 1973). 

Sere — a continuous sequence of community types that occur in a successional sequence prior to 

reaching the climax type (Jennings et al. 2006). 

Shrub — a woody plant that generally has several erect, spreading, or prostrate stems which give 

it a bushy appearance. In instances where growth form cannot be determined, woody 

plants less than 5 m in height at maturity shall be considered shrubs. Includes dwarfshrubs, krummholz, and low or short woody vines (adapted from FGDC 1997 and Box 

1981). 

Shrub Stratum — the layer of vegetation consisting of woody plants more than 0.5 m tall but less 

than 5 m in height, such as shrubs, tree seedling and saplings, and lianas. Epiphytes may 

also be included in this stratum. Rooted herbs are excluded even if they are over 0.5 m in 

height (adapted from Jennings et al. 2006).

Stand — a spatially continuous unit of vegetation with uniform composition, structure, and 

environmental conditions. This term is often used to indicate a particular example of a 

plant community (Jennings et al. 2006). 

Stratum — a structural component of a community consisting of plants of approximately the same 

height; e.g., tree, shrub, or herb strata (Jennings et al. 2006). 
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Structure (vegetation) — (1) the spatial pattern of growth forms in a plant community, especially 

with regard to their height, abundance, or coverage within the individual layers (Gabriel 

and Talbot 1984). (2) the spatial arrangement of the components of vegetation resulting 

from plant size and height, vertical stratification into layers, and horizontal spacing of 

plants (Lincoln et al, 1998, Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974). cf. physiognomy. 

Subclass — the level in the NVC classification hierarchy under class (see Figure 1) based on 

growth form characteristics (Grossman et al. 1998). 

Subclimax — the stage plant succession immediately preceding the climax stage (Gabriel and 

Talbot 1984). 

Submerged Aquatic Stratum — the layer of vegetation consisting of rooted or drifting plants that 

by-and-large remain submerged in the water column or on the aquatic bottom; e.g. sea 

grass (Jennings et al. 2006). 

Taxon-concept —when used with respect to taxonomic nomenclature, the combination of a taxon 

name along with a reference to a circumscribed taxonomic concept (as in “potential taxon” 

of Berendsohn (1995) or “assertion” of Pyle (2004)). 

Tree — a woody plant that generally has a single main stem and a more or less definite crown. In 

instances where growth form cannot be determined, woody plants equal to or greater than 

5 m in height at maturity shall be considered trees (adapted from FGDC 1997). Includes 

dwarf trees (Tart et al. 2005b) or “treelets” (Box 1981).

Tree Stratum — the layer of vegetation consisting of woody plants more than 5 m in height, 

including mature trees, shrubs over 5 m tall, and lianas. Epiphytes growing on these 

woody plants are also included in this stratum (Jennings et al. 2006).

Type — see Vegetation Type. 

Vegetation — the collective plant cover of an area (FGDC 1997) 

Vegetation type — a named category of plant community or vegetation defined on the basis of 

shared floristic and/or physiognomic characteristics that distinguish it from other kinds of 

plant communities or vegetation (Tart et al. 2005a). This term can refer to units in any 

level of the NVC hierarchy. 

Xeromorphic — pertaining to plants having structural or functional adaptations to prevent water 

loss by evaporation (Lincoln et al. 1998).
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Appendix B (Informative). Relation of USNVC to Land Cover 

Classifications

Table B.1. Comparison of FAO LCCS Land Cover Types (based on structural domains) and National Land 

Cover Database (NLCD) types with that of NVC Levels 1&2 (see Di Gregorio and Jansen 1996, USGS 

2001).

CATEGORY 

LCCS LCCS Major Land Cover Type 

with Structural Domain 

NLCD (* indicates applies 

to Alaskan tundra only). 

 NVC Level 

VEGETATED NATURAL 

TERRESTRIAL: A12. 

Natural and SemiNatural Terrestrial 

Vegetation 

Forest & Woodland 

Thicket & Shrubland 

Grasslands 

Sparse Vegetation 

Lichens/Mosses 

• Forest 

• Shrubland 

– Dwarf Shrub* 

– Shrub/Scrub 

• Grasslands/Herbaceous

– Grassland/Herbaceous 

– Sedge Herbaceous* 

• Non-Vascular 

– Lichens* 

– Moss*• 

 Wetlands

 Forested Wetland 

 Scrub/Shrub Wetland 

 Emergent Herb Wetland 

 Aquatic Bed 

Forest & Woodland 

Shrubland & Grassland 

Semi-Desert 

Polar & High Montane 

Vegetation 

Aquatic Vegetation 

Nonvascular & Sparse 

Vascular Vegetation 

WETLAND/AQUATIC

:A24. Natural and 

Semi-Natural Aquatic 

or Regularly Flooded 

Vegetation 

Forest & Woodland 

Closed Shrubs & Open Shrubs 

Grasslands 

Sparse Vegetation 

Lichens/Mosses 

 

CULTURAL 

TERRESTRIAL: 

A11. Cultivated and 

Managed Terrestrial 

Areas 

• Agriculture 

Tree Crops 

Shrub Crops 

Herbaceous Crops 

• Developed 

Managed Lands 

 - parks (woody) 

 - parkland (scattered woody) 

 - lawns (herb) 

• Agriculture

- Cultivated Crops (woody) 

- Cultivated Crops (herb) 

- Pasture/Hay 

• Developed

– Developed, Open Space 

• Agricultural Vegetation

- Woody Ag. Vegetation 

 Woody Horticultural Crops 

 Other Woody Ag. Vegetation 

- Herbaceous Ag. Vegetation 

 Cultivated Crop 

 Pasture/Hay 

 Other Herbaceous Ag 

Vegetation 

• Developed Vegetation

- Herbaceous and Woody 

Developed Vegetation 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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Appendix B (Informative). Relation of USNVC to Land Cover Classifications 

65 

WETLAND/AQUATIC

: 

A23. Cultivated 

Aquatic or Regularly 

Flooded Areas 

- Aquatic Or Regularly Flooded 

Graminoid Crops 

- Aquatic Or Regularly Flooded 

Non-Graminoid Crops 

? 

NONVEGETATED NATURAL 

TERRESTRIAL: 

B16. Bare Areas 

Consolidated Areas 

Unconsolidated Areas 

• Barren 

– Rock/Sand/Clay 

– Unconsolidated Shore** FAO (informative) 

AQUATIC: 

B28. Natural 

Waterbodies, Snow 

and Ice 

Natural Waterbodies 

Snow 

Ice 

• Water

– Open Water 

– Perennial Ice/Snow FAO (informative) 

CULTURAL 

TERRESTRIAL: 

B15. Artificial Surfaces 

and Associated Areas 

Built-Up Areas (Developed) 

Non Built-Up Areas (Waste) 

• Developed 

– Low Intensity 

– Medium Intensity 

– High Intensity 

(FAO informative) 

AQUATIC: 

B27. Artificial Surfaces 

and Associated Areas 

Artificial Waterbodies 

Artificial Snow 

Artificial Ice 

• Water

– Open Water 

– Perennial Ice/Snow FAO (informative) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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Appendix B (Informative). Relation of USNVC to Land Cover Classifications 

66 

Table B2. Relation of NRCS National Resources Inventory classification (NRI 2003) used on 

non-federal lands in the lower 48 States, to the broad categories and classification units of the 

NVC. 

Category 1 Category 2 NVC Level 1 (vegetated) 

or FAO equivalents (nonvegetated 

NRCS NRI Category 

VEGETATED NATURAL Forest & Woodland Forest Land 

 Shrubland & Grassland Rangeland 

 Semi-Desert 

 Polar & High Montane 

Vegetation 

 Aquatic Vegetation 

 Nonvascular & Sparse Vascular 

Vegetation 

 CULTURAL Agricultural Vegetation Cropland 

 Pastureland 

 Developed Vegetation Developed Land 

 Other Rural Land (?) 

NONVEGETATED NATURAL NATURAL NON-VEGETATED 

TERRESTRIAL AREAS

Other Rural Land (?) 

 NATURAL NON-VEGETATED 

WATERBODIES (Open water)

Water 

 CULTURAL CULTURAL NON-VEGETATED 

TERRESTRIAL AREAS

Other Rural Land (?) 

 CULTURAL NON-VEGETATED 

WATER-BODIES (Open Water) 

Water 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) 

Appendix C (Informative). Multilingual version of natural hierarchy 

67 

Appendix C (Informative): Multilingual version of natural 

hierarchy. 

Table C.1. Multilingual version of names for the levels of the natural vegetation hierarchy

Level English name English Short 

name 

French Name French Short 

Name 

Spanish Name Spanish Short Name 

1 Formation Class Class Classe de formation Classe Clase de 

formación 

Clase 

2 Formation 

Subclass

Subclass Sous-classe de 

formation 

Sous-classe Subclase de 

formación 

Subclase 

3 Formation Formation Formation Formation Formación Formación 

4 Division Division Division Division División División 

5 Macrogroup Macrogroup Macrogroupe Macrogroupe Macrogrupo Macrogrupo 

6 Group Group Groupe Groupe Grupo Grupo 

7 Alliance Alliance Alliance Alliance Alianza Alianza 

8 Association Association Association Association Asociación Asociación 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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Appendix D (Normative). Required attributes for Plots 

68 

Appendix D (Normative): Required attributes for plots 

Classification plots provide data needed to develop and define classified vegetation types. 

Occurrence plots document a less formal observation of a known vegetation type at a 

location. Required fields are those minimally needed to serve as either classification or 

occurrence plots. The required information includes the plot data itself, metadata about 

the plot, and information about each assignment of a field plot to a vegetation type. 

D.1 Information required in field plot data sets. 

Field plot data includes the following kinds of information 

1. Information required in the field plot record. 

2. Information required for the plot vegetation. 

3. Information required for the plot location. 

4. Information about the plot environment. 

 Tables D.1.1 through D.1.4 describe field plot data requirements. 

Table D.1.1 ― Information required in the field plot record. 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

Author Plot Code Author's plot number/code, or the original 

plot number if taken from literature. Required Required 

Author Observation 

Code 

Code or name that the author uses to identify 

this plot observation. Where a plot has only 

one observation, this code may equal Author 

Plot Code. 

Required 

Observation Start Date The date of the observation, or the first day if 

the observation spanned more than one day. Required Required 

Date Accuracy Estimated accuracy of the observation date. 

Accuracy is often low for legacy data. Required 
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Appendix D (Normative). Required attributes for Plots 

69 

Table D.1.2. ― Information required for the plot vegetation. 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

The following stratum variables are recorded once for each stratum recognized. 

While not strictly required, measurements of strata are a best practice. 

Stratum Index 

Indices used to represent stratum Required only if 

strata are 

recorded 

Stratum Name 

Name of stratum Required only if 

strata are 

recorded 

Stratum Description 

Description of stratum Required only if 

strata are 

recorded 

Stratum Cover 

Total cover of vegetation within the given 

stratum in percent. 

Required only if 

strata are 

recorded 

The following growth form variables are recorded once for each growth form recognized. 

While not strictly required, measurements of growth form are a best practice. If growth forms are 

measured, the first three and last are required 

Growth Form Index 

Indices used to represent growth form Required only if 

growth forms 

are recorded 

Growth Form Name 

Name of growth form Required only if 

growth forms 

are recorded 

Growth Form Description 

Description of growth form Required only if 

growth forms 

are recorded 

Growth Form Cover 

Total cover of vegetation for the growth form 

in percent. 

Required only if 

growth forms 

are recorded 

The following apply for recording plant taxa, with at least one record per taxon, and multiple records 

when taxa are observed in multiple strata. 

Plant Name 

Name of the taxon. For occurrence plots, only 

dominant taxa are required, whereas for 

classification plots a comprehensive list of 

taxa is required. 

Required if 

species are 

recorded 

Required if 

species are 

recorded 

Plant Reference 

Authority followed for taxon (could be 

entered by taxon, or collectively for the whole 

plot or as a default where not otherwise 

specified in the metadata). 

Required if 

species are 

recorded 

Required if 

species are 

recorded 

Taxon Cover 

Overall cover of the taxon across all strata. 

For occurrence plots, only dominant taxa are 

required, whereas for classification plots a 

Required if 

species are 

recorded 

Required if 

species are 

recorded 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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Appendix D (Normative). Required attributes for Plots 

70 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

comprehensive list of taxa is required. 

Taxon Inference Area 

This is the area in square meters used to 

estimate the cover of a given taxon. Generally 

this should be equal to Taxon Observation 

Area, but at times this area may be larger or 

smaller for a specific taxon. 

Required if 

species are 

recorded 

Table D.1.3 ― Information required for the plot location. 

(some may be determined after a return to office, for example, with coordinate conversions) 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

Latitude & Longitude 

WGS84 Latitude and Longitude of the plot 

origin in degrees and decimals following any 

adjustments, conversions and postprocessing. 

Required Required 

Type of Field Coordinates 

Coordinates recorded in the field (latitude and 

longitude with datum, UTM with datum, or 

alternative geographic projection with units, 

longitude of center of projection, latitude of 

center of projection, False easting, False 

northing, X axis shift, & Y axis shift) 

Required Required 

Location Accuracy 

Estimated accuracy of the location of the plot. 

Plot origin has a 95% or greater probability of 

being within this many meters of the reported 

location. 

 Required 

Area 

Total area of the plot in square meters. If 

many subplots, this area includes the subplots 

and the interstitial space. 

Required 

Table D.1.4 ― Information about the plot environment. 

(Reserved) 

There are no required plot environment fields, because no one set of factors is relevant for all vegetation 

types. Provisions shall be made in the database to store a variety of plot environment information. 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) 

Appendix D (Normative). Required attributes for Plots 

71 

D.2 Information to be included as field plot metadata. 

Field plot metadata includes the following kinds of information 

1. Metadata about the plot and the plot observation. 

2. Metadata about the methods used to collect the field data. 

3. Metadata about the human sources of the field data. 

4. Metadata about references for other sources of plot data. 

Tables D.2.1 through D.2.4 describe the required metadata attributes. 

Table D.2.1 ― Metadata about the plot and the plot observation. 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

Plot Type 

Indicate if information is recorded from the 

entire plot or from subplots. If from subplots 

indicate how the subplots were configured: 

contiguous, regular, random, or haphazard 

Required 

Taxon Observation Area 

The total surface area (in square meters) used 

for cover estimates and for which a complete 

species list is provided. If subplots were used, 

this would be the total area of the subplots 

without interstitial space. 

Required 

Cover Dispersion 

Indication of how cover values for the total 

taxon list were collected; i.e., from one 

contiguous area or dispersed subplots (e.g., 

contiguous, dispersed-regular, dispersedrandom)? 

Required 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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Appendix D (Normative). Required attributes for Plots 

72 

Table D.2.2 ― Metadata about the methods used to collect the field data. 

Identify the stratum/growth form method used. Vertical strata used for recording taxon cover 

shall be defined in terms of their upper and lower limits with this information reported in Table 

1.2. 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

Stratum/Growth Form 

Method Name 

Name of the stratum/growth form method. 

Any appropriate label (e.g., NVC, BraunBlanquet, NatureServe, North Carolina 

Vegetation Survey #1, etc..). 

Required 

Stratum/Growth Form 

Method Description 

This field describes the general methods used 

for strata/growth forms. Required 

Cover Class Method 

Name of the cover class method (e.g., BraunBlanquet, Barkman, Domin, Daubenmire, 

North Carolina Vegetation Survey, etc.). 

Required 

Cover Source Direct Field Measure, Indirect (calculated) 

Measure Required 

Cover Code The name or label used in the cover class 

scale for this specific cover class. Required 

Cover Code Upper Limit Upper limit, in percent, associated with the 

specific cover code. Required 

Cover Code Lower Limit This is the lower limit, in percent, associated 

with a specific Cover Code. Required 

Table D.2.3 ― Metadata about the human sources of the field data. 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition 

Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

Given Name One's first name. Required Required 

Surname 

Name shared in common to identify the 

members of a family, as distinguished from 

each member's given name. 

Required Required 

Address Start Date The first date on which the 

address/organization information was applied Required Required 

The following may be repeated an indefinite number of times per person 

Role: Plot submitter Name of the person submitting the analysis. Required Required 

Role: Plot Primary Field 

Observer 

Name of the person who made the field 

observation (e.g., PI, technician, volunteer, 

etc.). 

Required Required 

Role: Plot Author Name of the author of the plot record. Required Required 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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Appendix D (Normative). Required attributes for Plots 

73 

Table D.2.4 ― Metadata about references for other sources of plot data. 

These fields are used when plot observations are taken from published literature sources. 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition 

Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

Authors Name of authors if plot record is taken from 

published work. Required Required 

Title Title of publication, if plot record is taken 

from published work. Required Required 

Publication Date Date of publication, if plot record is taken 

from published work. Required Required 

Edition Edition of publication if applicable, and if 

plot record is taken from published work. Required Required 

Series Name Name of publication series, if applicable, and 

if plot record is taken from published work. Required Required 

Page Page number of publication, if plot record is 

taken from published work. Required Required 

Table Cited Table number or code, if applicable and if 

plot record is taken from published work. Required Required 

Plot Cited Original plot name, if plot record is taken 

from published work. Required Required 

Citation Type 

Describes the type of reference this generic 

type is being used to represent. Examples: 

book, journal article, webpage. 

Required Required 

Title The formal title given to the work by its 

author or publisher. Required Required 

Pub Date Represents the date that the reference was 

published. Required Required 

Access Date 

The date the reference being referenced was 

accessed. This is useful if the reference is 

could be changed after formal publication, 

such as websites or databases. 

Required Required 

Conference Date The date the conference was held. Required Required 

Volume The volume of the journal in which the article 

appears. Required Required 

Issue The issue of the journal in which the article 

appears. Required Required 

Page Range The beginning and ending pages of the 

journal article that is being documented. Required Required 

Total Pages The total number of pages in the book that is 

being described. Required Required 

Publisher The organization that physically put together 

the report and publishes it. Required Required 

Publication Place 

The location at which the work was 

published. This is usually the name of the city 

in which the publishing house produced the 

work. 

Required Required 

ISBN The ISBN, or International Standard Book 

Number assigned to this literature reference. Required Required 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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Appendix D (Normative). Required attributes for Plots 

74 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition 

Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

Edition The edition of the generic reference type that 

is being described. Required Required 

Number Of Volumes Number of volumes in a collection Required Required 

Chapter Number The chapter number of the chapter of a book 

that is being described. Required Required 

Report Number 

The unique identification number that has 

been issued by the report institution for the 

report being described. 

Required Required 

Journal 

The name of the publication in which the 

article was published. Example(s): Ecology, 

New York Times, Harper's, Canadian Journal 

of Botany/Revue Canadienne de Botanique, 

The Journal of the American Medical 

Association 

Required Required 

ISSN 

The ISSN, or International Standard Serial 

Number assigned to this literature reference. 

Example(s): ISSN 1234-5679 

Required Required 

The following may be repeated an indefinite number of times for each contributor to the reference (e.g. 

author, editor). 

Role Type 

The role the party played with respect to the 

reference contribution. Some potential roles 

include technician, reviewer, principal 

investigator, and many others. 

Required Required 

Order 

Numerical order in which this contributor's 

name should be in the order of contributors, if 

applicable. Examples: 1 [for the first author], 

2, [for the second author], etc. 

Required Required 

Type The type of Party that a given record refers to, 

usually a person or institution. Required Required 

Given Name 

The given name field is used for all names 

except the surname of the individual. 

Examples: Jo, Jo R., Jo R.W., John Robert 

Peter 

Required Required 

Surname The surname field is used for the last name of 

the individual. 

Required Required 
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Appendix D (Normative). Required attributes for Plots 

75 

D.3 Information about each assignment of a field plot to a 

vegetation type 

Information that should be included about each assignment of a field plot to a vegetation 

type in the NVC or other party-specific classification. Assignment, per se, of a plot to a 

classification type is not required. Table D.3.1 describes the required information. 

Table D.3.1 ― Information about each assignment of a plot 

to a vegetation type. 

Attribute Name Attribute Definition Classification 

Plots 

Occurrence 

Plots 

Classification Start Date 

Start date for the application of a vegetation 

class to a plot observation by one or more 

parties. 

Required Required 

Classifier 

Name of person who classified the plot – this 

should link to a person included in the human 

resources metadata table. 

Required Required 

Interpretation Date The date that the interpretation was made. Required if 

known Required 

Interpretation Type 

Categories for the interpretation (e.g., author, 

computer-generated, simplified for 

comparative analysis, correction, finer 

resolution). 

Required if 

known Required 

Original Interpretation 

Does this interpretation correspond to the 

original interpretation of the plot author, as 

best as can be determined. There is no 

requirement that the authority match the 

authority of the author; only that the concepts 

are synonymous. 

Required if 

known Required 

Current Interpretation This interpretation is the most accurate 

interpretation currently available. 

Required if 

known Required 

The following may be repeated for each community type associated with a plot during a classification 

event 

Community Name Name of the community Required if 

known Required 

Community Reference Reference wherein the above name is defined Required if 

known Required 

1 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-1998 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) 

Appendix E (Normative): Growth Form Names, Codes, and Definitions 

76 

Appendix E (Normative): Growth Form Names, Codes, 

and Definitions 

Table E.1. Names, definitions and codes for growth forms for use in collecting 

vegetation plot data (see also Whittaker 1975:359, Tart et al. 2005b, and Table 

1.2 of Appendix B). Not to be confused with vegetation strata.

Table E.1a. General Growth Forms 

Growth 

Form 

Code 

Name and Definition 

T 

Tree - A woody plant that generally has a single main stem and a more or less definite crown. In instances 

where growth form cannot be determined, woody plants equal to or greater than 5 m in height at maturity shall 

be considered trees (adapted from FGDC 1997). Includes small trees or “treelets” (Box 1981) 

S 

Shrub - A woody plant that generally has several erect, spreading, or prostrate stems which give it a bushy 

appearance. In instances where growth form cannot be determined, woody plants less than 5 m in height at 

maturity shall be considered shrubs (adapted from FGDC 1997). Includes dwarf-shrubs (less than 30 cm), 

krummholz (wind-stunted woody scrub), low or short woody vines, and arborescents (woody plants that branch 

at or near ground-level but grow to low tree heights). (Box 1981). 

H 

Herb - A vascular plant without perennial aboveground woody stems, with perennating buds borne at or 

below the ground surface. (Whittaker 1975, FGDC 1997). Includes forbs (both flowering forbs and sporebearing ferns), graminoids, and herbaceous vines. 

N 

Nonvascular - A plant or plant-like organism without specialized water or fluid conductive tissue (xylem 

and phloem). Includes mosses, liverworts, hornworts, lichens, and algae (adapted from FGDC 1997). Also 

called thallophytes or “nonvascular cryptogams,” (that is, excluding the fern cryptogams) (Box 1981). 

E 

Epiphyte - A vascular or nonvascular plant that grows by germinating and rooting on other plants or other 

perched structures, and does not root in the ground (adapted from FGDC 1997). 

L 

Liana - A woody, climbing plant that begins life as terrestrial seedlings but relies on external structural 

support for height growth during some part of its life (Gerwing 2004), typically exceeding 5 m in height or 

length at maturity. 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-1998 

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Appendix E (Normative): Growth Form Names, Codes, and Definitions 

77 

Table E.1b. Specific Growth Forms

General 

Growth 

Form 

Code 

Specific 

Growth Form 

Code 

Name and Definition

T TBD 

Broad-leaved deciduous tree - A tree with a branching crown, leaves that have 

well-defined leaf blades that are generally of at least microphyll size (>225 mm2

, or 0.35 

in2

) and which seasonally loses all of its leaves and becomes temporarily bare-stemmed. 

(adapted from FGDC 1997, Box 1981)

TBE 

Broad-leaved evergreen tree - A tree with a branching crown, leaves that have 

well-defined leaf blades that are generally of at least microphyll size (>225 mm2

 or 0.35 

in2

) and which has green leaves all year round. (FGDC 1997, Box 1981)

TBES 

Sclerophyllous tree - A type of broad-leaved evergreen tree with leaves that are stiff 

and firm, and retain their stiffness even when wilted. The leaves are relatively small 

(microphyll to small mesophyll in size),and sometimes rather linear (FGDC 1997, 

Whittaker 1975, Box 1981)

TN 

Needle-leaved tree - A tree with slender, elongated leaves or with small overlapping 

leaves that usually lie flat on the stem. Includes scale-leaved and needle-leaved trees, 

deciduous and everrgreen, needleleaf trees. (FGDC 1997, Box 1981) 

TU 

Succulent tree – A tree or arborescent plant with fleshy stems or leaves with 

specialized tissue for the conservation of water. (FGDC 1997) Includes cacti, Joshua 

trees, euphorbias, and others over 5 meters in height at maturity. Referred to as 

“arborescent stem-succulent” by Box (1981)

TM 

Small-leaved tree - A tree with very small leaves (<225 mm2

, or 0.35 in2), or even 

leafless, sometimes armed with spines. Includes both evergreen and deciduous smallleaved trees, such as Acacia gregii, Mimosa (adapted from Thorn tree by Whittaker 

1975).

TP 

Palm tree - An evergreen, broad-leaved, flowering tree with a simple, unbranched 

stem and terminal, rosulate crown of large, pinnate or fan-shaped leaves. A type of 

rosette tree. Palms are the primary taxa (but see Draceanaceae, some Pandanaceae etc 

in Box 1981)

TF 

Tree fern - An evergreen, broad-leaved, spore-bearing tree (or arborescent fern) with 

a simple, unbranched stem and terminal, rosulate crown of large fronds. A type of rosette 

tree, including taxa from Cyatheaceae and some Velloziaceae (Box 1981).

TG 

Bamboo tree- A woody-stemmed, arborescent grass that is equal to or greater than 5 

m in height at maturity. Only applies to woody-stemmed bamboo graminoids. Includes the 

“Arborescent grasses” of Box (1981).

S SD 

Dwarf-shrub - A caespitose, creeping, matted, or cushion-forming shrub that is 

typically less than 30 cm tall at maturity due to genetic and/or environmental constraints, 

and generally small-leaved. Does not include shrubs less than 30 cm tall due to young 

age. (adapted from Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-1998 

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Appendix E (Normative): Growth Form Names, Codes, and Definitions 

78 

General 

Growth 

Form 

Code 

Specific 

Growth Form 

Code 

Name and Definition

SBD 

Broad-leaved deciduous shrub - A shrub that is typically more than 30 cm tall at 

maturity with leaves that have well-defined leaf blades that are generally of at least 

microphyll size (>225 mm2

, or 0.35 in2 and seasonally loses all of its leaves and becomes 

temporarily bare-stemmed. (FGDC 1997)

SBE 

Broad-leaved evergreen shrub - A shrub that is typically more than 30 cm tall at 

maturity with leaves that are generally of at least microphyll size (>225 mm2

, or 0.35 in2 

and has green leaves all year round. (adapted from FGDC 1997, Box 1981)

SBES 

Sclerophyllous shrub - A type of broad-leaved evergreen shrub with relatively 

small, leaves that are stiff and firm, and retain their stiffness even when wilted. (FGDC 

1997, Whittaker 1975)

SN 

Needle-leaved shrub - A shrub that is typically more than 30 cm tall at maturity with 

slender, elongated leaves or with small overlapping leaves that usually lie flat on the stem. 

(FGDC 1997) Includes scale-leaved as well as needle-leaved shrubs, and deciduous as 

well as evergreen.

SU 

Succulent shrub – A shrub or shrub-like plant that is typically more than 30 cm tall at 

maturity with fleshy stems or leaves with specialized tissue for the conservation of water. 

(adapted from FGDC 1997 and the Thorn shrub of Whittaker 1975) Includes cacti less 

than 5 meters in height at maturity. Includes both the “Typical Stem succulents” and 

”Bush succulents” of Box (1981). Includes Aloe, Agave.

SM 

Small-leaved shrub - A shrub that is typically more than 30 cm tall at maturity with 

very small leaves (<225 mm2

, or 0.35 in2), or even leafless, sometimes armed with 

spines, usually having compound, deciduous leaves that are often reduced in size. 

Includes Larrea tridentata, Prosopis glandulosa,Acacia neovernicosa, Senna, Calliandra

(Jennings et al. 2006, Whittaker 1975)

SP 

Palm shrub - An evergreen, broad-leaved, unbranched shrub that is typically more 

than 30 cm tall at maturity with a simple stem and terminal, rosulate crown of large, 

pinnate or fan-shaped leaves. Includes palms, espelettia, etc.
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-1998 

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Appendix E (Normative): Growth Form Names, Codes, and Definitions 

79 

General 

Growth 

Form 

Code 

Specific 

Growth Form 

Code 

Name and Definition

H HA 

Aquatic herb - A flowering or non-flowering herb structurally adapted to live floating or 

submerged in an aquatic environment. Does not include emergent herbs such as cattails 

and sedges. (FGDC 1997, Jennings et al. 2006)

HF 

Forb - A non-aquatic, non-graminoid herb with relatively broad leaves and/or showy 

flowers. Includes both flowering and spore-bearing, non-graminoid herbs. 

HFF Flowering forb - A forb with relatively broad leaves and showy flowers. Does not 

include graminoids, ferns, or fern-allies.

HFE Fern (Spore-bearing forb) - A non-flowering, spore-bearing forb. Includes nonaquatic, non-woody ferns, clubmosses, horsetails, and quillworts.

HFS 

Succulent forb - A flowering forb with a fleshy stem and often with reduced leaves. 

Includes Salicornia and others.

HG 

Graminoid - A non-aquatic, flowering herb with relatively long, narrow leaves and 

inconspicuous flowers with parts reduced to bracts. Includes grasses, sedges, rushes, 

and arrowgrasses.

N NB 

Bryophyte - A nonvascular, non-flowering, photosynthetic plant that bears leaf-like 

appendages or lobes and attaches to substrates by rhizoids. Includes mosses, 

liverworts, and hornworts. (Abercrombie et al. 1966)

NA 

Alga - A nonvascular, photosynthetic plant with a simple form ranging from single- or 

multi-celled to a filamentous or ribbon-like thallus with relatively complex internal 

organization. (Abercrombie et al. 1966)

NL 

Lichen - An organism generally recognized as a single plant that consists of a fungus 

and an alga or cyanobacterium living in symbiotic association. (FGDC 1997)

E E 

Epiphyte - A vascular or nonvascular plant that grows by germinating and rooting on 

other plants or other perched structures, and does not root in the ground (adapted from 

FGDC 1997).

L L 

Liana - A woody, climbing plant that begins life as terrestrial seedlings but relies on 

external structural support for height growth during some part of its life (Gerwing 2004), 

typically exceeding 5 m in height or length at maturity.

1 
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Appendix F (Informative): Example Association Description 

Field names and information are taken, in part, from the NatureServe Biotics database. 

OVERVIEW:

Names: 

Name: Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium scoparium - (Carex scirpoidea) / 

(Juniperus horizontalis) Herbaceous Association. 

Name, translated: Prairie Dropseed - Little Bluestem - (Scirpus-like Sedge) / (Creeping 

Juniper) Herbaceous Vegetation 

Common Name: Little Bluestem Alvar Grassland 

Identifier: CEGL005234

Unit: ASSOCIATION 

Placement in Hierarchy: 

FORMATION:Temperate Grassland, Meadow & Shrubland 

DIVISION: Eastern North America Grassland, Meadow & Shrubland 

MACROGROUP: Northeastern Rocky Grassland, Meadow & Shrubland 

GROUP: Great Lakes Alvar Grassland & Shrubland 

ALLIANCE: SPOROBOLUS HETEROLEPIS - (DESCHAMPSIA CAESPITOSA, 

SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM) HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE

Summary: The little bluestem alvar grassland type is found primarily in the upper 

Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, in northern Michigan and southern 

Ontario. These grasslands occur on very shallow, patchy soils (usually less than 20 cm deep, 

averaging about 6 cm deep) on flat alkaline limestone and dolostone outcrops (pavements). 

This community often has a characteristic soil moisture regime of alternating wet and dry 

periods. The vegetation is dominated by grasses and sedges, which tyically have at least 45% 

cover. Characteristic species of the grassland are Sporobolus heterolepis, Schizachyrium 

scoparium, Juniperus horizontalis, Carex scirpoidea, Deschampsia caespitosa, Packera 

paupercula (= Senecio pauperculus), and Carex crawei. There is usually less than 10% cover 

of shrubs over 0.5 m tall; however there may be as much as 50% cover of dwarf-shrubs (under 

0.5 m tall) especially Juniperus horizontalis. Less than 50% of the ground surface is exposed 

bedrock (including bedrock covered with nonvascular plants: lichens, mosses, algae). 

Classification Comments: The most commonly associated alvar communities that 

occur with this community in a landscape mosaic are Juniperus horizontalis - Dasiphora 
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fruticosa ssp. floribunda / Schizachyrium scoparium - Carex richardsonii Dwarf-shrubland 

(Creeping Juniper - Shrubby-cinquefoil Alvar Pavement Shrubland; CEGL005236), 

Deschampsia caespitosa - (Sporobolus heterolepis, Schizachyrium scoparium) - Carex crawei 

- Packera paupercula Herbaceous Vegetation (Tufted Hairgrass Wet Alvar 

Grassland;CEGL005110), Tortella tortuosa - Cladonia pocillum - Placynthium spp. Sparse 

Vegetation (Alvar Nonvascular Pavement;CEGL005192) and, Thuja occidentalis - Pinus 

banksiana / Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda / Clinopodium arkansanum Wooded 

Herbaceous Vegetation (White-cedar - Jack Pine / Shrubby-cinquefoil Alvar Savanna; 

CEGL005132) (Reschke et al. 1998). 

Rational for nominal species: Sporobolus heterolepis and Schizachyrium scoparium

are dominants. Carex scirpoidea and Juniperus horizontalis are constants (>60% constancy) 

in the type. Sporobolus heterolepis, Carex scirpoidea and Deschampsia cespitosa are 

differential species. 

VEGETATION: 

Physiognomy and structure: The vegetation is dominated by grasses and sedges, 

which usually have at least 45% cover. There is usually less than 10% cover of shrubs over 0.5 

m tall; however there may be as much as 50% cover of dwarf-shrubs (under 0.5 m tall) 

especially Juniperus horizontalis. This dwarf-shrub is shorter than the dominant grasses, and 

usually is found under the canopy of grasses, so the physiognomic type here is considered a 

grassland (in spite of relatively high cover of dwarf-shrubs). Less than 50% of the ground 

surface is exposed bedrock (including bedrock covered with nonvascular plants: lichens, 

mosses, algae). 

Table 1. Physiognomy of the Sporobolus heterolepis - 

Schizachyrium scoparium - (Carex scirpoidea) / (Juniperus 

horizontalis) Herbaceous Association; Little Bluestem Alvar 

Grassland, NVC identifier code CEGL005234. 

Physiognomy Average 

Cover Range of Cover 

Tree Cover (> 5m) 1.0 0 - 15 

Tree Height (m) 0.5 0 - 9 

Tall Shrub Cover (2-5 m) 0.5 0 - 3 

Tall Shrub Height (m) 0.5 0 - 3 

Short Shrub Cover (0.5-2 m) 11.0 0 - 33 

Short Shrub Height (m) 1.0 0 - 1.8 

Vine Cover 0.0 0 - 0 

Vine Height 0.0 0 - 0 

Herb Cover 46.0 4 - 99 

Herb Height 0.3 0-1 

Nonvascular Cover 34.0 0 - 90 
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Floristics: Characteristic species of the grassland are Sporobolus heterolepis, 

Schizachyrium scoparium, Juniperus horizontalis, Carex scirpoidea, Deschampsia caespitosa, 

Packera paupercula (= Senecio pauperculus), and Carex crawei. Juniperus horizontalis may 

co-dominate in some stands. 

Table 2: Floristic table of the Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium scoparium - 

(Carex scirpoidea) / (Juniperus horizontalis) Herbaceous Association; Little Bluestem 

Alvar Grassland, NVC identifier code CEGL005234. For species in > 10% of stands 

for a total of 17 field plots. Species nomenclature is according to Gleason and 

Cronquist (1991). 

Species by Layer Constancy Avg. Cover Range of Cover, 

Where Present * 

SHORT SHRUB LAYER (0.5-2 m) 

Juniperus communis 24 0.1 0.3 - 2 

Juniperus horizontalis 71 8.0 1 - 33 

Prunus pumila 29 0.5 0.3 - 4 

Thuja occidentalis 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

HERB LAYER 

Achillea millefolium 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Agropyron trachycaulum 24 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Ambrosia artemisiifolia 18 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Antennaria spp. 24 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Aquilegia canadensis 18 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Arenaria stricta 29 0.1 0.3 - 1 

Aster ciliolatus 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Aster laevis 47 0.5 0.3 - 2 

Bromus kalmii 18 0.1 0.3 - 2 

Calamagrostis canadensis 12 0.1 1 - 2 

Calamintha arkansana 59 1.0 0.3 - 5 

Campanula rotundifolia 65 0.5 0.3 - 1 

Carex aurea 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Carex crawei 24 2.0 0.3 - 18 

Carex eburnea 24 0.5 0.3 - 4 

Carex granularis 12 0.1 0.3 - 1 

Carex richardsonii 12 0.1 1 - 3 

Carex scirpoidea 71 4.0 0.3 - 23 

Carex viridula 41 0.5 0.3 - 2 

Castilleja coccinea 29 0.1 0.3 - 1 

Cladium mariscoides 12 0.5 1 - 5 

Comandra umbellata 53 0.1 0.3 - 1 

Danthonia spicata 53 1.0 0.3 - 5 

Deschampsia cespitosa 47 1.0 0.3 - 5 

Eleocharis compressa 29 0.5 0.3 - 3 

Eleocharis elliptica 12 0.5 0.3 - 5 

Fragaria virginiana 29 0.1 0.3 - 1 
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Table 2: Floristic table of the Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium scoparium - 

(Carex scirpoidea) / (Juniperus horizontalis) Herbaceous Association; Little Bluestem 

Alvar Grassland, NVC identifier code CEGL005234. For species in > 10% of stands 

for a total of 17 field plots. Species nomenclature is according to Gleason and 

Cronquist (1991). 

Species by Layer Constancy Avg. Cover Range of Cover, 

Where Present * 

Geum triflorum 18 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Hedyotis longifolia 18 0.5 0.3 - 5 

Hypericum kalmianum 41 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Hypericum perforatum 29 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Muhlenbergia glomerata 12 0.1 1 - 2 

Panicum spp. 35 1.0 0.3 - 5 

Poa compressa 47 5.0 0.3 - 55 

Polygala senega 12 0.1 0.3 - 1 

Potentilla fruticosa 71 2.0 0.3 - 8 

Prunella vulgaris 24 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Rhamnus alnifolia 12 0.1 0.3 - 2 

Rhus aromatica 18 0.2 0.3 - 3 

Saxifraga virginiensis 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Schizachyrium scoparium 71 8.0 0.3 - 38 

Scirpus cespitosus 12 2.0 1 - 25 

Senecio pauperculus 88 2.0 0.3 - 23 

Sisyrinchium mucronatum 18 0.1 0.3 - 1 

Solidago juncea 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Solidago ohioensis 12 1.0 0.3 - 16 

Solidago ptarmicoides 76 0.5 0.3 - 3 

Solidago spp. 18 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Sporobolus heterolepis 53 12.0 0.3 - 76 

Sporobolus neglectus/vaginiflorus 24 2.0 0.3 - 25 

Zigadenus elegans var. glaucus 29 0.1 0.3 - 2 

MOSS LAYER 

Gloeocapsa /rock surface algae 47 12.0 5 - 60 

Nostoc commune 41 2.0 0.3 - 18 

Trentepohlia spp 29 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Ditrichum flexicaule 24 0.1 0.3 - 3 

Pseudocalliergon turgescens 18 1.0 0.3 - 15 

Schistidium rivulare 24 0.5 0.3 - 10 

Tortella spp. 41 3.0 0.3 - 29 

Tortella tortuosa 12 0.5 0.3 - 10 

Cladina rangiferina 18 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Cladina spp. 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

Cladonia pyxidata 29 0.1 0.3 - 1 

Cladonia spp. 18 0.1 0.3 - 2 

Peltigera spp. (P. rufescens?) 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 
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Table 2: Floristic table of the Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium scoparium - 

(Carex scirpoidea) / (Juniperus horizontalis) Herbaceous Association; Little Bluestem 

Alvar Grassland, NVC identifier code CEGL005234. For species in > 10% of stands 

for a total of 17 field plots. Species nomenclature is according to Gleason and 

Cronquist (1991). 

Species by Layer Constancy Avg. Cover Range of Cover, 

Where Present * 

Placynthium nigrum 24 0.2 0.3 - 2 

Xanthoparmelia spp. 12 0.1 0.3 - 0.3 

* Each species may not be present in every plot; the range of values is derived only 

from plots where the species has been found. 

Dynamics: Not documented. 

Environment: These grasslands occur on very shallow, patchy soils (usually less than 

20 cm deep, averaging about 6 cm deep) on flat limestone and dolostone outcrops 

(pavements). Soils are loams high in organic matter. This community often has a characteristic 

soil moisture regime of alternating wet and dry periods; they can have wet, saturated soils in 

spring and fall, combined with summer drought in most years. In large patches over 20 ha (50 

acres) this grassland often occurs as a small-scale matrix, with smaller patches of other alvar 

communities occurring within the larger patch of little bluestem alvar grassland, forming a 

landscape mosaic (Reschke et al. 1998). 

Table 3. Physical environment of the Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium 

scoparium - (Carex scirpoidea) / (Juniperus horizontalis) Herbaceous 

Association; Little Bluestem Alvar Grassland, NVC identifier code 

CEGL005234. 

Continuous Variables Average Range 

Elevation (m) 186.0 178-209 

Slope Gradient (degrees) 0.5 0 - 3 

Organic Horizon Depth (cm) 1.0 0 - 8 

Average Field pH 7.8 7.3 - 9 

Soil Depth (cm) 4.0 1 - 9 

Exposed Bedrock (%) 18.0 0 - 75 

Large Rock, Surficial (% > 10 cm) 7.0 0 - 35 

Small Rock, Surficial (% 0.2 - 2 cm) 10.0 0 - 72 

Sand, Surficial (%) 0.0 0 - 0 

Bare Soil, Surficial (%) 0.5 0 - 5 

Litter (%) 2.0 0 - 12 

Down Wood (% > 1 cm dbh) 0.1 0 - 1 

Water (%) 0.1 0 - 1 

 

Categorical Variables Category Number of 
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Table 3. Physical environment of the Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium 

scoparium - (Carex scirpoidea) / (Juniperus horizontalis) Herbaceous 

Association; Little Bluestem Alvar Grassland, NVC identifier code 

CEGL005234. 

Continuous Variables Average Range 

Plots (%) 

Slope Aspect Flat 7 (41) 

Slope Aspect South 6 (35) 

Slope Aspect Northeast 2 (12) 

Slope Aspect West 1 (6) 

Slope Aspect North 1 (6) 

Topographic Position High, level 5 (28) 

Topographic Position Low, level 4 (24) 

Topographic Position Midslope 2(12) 

Topographic Position Other 4 (24) 

Topographic Position No Value 2 (12) 

Soil Moisture Periodically Inundated 7 (41) 

Soil Moisture Moist 4 (24) 

Soil Moisture Somewhat Moist 3 (17) 

Soil Moisture Dry 1 (6) 

Soil Moisture Extremely Dry 1 (6) 

Soil Moisture No Value 1 (6) 

DISTRIBUTION:

Range: The little bluestem alvar grassland type is found primarily in the upper Great 

Lakes region of the United States and Canada, in northern Michigan, and in Ontario on 

Manitoulin Island and vicinity, on the Bruce Peninsula, and at a few sites further east in the 

Carden Plain and Burnt Lands. 

Nations: CA US 

States/Provinces: Michigan, Ontario 

USFS Ecoregions: 212H:CC, 212Pc:CCC 

PLOT SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS: 

Location of archived plot data: Spreadsheet files with compiled vegetation data from 

plots and structural types are available from The Nature Conservancy's Great Lakes Program 

Office or from the state or provincial Heritage Programs. Original field forms are filed at 

state/provincial Heritage Programs. Plot data access forthcoming (2004) at 

www.vegbank.org.

Factors affecting data consistency: See “Methods,” below.
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The number and size of plots: Vegetation data were collected using 10 x 10 m relevé 

plots placed haphazardly within subjectively defined stands. 

Methods used to analyze field data and identify type: 

From Reschke et al. (1998): Field data collected by collaborators in Michigan, 

Ontario, and New York were compiled by the Heritage program staff in each jurisdiction, and 

provided to Carol Reschke (inventory and research coordinator for the Alvar Initiative). With 

assistance from a contractor (Karen Dietz), field data on vegetation, environment, and 

evidence of ecological processes from alvar sites were entered into spreadsheets. Spreadsheets 

were edited to combine a few ambiguous taxa (e.g. Sporobolus neglectus and S. vaginiflorus

look similar and can only be positively distinguished when they are flowering in early fall), 

incorporate consistent nomenclature (Kartesz 1994), delete duplicates, and delete species that 

occurred in only one or a few samples. Corresponding data on the environment and evidence 

of ecological processes were compiled in two additional spreadsheets. The plot data set 

consisted of data from 85 sample plots; there were 240 taxa of vascular and nonvascular taxa 

included in the initial data set. 

 

The plot data set included a great deal of structural detail. If a tree species was present 

in different vegetation strata, then it was recorded as a separate taxon for each layer in which it 

occurred; for example, Thuja occidentalis might be recorded as a tree (over 5 m tall), a tall 

shrub (2 to 5 m tall), and a short shrub (05 to 2 m tall). The full data set of 85 samples by 240 

taxa was analyzed using PC-ORD v 3.0 (McCune and Mefford 1995). Vegetation data on 

percent cover were relativized for each sample and then transformed with an arcsine - square 

root transformation. This standardization is recommended for percentage data (McCune and 

Mefford 1995). 

Two kinds of classification and two kinds of ordination procedures were applied to the 

full data set. Classification procedures used were: 1) cluster analysis with group average (or 

UPGMA) group linkage method and Sørenson's distance measure, and 2) TWINSPAN with 

the default settings. The two ordination procedures used were 1) Bray-Curtis ordination with 

Sørenson's distance and variance-regression endpoint selection, and 2) non-metric 

multidimensional scaling (NMS) using Sørenson's distance and the coordinates from the BrayCurtis ordination as a starting configuration. 

Environmental data recorded for each plot and data on evidence of ecological 

processes were used as overlays in ordination graphs to interpret ordination patterns and 

relationships among samples. 

The classification dendrograms and ordination graphs were presented to a core group 

of ecologists to discuss the results. Participants in the data analysis discussions were: Wasyl 

Bakowsky, Don Faber-Langendoen, Judith Jones, Pat Comer, Don Cuddy, Bruce Gilman, 

Dennis Albert, and Carol Reschke. The two classifications were compared to see how they 

grouped plots, and ordinations were consulted to check and confirm groupings of plots 

suggested by the classification program. At the end of the first meeting to discuss the data 

analysis, collaborating ecologists agreed on eight alvar community types, and suggested 
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 87

another four or five that had been observed in field surveys but were not represented in the plot 

data set. The group also recommended some refinements to the data analysis. 

Following the recommendations of the ecology group, the plot data were modified in 

two ways. For nonvascular plants, the first data set included data on individual species or 

genera, as well as taxa representing simple growth forms. Since only a few collaborators could 

identify nonvascular plants in the field, we had agreed to describe the nonvascular plants in 

plots by their growth form and collect a specimen if the species had at least 5% cover in the 

plot. If nonvascular species were identified by the surveyor, or from the collected specimen, 

the species were included in the data set. This may have biased the results, because the plots 

sampled by investigators who knew the nonvascular plants had a greater potential diversity 

than plots in which only a few growth forms were identified. Therefore, all data on 

nonvascular taxa were lumped into nine growth form categories: foliose algae (e.g. Nostoc), 

rock surface algae, microbial crusts, turf or cushion mosses, weft mosses, thalloid bryophytes, 

crustose lichens, foliose lichens, and fruticose lichens. The second modification involved 

lumping the different structural growth forms of woody taxa into a single taxon; for example, 

trees, tall shrubs and short shrubs forms of Thuja occidentalis were lumped into a single taxon. 

These modifications reduced the data set to 85 plots and 199 taxa, and even fewer taxa 

with the woody growth forms lumped. The analyses were run again using the procedures 

described above with the modified data sets. Lumping the nonvascular plants improved the 

classification and ordination results (yielding more clearly defined groups), but lumping the 

growth forms of tree species was actually detrimental to the results. The final classification 

that we used was produced from an analysis of the data set with nonvascular plants lumped 

into nine growth forms, and multiple growth forms of tree species kept separate. 

CONFIDENCE LEVEL: 

Confidence Rank: High. 

CITATIONS: 

Synonymy: 

Dry – Fresh Little Bluestem Open Alvar Meadow Type = (Lee et al. 1998). 

References: 

Gleason, H.A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular of plants of northeastern United 

States and adjacent Canada, 2nd edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, 

NY, USA. 910 p. 

Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, 

Canada, and Greenland. Second edition. Volume 1--Checklist. Timber Press, Portland, 

OR. 622 p. 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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Appendix F (Informative): Example Association Description. 

 88

Lee, H., W. Bakowsky, J. Riley, J. Bowles, M. Puddister, P. Uhlig, and S. McMurray. 1998. 

Ecological land classification for southern Ontario: First approximation and its 

application. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Southcentral Science Section, 

Science Development and Transfer Branch. SCSS Field Guide FG-02. 

McCune, B., and M.J. Mefford. 1995. Multivariate analysis of ecological data, PC-ORD 

version 3.0. MjM Software, Gleneden Beach, Oregon, USA. 

Reschke, C., R. Reid, J. Jones, T. Feeney, and H. Potter, on behalf of the Alvar Working 

Group. 1998. Conserving Great Lakes Alvars. Final Technical Report of the 

International Alvar Conservation Initiative. December 1998. The Nature Conservancy, 

Great Lakes Program, Chicago, IL. 119 pp. plus 4 appendices. 

Author of Description: C. Reschke and Don Faber-Langendoen 
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 89

APPENDIX G. (Informative). Pilot examples of units for 

Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 – 4 

Levels 1 – 3 are comprehensive for the globe; Level 4 is incompletely developed for the Western 

Hemisphere. 

LEVEL 1– 

FORMATION 

CLASS 

LEVEL 2 – 

FORMATION 

SUBCLASS 

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

Wetland formations marked 

with *

LEVEL 4 – DIVISION 

(examples only) 

1. Mesomorphic Tree 

Vegetation (Forest & 

Woodland) 

1.A. Tropical Moist Forest 1.A.1. Tropical Lowland 

Evergreen Rainforest 

Polynesian Lowland Evergreen 

Rainforest, Central AmericanCaribbean Lowland Evergreen 

Rainforest 

 1.A.2. Tropical Montane & Cloud 

Forest 

Polynesian Montane & Cloud 

Forest 

 1.A.3. Tropical Flooded & 

Swamp Forest * 

Neotropical Flooded & Swamp 

Forest 

 1.A.4. Mangrove* Atlantic-Caribbean-East 

Pacific Mangrove 

 1.B. Tropical Dry Forest 1.B.1. Tropical (Semi-) 

Deciduous Forest 

Central American-Caribbean 

Tropical Dry Forest 

 1.C. Temperate Forest 1.C.1. Warm Temperate Forest Southeastern North America 

Warm Temperate Forest, 

Madrean Warm Temperate 

Forest 

 1.C.2. Cool Temperate Forest Eastern North America 

Temperate Forest, Western 

North America Cool 

Temperate Forest 

 1.C.3. Temperate Flooded & 

Swamp Forest * 

Eastern North America 

Flooded & Swamp Forest 

 1. D. Boreal Forest 1.D.1. Lowland & Montane 

Boreal Forest 

North American Boreal Forest 

 1.D.2. Boreal Flooded & Swamp 

Forest * 

North American Boreal 

Flooded & Swamp Forest

2. Mesomorphic 

Shrub & Herb 

Vegetation 

(Shrubland & 

Grassland) 

2.A. Tropical Shrubland, 

Grassland, & Savanna 

2.A.1. Tropical Lowland 

Shrubland, Grassland, & 

Savanna 

Central American-Caribbean 

Shrubland, Grassland & 

Savanna 

 

 

2.A.2. Tropical Montane 

Shrubland, Grassland, & 

Savanna 

Central American-Caribbean 

Montane Shrubland, 

Grassland, & Savanna Andean 

Montane Shrubland, 

Grassland, & Savanna 

 2.A.3. Tropical Scrub & Herb 

Coastal Vegetation 

Neotropical Scrub & Herb 

Coastal Vegetation 

 2.A.4. Tropical Bog & Fen * Polynesian Bog & Fen 

 2.A.5. Tropical Freshwater Marsh 

* 

Neotropical Freshwater Marsh, 

Tropical Pacific Islands 

Freshwater Marsh 

 2.A.6. Tropical Salt Marsh* Tropical Pacific Islands Salt 

Marsh 

 2.B. Mediterranean Scrub 

& Grassland 

2.B.1. Mediterranean Scrub Californian Scrub 

 2.B.2. Mediterranean Grassland 

& Forb Meadow 

Californian Grassland & Forb 

Meadow 

 2.C. Temperate & Boreal 

Shrubland & Grassland 

2.C.1. Temperate Grassland, 

Meadow & Shrubland 

North American Great Plains 

Grassland and Shrubland 

 2.C.2. Boreal Grassland, Meadow 

& Shrubland 

North American Boreal 

Grassland, Meadow & 
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Shrubland 

 2.C.3. Temperate & Boreal Scrub 

& Herb Coastal Vegetation 

North American Atlantic Scrub 

& Herb Coastal Vegetation 

 2.C.4. Temperate & Boreal Bog & 

Fen* 

North American Bog & Fen 

 2.C.5. Temperate & Boreal 

Freshwater Marsh* 

North American Freshwater 

Marsh 

 2.C.6. Temperate & Boreal Salt 

Marsh * 

Temperate & Boreal Atlantic 

Rim Salt Marsh, Temperate & 

Boreal Pacific Rim Salt Marsh 

3. Xeromorphic Scrub 

& Herb Vegetation 

(Semi-Desert) 

3.A. Warm Semi-Desert 

Scrub & Grassland 

3.A.1. Warm Semi-Desert Scrub 

& Grassland 

Sonoran & Chihuahuan SemiDesert Scrub & Grassland 

 3.B. Cool Semi-Desert 

Scrub & Grassland 

3.B.1. Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & 

Grassland 

Great Basin Cool Semi-Desert 

Scrub & Grassland 

4. Cryomorphic 

Shrub & Herb 

Vegetation (Polar & 

High Montane 

Vegetation) 

4.A. Tropical High 

Montane Vegetation 

4.A.1. Tropical High Montane 

Scrub & Grassland 

Central American-Caribbean 

High Montane Scrub & 

Grassland, Andean High 

Montane Scrub & Grassland 

 4.B. Temperate & Boreal 

Alpine Vegetation 

4.B.1. Alpine Scrub, Forb 

Meadow & Grassland 

Western North America Alpine 

Scrub, Forb Meadow & 

Grassland; Eastern North 

America 

Alpine Scrub, Forb Meadow & 

Grassland; 

 4.C. Polar Tundra 4.C.1. Dwarf-shrub, Herb and 

Non-vascular Tundra 

Arctic Dwarf-shrub, Herb and 

Non-vascular Tundra 

 4.C.2. Tundra Wet Meadow * Arctic Tundra Wet Meadow 

5. Hydromorphic 

Vegetation (Aquatic 

Vegetation) 

5.A. Saltwater Aquatic 

Vegetation 

5.A.1. Marine and Estuarine 

Saltwater Aquatic Vegetation * 

(and inland saltwater?) 

Temperate Atlantic Saltwater 

Aquatic Vegetation, 

Temperate Pacific Saltwater 

Aquatic Vegetation 

 5.B. Freshwater Aquatic 

Vegetation 

5.B.1. Freshwater Aquatic 

Vegetation * 

North American Freshwater 

Aquatic Vegetation 

6.A. Tropical Nonvascular 

and Sparse Vegetation 

6.A.1. Tropical Cliff, Scree, & 

Rock Vegetation 

Neotropical Cliff, Scree, & 

Rock Vegetation 

6.B. Mediterranean, 

Temperate, & Boreal 

Nonvascular & Sparse 

Vegetation 

6.B.1. Mediterranean Cliff, Scree, 

& Rock Vegetation 

Californian Cliff, Scree, & Rock 

Vegetation 

 6.B.2. Temperate & Boreal Cliff, 

Scree, & Rock Vegetation 

Eastern North America Cliff, 

Scree, & Rock Vgetation 

6.C. Semi-Desert 

Nonvascular & Sparse 

Vascular Vegetation 

6.C.1. Warm Semi-Desert Cliff, 

Scree, & Rock Vegetation 

Sonoran &Chihuahuan Warm 

Semi-Desert Cliff, Scree, & 

Rock Vegetation 

6. Lithomorphic 

Vegetation 

(Nonvascular & 

Sparse Vascular Rock 

Vegetation) 

 6.C.2. Cool Semi-Desert Cliff, 

Scree, & Rock Vegetation 

Great Basin Cool Semi-Desert 

Cliff, Scree, & Rock Vegetation 

 6.D. Polar & High 

Montane Nonvascular & 

Sparse Vegetation 

6.D.1. Tropical High Montane 

Cliff, Scree, & Rock Vegetation 

Andean High Montane Cliff, 

Scree, & Rock Vegetation 

 6.D.2. Polar & Alpine Cliff, Scree, 

& Rock Vegetation 

Arctic Cliff, Scree, & Rock 

Vegetation; North American 

Alpine Cliff, Scree, & Rock 

Vegetation 

6 classes 18 subclasses 39 formations incomplete 

7. Agromorphic 

Vegetation (Agricultural 

Vegetation) See Appendix I 

8. Hortomorphic 

Vegetation (Developed 

Vegetation) See Appendix I 

8 classes 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

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APPENDIX H. (Informative). Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 – 7 for Eastern U.S. forests. Pilot example of NVC units for Eastern U.S. forests. Scientific names are used for Levels 1-4 and 7, and Colloquial Names for 5 – 6, but are not yet fully standardized. All units are in Formation Class L1 - Mesomorphic Tree Vegetation (Forest and Woodland). 

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

1A. Tropical Moist Forest 

1A1.Tropical Lowland Evergreen Rainforest 

1A1a.Caribbean-Central American Lowland Evergreen Rainforest 

Caribbean - Central American Seasonal Evergreen Forest MG 

Caribbean Hardwood Hammock Forest Group 

BURSERA SIMARUBA - COCCOLOBA DIVERSIFOLIA - NECTANDRA CORIACEA - EUGENIA AXILLARIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.33) CASASIA CLUSIIFOLIA - GUAPIRA DISCOLOR FOREST ALLIANCE (A.34) METOPIUM TOXIFERUM - EUGENIA FOETIDA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.38) SABAL PALMETTO - COCCOLOBA UVIFERA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.43) METOPIUM TOXIFERUM WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.465) CONOCARPUS ERECTUS - METOPIUM TOXIFERUM SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.77) 

 1A3.Tropical Flooded & 

Swamp Forest 

1A3a.Neotropical Swamp Forest 

Caribbean - Central American Broadleaf Evergreen Swamp Forest MG 

Caribbean Hardwood Swamp Group 

MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - PERSEA PALUSTRIS - CHRYSOBALANUS ICACO SEASONALLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.474) ANNONA GLABRA SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.76) 

 1A4.Mangrove 1A4a.Atlantic-Caribbean 

East Pacific Mangrove Forest 

Western Atlantic -Caribbean Mangrove MG 

Caribbean Mangrove Basin Swamp Group 

CONOCARPUS ERECTUS SEASONALLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.473) RHIZOPHORA MANGLE - CONOCARPUS ERECTUS SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.75) LAGUNCULARIA RACEMOSA SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.81) 

 Caribbean Mangrove Tidal 

Swamp Group 

CONOCARPUS ERECTUS TIDAL FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1923) AVICENNIA GERMINANS TIDAL FOREST ALLIANCE (A.80) RHIZOPHORA MANGLE TIDAL FOREST ALLIANCE (A.83) 

1B. Tropical Dry Forest 

1B3.Tropical (Semi)-Deciduous and Conifer Forest 

1B3a.Caribbean-Central American Dry Forest 

Caribbean - Central American Pine - Oak MG 

Caribbean Pine Forest Group 

PINUS ELLIOTTII TROPICAL WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.491) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

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L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

1C. Temperate Forest 

1C1. Warm Temperate Forest 

1C1a.Southeastern North America Warm Temperate Forest 

Southern Broadleaf Evergreen Hardwood MG 

Southern Live Oak - Coastal Hardwood Forest Group 

CARYA GLABRA - TILIA AMERICANA VAR. CAROLINIANA - CELTIS LAEVIGATA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.223) CELTIS LAEVIGATA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.226) ILEX OPACA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.3002) QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - CELTIS LAEVIGATA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.374) QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - QUERCUS PAGODA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.375) PINUS TAEDA - QUERCUS NIGRA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.406) QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA - (SABAL PALMETTO) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.479) SABAL PALMETTO TEMPERATE WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.481) QUERCUS GEMINATA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.52) QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - (SABAL PALMETTO) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.55) QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - (CELTIS LAEVIGATA) / PRUNUS 

CAROLINIANA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.666) 

 Beech - Magnolia - Oak 

Forest Group 

FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA - LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA - PINUS TAEDA - (MAGNOLIA GRANDIFLORA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1989) FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA - QUERCUS ALBA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.228) FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA - MAGNOLIA GRANDIFLORA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.369) 

 Coastal Plain Pine MG Sand Pine Scrub Forest 

Group 

PINUS CLAUSA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.117) PINUS CLAUSA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.511) 

 Dry & Mesic Longleaf Pine 

Woodland Group 

PINUS PALUSTRIS / QUERCUS SPP. WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.499) PINUS ELLIOTTII WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.517) PINUS PALUSTRIS WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.520) QUERCUS LAEVIS WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.617) 

 Wet Longleaf Pine 

Woodland Group 

PINUS ELLIOTTII SATURATED TROPICAL WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.493) PINUS ELLIOTTII SATURATED TEMPERATE WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.574) PINUS PALUSTRIS - PINUS (ELLIOTTII, SEROTINA) SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.578) PINUS ELLIOTTII - TAXODIUM ASCENDENS SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.692) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

 93

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

 1C2. Cool Temperate 

Forest 

1C2a. Eastern North America Cool Temperate Forest 

Southern Hardwood & Pine MG 

Southeastern Oak - Hickory Forest Group 

QUERCUS ALBA - (QUERCUS NIGRA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.238) QUERCUS ALBA - QUERCUS (FALCATA, STELLATA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.241) QUERCUS FALCATA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.243) QUERCUS SHUMARDII - QUERCUS PAGODA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.252) QUERCUS HEMISPHAERICA - CARYA GLABRA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.372) QUERCUS HEMISPHAERICA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.53) QUERCUS ALBA - QUERCUS STELLATA - QUERCUS VELUTINA - (QUERCUS FALCATA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.613) 

 Shortleaf Pine - Oak 

Forest Group 

PINUS ECHINATA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.119) PINUS ECHINATA - QUERCUS (ALBA, FALCATA, STELLATA, VELUTINA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.394) PINUS ECHINATA - QUERCUS (COCCINEA, PRINUS) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.395) PINUS ECHINATA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.515) PINUS ECHINATA - QUERCUS (ALBA, FALCATA, STELLATA, VELUTINA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.679) PINUS ECHINATA - QUERCUS STELLATA - QUERCUS MARILANDICA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.680) 

 Loblolly Pine - Oak Forest 

Group 

PINUS TAEDA - PINUS ECHINATA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.129) PINUS (ECHINATA, TAEDA) - QUERCUS (STELLATA, MARILANDICA, FALCATA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.2011) PINUS (ECHINATA, TAEDA) - QUERCUS (INCANA, MARGARETTIAE, ARKANSANA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.386) PINUS TAEDA - QUERCUS (ALBA, FALCATA, STELLATA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.404) PINUS TAEDA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.526) QUERCUS INCANA - (QUERCUS ARKANSANA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.615) 

 Central Oak - Hardwood 

& Pine MG 

Bur Oak - Northern Pin Oak Woodland Group 

QUERCUS MACROCARPA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.245) QUERCUS ELLIPSOIDALIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.255) QUERCUS MACROCARPA - QUERCUS BICOLOR - (CARYA LACINIOSA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.293) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

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L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

QUERCUS MACROCARPA - QUERCUS (ALBA, ELLIPSOIDALIS, VELUTINA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.619) QUERCUS MACROCARPA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.620) 

 Chestnut Oak - American 

Chestnut Forest Group 

CASTANEA DENTATA - QUERCUS PRINUS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.224) QUERCUS PRINUS - (QUERCUS COCCINEA, QUERCUS VELUTINA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.248) QUERCUS PRINUS - QUERCUS (ALBA, FALCATA, RUBRA, VELUTINA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.249) QUERCUS PRINUS - QUERCUS RUBRA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.250) CASTANEA DENTATA - QUERCUS RUBRA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.268) QUERCUS PRINUS - QUERCUS COCCINEA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.622) QUERCUS PRINUS - QUERCUS MARILANDICA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.623) QUERCUS RUBRA - QUERCUS PRINUS WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.624) 

 Chinquapin Oak - Ash - 

Red Cedar Alkaline Forest Group 

QUERCUS MUEHLENBERGII - (ACER SACCHARUM) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1912) FRAXINUS QUADRANGULATA - (JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.1913) ACER BARBATUM - FRAXINUS AMERICANA - (JUGLANS NIGRA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.214) JUGLANS NIGRA - AESCULUS GLABRA - CELTIS (LAEVIGATA, OCCIDENTALIS) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.232) JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA - QUERCUS (MUEHLENBERGII, STELLATA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.382) JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.545) FRAXINUS AMERICANA - CARYA GLABRA - (JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.604) FRAXINUS QUADRANGULATA - QUERCUS MACROCARPA - QUERCUS MUEHLENBERGII WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.605) QUERCUS MUEHLENBERGII WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.621) 

 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak 

Woodland Group 

QUERCUS STELLATA - QUERCUS MARILANDICA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.253) QUERCUS STELLATA FLATWOODS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.261) JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA - QUERCUS (STELLATA, VELUTINA, MARILANDICA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.383) QUERCUS STELLATA - QUERCUS MARILANDICA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.625) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

 95

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

 White Oak - Red Oak - 

Black Oak Forest & Woodland Group 

QUERCUS VELUTINA - QUERCUS ALBA - (QUERCUS COCCINEA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1911) QUERCUS ALBA - (QUERCUS RUBRA, CARYA SPP.) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.239) QUERCUS RUBRA - (ACER SACCHARUM) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.251) CARYA (GLABRA, OVATA) - FRAXINUS AMERICANA - QUERCUS (ALBA, RUBRA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.258) QUERCUS ALBA MONTANE FOREST ALLIANCE (A.271) QUERCUS ALBA - (QUERCUS VELUTINA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.612) 

 Pitch Pine - Virginia Pine - 

Oak Forest & Woodland Group 

PINUS VIRGINIANA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.131) TSUGA CAROLINIANA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.144) PINUS VIRGINIANA - QUERCUS (ALBA, STELLATA, FALCATA, VELUTINA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.407) PINUS VIRGINIANA - QUERCUS (COCCINEA, PRINUS) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.408) PINUS (RIGIDA, ECHINATA) - QUERCUS COCCINEA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.415) PINUS RIGIDA - QUERCUS (VELUTINA, PRINUS) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.416) PINUS PUNGENS - (PINUS RIGIDA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.521) PINUS RIGIDA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.524) PINUS (RIGIDA, PUNGENS, VIRGINIANA) - QUERCUS PRINUS WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.677) PINUS RIGIDA - QUERCUS (ALBA, STELLATA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.681) PINUS RIGIDA - QUERCUS (COCCINEA, VELUTINA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.687) 

 Northern & Central 

Mesophytic Hardwood & Conifer MG 

Appalachian Mesophytic Montane Forest Group 

ACER RUBRUM - NYSSA SYLVATICA - MAGNOLIA FRASERI FOREST ALLIANCE (A.2009) LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA - TILIA AMERICANA VAR. HETEROPHYLLA - AESCULUS FLAVA - ACER SACCHARUM FOREST ALLIANCE (A.235) TSUGA CANADENSIS - LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.413) 

 Maple - Beech - Oak 

Central Mesophytic Forest Group 

FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA - QUERCUS RUBRA - QUERCUS ALBA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.229) ACER SACCHARUM - CARYA CORDIFORMIS TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.302) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

 96

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

 Beech - Maple - Birch - 

Basswood Forest Group 

ACER SACCHARUM - BETULA ALLEGHANIENSIS - (FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.216) ACER SACCHARUM - FRAXINUS AMERICANA - TILIA AMERICANA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.217) ACER SACCHARUM - TILIA AMERICANA - (QUERCUS RUBRA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.220) FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA - ACER SACCHARUM - (LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.227) FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA - QUERCUS SPP. - ACER SPP. FOREST ALLIANCE (A.230) BETULA ALLEGHANIENSIS - FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA - AESCULUS FLAVA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.266) QUERCUS RUBRA MONTANE FOREST ALLIANCE (A.272) FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.284) PINUS STROBUS - ACER SACCHARUM FOREST ALLIANCE (A.3012) POPULUS TREMULOIDES WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.610) TILIA AMERICANA - FRAXINUS AMERICANA - (ACER SACCHARUM) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.628) 

 Eastern Pine - Hemlock - 

Hardwood Forest Group 

PINUS STROBUS - TSUGA CANADENSIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.127) THUJA OCCIDENTALIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.142) TSUGA CANADENSIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.143) TSUGA CANADENSIS - (PINUS STROBUS) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.171) TSUGA CANADENSIS - BETULA ALLEGHANIENSIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.412) THUJA OCCIDENTALIS - BETULA ALLEGHANIENSIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.417) THUJA OCCIDENTALIS WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.544) 

 Red Spruce - Fir Forest 

Group 

ABIES FRASERI - PICEA RUBENS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.136) PICEA RUBENS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.138) PICEA RUBENS - ABIES BALSAMEA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.150) PICEA RUBENS - BETULA ALLEGHANIENSIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.384) PICEA RUBENS WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.546) 

 White Pine - Red Pine - 

Oak Forest & Woodland Group 

PINUS RESINOSA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.126) PINUS STROBUS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.128) PINUS BANKSIANA - QUERCUS (ELLIPSOIDALIS, VELUTINA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.391) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

 97

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

PINUS STROBUS - (PINUS RESINOSA) - POPULUS TREMULOIDES FOREST ALLIANCE (A.400) PINUS STROBUS - QUERCUS (ALBA, RUBRA, VELUTINA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.401) PINUS STROBUS - QUERCUS (COCCINEA, PRINUS) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.402) PINUS (BANKSIANA, RESINOSA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.507) PINUS RESINOSA - QUERCUS RUBRA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.670) PINUS STROBUS - BETULA POPULIFOLIA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.682) 

 Southern Great Plains 

Oak - Hardwood MG 

Pinchot Juniper Scrub Group [under review] 

JUNIPERUS PINCHOTII WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.505) 

 Texas Live Oak Woodland 

Group 

QUERCUS FUSIFORMIS FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1926) QUERCUS BUCKLEYI FOREST ALLIANCE (A.242) QUERCUS FUSIFORMIS WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.477) JUNIPERUS ASHEI WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.501) QUERCUS FUSIFORMIS - CELTIS LAEVIGATA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.663) 

 Texas Mesic Hardwoods 

Forest Group 

ACER GRANDIDENTATUM - QUERCUS BUCKLEYI - QUERCUS MUEHLENBERGII FOREST ALLIANCE (A.215) 

 Eastern North America 

Ruderal Forest & Plantation MG 

Southeast Conifer & Hardwood Plantation 

PINUS PALUSTRIS PLANTED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.96) PINUS TAEDA PLANTED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.99) 

 Northern & Central 

Hardwood & Conifer Ruderal Forest 

JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.137) JUGLANS NIGRA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1932) AILANTHUS ALTISSIMA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.221) LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.236) ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.256) PINUS THUNBERGIANA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.3016) GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.606) PAULOWNIA TOMENTOSA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.609) 

 Southeast Hardwood & 

Conifer Ruderal Forest 

PINUS TAEDA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.130) LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.234) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

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L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

QUERCUS NIGRA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.247) 

 Northern & Central Conifer 

& Hardwood Plantation 

PICEA ABIES PLANTED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.ZZ) 

 1C3.Temperate Flooded & 

Swamp Forest 

1C3a.Eastern North America Flooded & Swamp Forest 

Southern Bottomland Flooded/Swamp MG 

Bald-cypress - Tupelo Swamp Group 

PINUS TAEDA - NYSSA BIFLORA - TAXODIUM DISTICHUM TIDAL FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1886) TAXODIUM DISTICHUM - (PLATANUS OCCIDENTALIS) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.298) NYSSA (AQUATICA, BIFLORA, OGECHE) FLOODPLAIN SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.323) PLANERA AQUATICA SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.326) TAXODIUM DISTICHUM - NYSSA (AQUATICA, BIFLORA, OGECHE) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.337) NYSSA AQUATICA - (TAXODIUM DISTICHUM) SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.345) TAXODIUM DISTICHUM SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.346) TAXODIUM DISTICHUM - NYSSA BIFLORA - (NYSSA AQUATICA) SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.355) NYSSA BIFLORA - (NYSSA AQUATICA, TAXODIUM DISTICHUM) TIDAL FOREST ALLIANCE (A.357) NYSSA BIFLORA - TAXODIUM ASCENDENS SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.655) TAXODIUM DISTICHUM TIDAL WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.659) 

 Oak - Sweetgum 

Bottomland Flooded/Swamp Group 

LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA - (LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA, ACER RUBRUM) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.287) QUERCUS (MICHAUXII, PAGODA, SHUMARDII) - LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.291) QUERCUS (PHELLOS, NIGRA, LAURIFOLIA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.292) LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA - (ACER RUBRUM) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.321) LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA - TAXODIUM DISTICHUM SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.322) QUERCUS (LAURIFOLIA, PHELLOS) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.327) QUERCUS PHELLOS SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.330) 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) Appendix H. (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Natural Vegetation: Levels 1 -7 for Eastern U.S. forests. 

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L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

QUERCUS TEXANA - (QUERCUS LYRATA) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.331) LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.350) QUERCUS MICHAUXII - QUERCUS PAGODA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.353) QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - CELTIS LAEVIGATA - QUERCUS PAGODA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.376) PINUS GLABRA - QUERCUS (LAURIFOLIA, MICHAUXII, NIGRA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.431) PINUS TAEDA - LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA - NYSSA BIFLORA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.433) PINUS TAEDA - QUERCUS (PHELLOS, NIGRA, LAURIFOLIA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.437) PINUS GLABRA - QUERCUS LAURIFOLIA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.442) PINUS TAEDA - LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA - ACER RUBRUM SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.445) QUERCUS VIRGINIANA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.57) 

 Oak - Tupelo Depression 

Swamp Group 

QUERCUS ALBA - (NYSSA SYLVATICA) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1996) QUERCUS STELLATA - PINUS TAEDA DEPRESSION SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.2014) CORNUS FOEMINA SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.319) CRATAEGUS (AESTIVALIS, OPACA, RUFULA) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.320) NYSSA (AQUATICA, BIFLORA, OGECHE) POND SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.324) QUERCUS LYRATA - (CARYA AQUATICA) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.328) NYSSA BIFLORA - ACER RUBRUM - (LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA) SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.351) QUERCUS LAURIFOLIA - NYSSA BIFLORA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.352) NYSSA BIFLORA SEASONALLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.648) 

 Pond-cypress Swamp 

Group 

TAXODIUM ASCENDENS SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.336) TAXODIUM ASCENDENS SEASONALLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.651) TAXODIUM DISTICHUM - (TAXODIUM ASCENDENS) SEASONALLY FLOODED LAKESHORE WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.652) 
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 100

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

 Southern Coastal Plain 

Broadleaf Evergreen & Conifer Swamp MG 

Coastal Plain Mixed Evergreen Swamp Group 

MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - NYSSA BIFLORA - (TAXODIUM DISTICHUM, NYSSA AQUATICA, PERSEA PALUSTRIS) TIDAL FOREST ALLIANCE (A.1885) SALIX CAROLINIANA SEASONALLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.1914) FRAXINUS CAROLINIANA SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.344) TAXODIUM DISTICHUM - PERSEA PALUSTRIS - CHRYSOBALANUS ICACO SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.366) MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - NYSSA (BIFLORA, OGECHE) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.377) MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - NYSSA BIFLORA - (QUERCUS LAURIFOLIA) SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.378) QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - QUERCUS NIGRA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.379) SABAL PALMETTO - QUERCUS LAURIFOLIA - QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - ULMUS AMERICANA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.380) PINUS ELLIOTTII - MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - NYSSA BIFLORA - (TAXODIUM ASCENDENS) SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.441) SABAL PALMETTO SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.488) CLIFTONIA MONOPHYLLA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.58) PINUS SEROTINA SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.581) GORDONIA LASIANTHUS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.59) MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - PERSEA PALUSTRIS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.60) SABAL PALMETTO - QUERCUS VIRGINIANA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.61) 

 Atlantic Maritime Conifer & 

Hardwood Swamp Group [under review] 

JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA VAR. SILICICOLA TIDAL WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.1887) FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA - ACER RUBRUM - ULMUS AMERICANA TIDAL FOREST ALLIANCE (A.356) ACER RUBRUM - FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA TIDAL WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.658) 

 Atlantic White-cedar 

Swamp Group 

CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.196) PINUS RIGIDA - ACER RUBRUM SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.3005) PINUS TAEDA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.3009) 
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 101

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

PINUS TAEDA - CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES - ACER RUBRUM - NYSSA BIFLORA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.444) CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES - ACER RUBRUM SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.448) CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES SEASONALLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.571) CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.575) PINUS RIGIDA SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.580) 

 Northern & Central 

Hardwood Flooded/Swamp MG 

Hackberry - Green Ash - Silver Maple Floodplain Group 

ACER NEGUNDO TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.278) ACER SACCHARINUM TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.279) BETULA NIGRA - (PLATANUS OCCIDENTALIS) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.280) CARYA ILLINOINENSIS - (CELTIS LAEVIGATA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.282) FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA - ULMUS AMERICANA - CELTIS (OCCIDENTALIS, LAEVIGATA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.286) PLATANUS OCCIDENTALIS - (FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA, CELTIS LAEVIGATA, ACER SACCHARINUM) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.288) PLATANUS OCCIDENTALIS - (LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA, LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.289) ACER (RUBRUM, SACCHARINUM) - ULMUS AMERICANA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.299) PLATANUS OCCIDENTALIS - (BETULA NIGRA, SALIX SPP.) TEMPORARILY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.633) 

 Red Maple - Ash - Oak 

Flooded/Swamp Group 

QUERCUS BICOLOR - ACER RUBRUM TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.3004) QUERCUS PALUSTRIS - ACER RUBRUM TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.301) ACER RUBRUM - FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.316) QUERCUS PALUSTRIS - (QUERCUS BICOLOR) SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.329) ACER RUBRUM - NYSSA SYLVATICA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.348) ACER RUBRUM SEASONALLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.653) ACER RUBRUM SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.657) 
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 102

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

 Eastern Cottonwood - 

Black Willow Flooded/Swamp Group 

POPULUS DELTOIDES TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.290) SALIX CAROLINIANA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.296) SALIX NIGRA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.297) SALIX CAROLINIANA SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.332) SALIX NIGRA SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.334) 

 Southeastern Plains 

Flooded/Riparian Group 

ULMUS AMERICANA - CELTIS LAEVIGATA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.1916) MACLURA POMIFERA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.1917) CELTIS LAEVIGATA - ULMUS CRASSIFOLIA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.283) 

 Eastern Cottonwood - 

Willow - Ash Plains Flooded/Riparian Group 

FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA - (ULMUS AMERICANA) FOREST ALLIANCE (A.259) CELTIS LAEVIGATA - ULMUS CRASSIFOLIA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.283) FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA - (ULMUS AMERICANA) TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.308) FRAXINUS PENNSYLVANICA - (ULMUS AMERICANA) WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.629) POPULUS DELTOIDES TEMPORARILY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.636) SALIX GOODDINGII TEMPORARILY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.640) SALIX EXIGUA SEASONALLY FLOODED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.649) 

 Northern Hardwood & 

Conifer Swamp MG 

Northern Hardwood Swamp Group 

FRAXINUS NIGRA - ACER RUBRUM SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.347) 

 Northern White-cedar - 

Hemlock - Red Spruce Conifer Swamp Group 

PICEA RUBENS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.198) THUJA OCCIDENTALIS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.200) TSUGA CANADENSIS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.201) PICEA RUBENS - ABIES BALSAMEA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.202) PINUS STROBUS - (ACER RUBRUM) SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.443) THUJA OCCIDENTALIS - ACER RUBRUM SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.446) 
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 103

L2. Formation Subclass 

L3. Formation L4. Division L5. MacroGroup L6. Group L7. Alliance 

TSUGA CANADENSIS - ACER RUBRUM SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.447) PICEA RUBENS - ACER RUBRUM SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.450) PINUS STROBUS - ACER RUBRUM SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.582) THUJA OCCIDENTALIS SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.583) 

1D. Boreal Forest & Woodland 

1D1.Lowland and Montane Boreal Forest 

1D1a.North American Boreal Forest 

Eastern Boreal Conifer & Hardwood MG 

Jack Pine - (Black Spruce) Forest Group 

PINUS BANKSIANA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.116) PICEA MARIANA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.3504) PINUS BANKSIANA - POPULUS TREMULOIDES FOREST ALLIANCE (A.390) 

 White Spruce - Balsam Fir 

Forest Group 

PICEA GLAUCA - ABIES BALSAMEA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.148) PICEA MARIANA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.149) PICEA MARIANA - POPULUS TREMULOIDES FOREST ALLIANCE (A.414) PICEA GLAUCA - ABIES BALSAMEA - POPULUS SPP. FOREST ALLIANCE (A.418) PICEA GLAUCA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.551) 

 Aspen - Birch Forest 

Group 

BETULA PAPYRIFERA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.267) POPULUS TREMULOIDES - BETULA PAPYRIFERA FOREST ALLIANCE (A.269) BETULA PAPYRIFERA WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.603) 

 1D2.Boreal Peat & Swamp 

Forest 

1D2a.North American Boreal Peat & Swamp Forest 

Boreal Conifer Peatland MG 

Black Spruce - Tamarack Acid Peatland Group 

PICEA MARIANA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.197) PICEA MARIANA SATURATED WOODLAND ALLIANCE (A.585) 

 Boreal Conifer & 

Hardwood Swamp MG 

Tamarack - Conifer Alkaline Swamp Group 

LARIX LARICINA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (A.349) 

 Boreal Hardwood Swamp POPULUS BALSAMIFERA EASTERN BOREAL ALLIANCE 

[new] (A.ZZ) 
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National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) 

Appendix I (Informative): Pilot examples of units for Cultural Vegetation: Levels 1 -8. 

 104

APPENDIX I. (Informative). Pilot example for Cultural 

Vegetation: Levels 1 – 8. 

For Levels 1 – 4, units for cultural vegetation pilot are adapted from typical land cover categories 

(e.g., USGS 2001), and are intended to be comprehensive for the globe. For Levels 6 and 7, units 

are taken directly from the National Resources Inventory (NRI 2003), where those are cultural 

vegetation units (i.e. not natural or non-vegetated), but the NRI units are re-organized to fit into 

the upper level structure. Levels 6 and 7 are comprehensive for the United States. Level 5 is only 

partially developed and Level 8 is not developed at this time (both levels are optional). NLCD = 

National Land Cover Database (USGS 2001); NRI = National Resources Inventory, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRI 2003). 
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 105

LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 
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 106

LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

7. AGRICULTURAL VEGETATION [NRI = Cropland] [NLCD = Agriculture]

Woody Agricultural Vegetation

Woody Horticultural Crop

[NRI = Cropland - Horticultural Crops]

Orchard (tree) 

[NRI = Fruit - Orchards, Nut – Trees, bush fruits, vineyards and others. 

Temperate and Tropical Orchard 

Fruit – Orchards (001) 

Apple Apricots Avocados Bananas (all types) Breadfruit cacao Cherimoya Cherries Citron Coconut Coffee Cumquat (kumquat) Dates Elderberry Figs Grapefruit Jujube K-Early Citrus Lemon Lime Limon Loquat Mango Nectarine Olives Orange Papayas PawPaw (papaw) Peach Pear Persimmons Plantains Plums Pomegranates Pummelo (Pomelo) Quenepa Quince Sapote Soursop Sweetsop Tangelos Temples 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

Nuts – Trees (002) 

Almonds Betelnut Cashews Chestnuts Hazelnuts (Filberts) Macadamias Pecans Walnuts 

Vineyard (vine) Temperate and 

Tropical Vineyard

Vineyard (003) Grape 

Kiwi-fruit Muscadine Passion Fruit Starfruit Hops 

Bush fruit and berries (shrub)

Temperate and Tropical Bush Fruit 

Bush-fruit (004) Blueberry 

Currant Evergreen-berry Gooseberry Guava Pepino Bramble shrub Blackberry Boysenberry Dewberry Loganberry Marionberry Olallieberry Raspberry-black Raspberry-red

Berries (005) Cranberries (grown in 

bogs) Strawberries 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

Other Woody Agricultural / Rural Vegetation 

[NRI =Other Farmland, in part]

Other Woody Farmland /Rural Vegetation)[ excludes 

semi-natural forestry tree plantations – see Forest and Woodland

Temperate and Tropical Other Woody Farmland/Rural Vegetation 

Farmsteads and ranch headquarters (400) (woody) [= 

Developed Vegetation?]

No NRI Types. 

Other land in farms (not associated with farmsteads) (401) (woody) [= 

land use, not land cover for some types?]

Agroforestry and tree plantations (planted/ managed trees grownfor specialty uses, such as Christmas trees, oils, fiber, flower, specialty woods, biofuel; e.g., eucalyptus, bamboo, paulownia, [overlap with semi-natural forestry plantations] Airplane landing stripsCommercial feedlots Duck farms Field windbreaks Greenhouses Hog facilities Mink farms Mushroom farms Nurseries Poultry facilities 
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 109

LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

Herbaceous Agricultural Vegetation 

Cultivated Crop [ = 

NLCD, NRI = Cropland – Row and Close Grown Crops, also includes Cultivated Pastureland, Hayland]

Row Crop 

[=NRI Row and Close Grown Crops]

Temperate and Tropical Row Crop 

Corn (011) Corn for silage 

Decorative corn Field corn Grain corn Popcorn Seed corn Sweet corn 

Sorghum (012) No NRI Types Soybeans (013) No NRI Types Cotton (014) No NRI Types Peanuts (015) No NRI Types Tobacco (016) No NRI Types Sugar beets (017) 

No NRI Types 

Potatoes (018) No NRI Types 
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LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

Other vegetables and truck crops including melons (019) 

Artichokes Arrugula Asparagus Beans (all types except soybeans) Beets (excluding sugar beets) Broccoli Brussel sprouts Cabbage Cantaloupe Cardoon Carrots Casabamelon (manioa, manihot, tapioca plant) Cauliflower Celeriac Celery Chard, Swiss Chickory Chinese vegetables (truck type) Corn-sweet, decorative, popcorn, (only if a fewrows are grown as part of a larger mixed truck crop or farm market operation) Cucumbers Daikon Dasheen Eggplant Endive Escarole Garlic Gourd Honeydew melon Horse-radish Kale 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

Kohirabi Leeks Lettuce (all types) Muskmelon Mustard greens (mustard seed, see other close grown crops) Okra Onions Parsnip Peas (all types) Peppers (all types) Pumpkins Radish Rhubarb Romaine Rutabaga Salsify Scallions Spinach Squash (all types) Sweet Potato Taniers (tania, tanya) Taro (upland dry types) Tomatoes Turnips Watermelon Yam
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

All other row crops (020) 

Castorbean Ginger root Ginseng Guar Guayule 

Jojoba

Kenaf Pineapple Safflower Sugar cane Taro (wetland) 

Sunflowers 

(021)

No NRI Types 

Close Grown Crop 

[=NRI Cropland – Close Grown]

Temperate and Tropical Close Crown Crop

Wheat (111) No NRI Types

 Oats (112) No NRI Types Rice (113) No NRI Types Barley (114) No NRI Types
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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 113

LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

All other close grown crops (116) 

Alfalfa (for seed) Buckwheat Canola Dill (oil and herb) Dry field peas Emmer Flax (Linseed) Grasses grown for seed Herbs-seasoning Lentils Millet Mint (all types) Mustard-seed Rape Rye Rye grass Salt hay Sod Spelt Tritcale Watercress 

Cultivated Pasture and Hayland

[=NRI Cropland – Hayland]

Temperate and Tropical Cultivated Hayland and Pasture 

Grass (141) No NRI Types 

e.g., Pearl millet, Annual rye, Wheat 

Legume (142) No NRI Types 

e.g., alfalfa 

Legume-grass (143) 

No NRI Types e.g., Perennial ryegrass-White Dutch clover 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

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LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

Pasture / Hay 

[NLCD = Pasture / Hay] [NRI = NonCultivated Pastureland and Hayland] 

Permanent Pasture & Hayland[=NRI Pastureland and Native Pasture]

Temperate and Tropical Permanent Pasture & Hayland 

Grass (211) No NRI Types 

e.g., Typical dominant 

or co-dominant species are 

orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, kentucky bluegrass, crested wheatgrass, 

Legume (212) No NRI Types 

e.g.., Alfalfa 

Grass-forbslegumes mixed (213) 

No NRI Types e.g.: 

Tall fescue, crabgrass, dandelion, narrow-leaf plantain, and white clover pasture. 

Other Herbaceous Agricultural and Rural Vegetation 

[NRI= Other Farmland, in part; Cropland - Horticultural Crops, Other; Other Rural land in part]

Herbaceous Horticultural Crops 

[NRI= Cropland - Other Horticultural Crops, Other; Other Cropland, in part]

Temperate and Tropical Other Horticultural Crops 

Other Horticultural Crops (006) 

Flowers – large commercial operations for bulbs and seed production and sales. Flowers – large commercial operations for cutting 
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LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

Other Rural, Crop or Farmland 

(Weed Vegetation) 

[cf. semi-natural old fields?] [NRI = Cropland - Other cropland; Other Rural Land, in part, Other Farmland, in part]

Temperate and Tropical Rural Vegetation 

Summer fallow (170) 

No NRI Types e.g., annual weed fields 

Aquaculture in a 

crop rotation (171) 

No NRI Types e.g. rice crops 

Other cropland not planted (180) [overlap with 

old-field semi-natural vegetation?]

No NRI Types e.g., old fallow fields. 

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land (410) [may 

overlap with Seminatural Grasslands]

No NRI Types e.g., switchgrass 

All other land (650) (requires a 

note of explanation)

No NRI Types 
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LEVEL 1– CULTURAL CLASS 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL SUB CLASS LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION 

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORMATION 

LEVEL 5 – GROUP [optional]

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP 

LEVEL 7 – TYPE 

L 8 – SUB-TYPE [optional] 

8. DEVELOPED VEGETATION [NRI = Urban and Built up, vegetated part] [NLCD = Developed, vegetated part] 

Herbaceous & Woody Developed Vegetation [closely cropped ground layer] (tree modifier may be used at all levels)

Developed (CloseCropped) Vegetation [=NLCD, 

NRI = Urban and Built Up]

Lawn

with or without trees 

(urban and recreational)

e.g. Temperate and Tropical Lawns 

e.g. Cool-season Lawn, Warm Season Lawn, Dry Season Lawn

e.g.,cool season:

kentucky bluegrass, fescue, sportfield grasses e.g., warm season: bermuda grass, zoysia, St. Augustine, arid season: 

Other Developed Urban / Built Up Vegetation 

Other Urban / Build Up Vegetation 

e.g., Vacant Lot 

Vegetation 

[overlap with old-field semi-natural vegetation?]

e.g. Flower /Herb Gardens
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) 

Appendix J (Informative): Comparison of U.S. NVC and Braun-Blanquet approaches to classifying 

pastures. 

 117

APPENDIX J (Informative). Comparison of U.S. NVC and 

Braun-Blanquet approaches to classifying pastures. 

Table J.1. A brief comparison of NVC pasture types to the European 

Braun-Blanquet classification (Rodwell et al. 2002, Mucina 1997). 

Level NVC 

(from Appendix I) 

Rodwell et al. 

(2002) 

LEVEL 1–CULTURAL CLASS Agricultural Vegetation Not Applicable

LEVEL 2–CULTURAL SUBCLASS Herbaceous Agricultural 

Vegetation

Not Applicable 

LEVEL 3 – FORMATION Pasture / Hay Temperate Grasslands, 

Heaths and Fringe Vegetation

LEVEL 4 – SUBFORM-ATION Permanent Pasture & 

Hayland

- 

LEVEL 5 - GROUP Temperate & Tropical 

Permanent Pasture & 

Hayland

Molinio-Arrhenatheretea*

(Class) 

Anthropogenic Pastures And 

Meadows On Deeper, More Or 

Less Fertile Mineral And Peaty 

Soils In Lowland Regions

LEVEL 6 – SUBGROUP Grass Arrhenatheretalia 

(Order) 

Pastures And Meadows On 

Well-Drained Relatively Fertile 

Mineral Soils.

LEVEL 7 - TYPE Perennial Ryegrass Pasture Cynosurion crystati 

(Alliance) 

Pastures Of Relatively Well 

Drained, Fertile Mineral Soils 

At Lower Altitudes.

LEVEL 8 - SUBTYPE - Lolium perenne – Cynosurus 

cristatus Association

*Diagnostic species for this class include (from Mucina 1997): Achillea millefolium ( ), 

Agrostis gigantea / stolonifera (red top), Alopecuris pratensis ( ), Anthoxanthum odoratum (sweet 

vernal grass), Arrhenatherum elatius (tall oatgrass), Cerastium fontanum ( ), Dactylis glomerata 

(orchard grass), Festuca arundinacea ( ), Festuca pratensis ( ), Festuca rubra (red fescue), Holcus 

lanatus ( ), Juncus [effuses, others] ( ), Molinia caerulea (purple moorgrass), Poa pratensis (Kentucky 

bluegrass), Poa trivialis ( ), Plantago lanceolatus (plantain), Ranunculus acris (buttercup) and Trifolium 

[repens, others] (clover), among others. 
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) 

Appendix K (Informative): A Process for Estimating Stratum Cover from Species Cover Values 

 118

APPENDIX K (Informative): A Process for Estimating 

Stratum Cover from Species Cover Values

Table I.1 presents one method for estimating stratum cover from the cover values of 

individual species occurring in that stratum. This method assumes a constant relationship 

between species cover sum and percent overlap, which is probably not true under all 

conditions. It also does not account for positive or negative relationships between species 

such as nurse crops and allelopathic plants. If this method does not apply to your dataset, 

you should modify it and carefully document your method. 

Table K.1. A process for estimating canopy cover of a single stratum from the 

cover values of individual species occurring in that stratum. See also Table 3.4. 

It is possible to approximate the percent cover of a single stratum, based on the individual cover of the 

species in that stratum (Jennings et al. 2006), based on the following equation: 

where Ci is the percent cover of stratum i for species or growth form j in stratum i. 

It may also be used to approximate the percent cover of a single species across multiple strata, where a 

total percent cover of that species is desired. In the example, the minimum cover possible would be 

40%, the cover of the most abundant species (presuming complete overlap with the other two species) 

and the maximum possible cover would be 85%,the cover of each species added together (presuming no 

overlap among the species). The equation assumes there is at least some overlap, and uses a standard 

formula to estimate the percent of overlap. In this example the canopy cover of the shrub stratum is 

estimated to be 64%. 

Species (j) occurring in 

the shrub stratum (i) 

Actual 

cover in % 

Step 1: 





 



 − 100

% cov 1 j

Step 2 

∏=

−

n

j

Step

1

1 ( 1)

Step 3 

Step2 *100

 Acer glabrum 15 0.85a

 Spiraea douglasii 40 0.6b

 Vaccinium scoparium 30 0.7c

Π (the product of a * b * 

c) 0.357 

1 - 0.357 = 0.643 0.643 * 100 = 64.3 

*100

100

% cov 1 1

1















 



 



 = − ∏ − =

n

j

i

j C
Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC Document number FGDC-STD-005-2008 

National Vegetation Classification Standard (Version 2) 

Appendix L (Informative): FGDC Vegetation Subcommittee Contributors to the Development of this 

Standard 

 119

APPENDIX L (Informative): FGDC Vegetation 

Subcommittee Contributors to the Development of this 

Standard

Name Affiliation 

Don Faber-Langendoen NatureServe, Co-Lead Author/Editor 

David Tart U.S. Forest Service, Co-Lead Author/Editor 

Ralph Crawford U.S. Forest Service, Subcommittee Chair 

Doug Powell U.S. Forest Service, Subcommittee Vice Chair 

John Dennis National Park Service 

Chris Lea National Park Service 

Mike Mulligan U.S. Geological Survey 

Robert K. Peet University of North Carolina / ESA Vegetation 

Classification Panel 

Alison Hill U.S. Forest Service, Past Subcommittee Chair 

Dennis Grossman NatureServe (Resigned) 

Betsy Middleton National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Mike “Sherm” Karl Bureau of Land Management 

Gary Waggoner U.S. Geological Survey (Retired) 

Ron Brohman U.S. Forest Service (Retired) 

Dennis Thompson Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Karl Brown National Park Service / U.S. Geological Survey 

Lori Hidinger Ecological Society of America (Resigned) 

Dave Roberts Montana State University / ESA Vegetation Classification 

Panel 

Cliff Duke Ecological Society of America 

Michael Barbour ESA Vegetation Classification Panel 

Alexa McKerrow North Carolina State University / GAP Program 

Wayne Padgett U.S. Forest Service 

Mindy Destro Ecological Society of America (Resigned) 

Bette Stallman Ecological Society of America (Resigned)