Name:
Quercus ellipsoidalis Forest Alliance
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This alliance, found in the upper Midwest, contains dry, oak-dominated forests. The tree canopy is moderately closed. In Minnesota, it is typically 70-80%. The more open stands tend to have well-developed shrub layers, while closed-canopy stands have fewer shrubs. Some stands, especially those in which fire has been excluded for long periods, can have tree densities up to several hundred trees per hectare. Quercus ellipsoidalis is the dominant tree species and makes up the great majority of the canopy in most stands. Other common tree species include Pinus banksiana (especially in Wisconsin), Populus tremuloides, Quercus alba, and Quercus macrocarpa, and sometimes Quercus velutina, Quercus rubra, Acer rubrum, and Prunus serotina. Shrubs such as Cornus racemosa, Corylus cornuta, Juniperus communis, Juniperus horizontalis, and Vaccinium spp. are typical. The ground layer contains species such as Amphicarpaea bracteata, Asteraceae spp., Carex pensylvanica, Geranium maculatum, Maianthemum racemosum, and Pteridium aquilinum. Stands of this alliance are found on sandy, well-drained to excessively well-drained soils. These develop from glacial outwash, glaciofluvial deposits, or alluvial sediments. The soils are relatively infertile and acidic (Eyre 1980). Stands can be found on flat to moderately sloping sites.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.17837.QUERCUSELLIPSOI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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