Name:
Pinus strobus - Quercus (alba, rubra, velutina) Forest Alliance
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This alliance occurs from the western Great Lakes to the northeastern United States and south to the southern Appalachian Mountains. The overstory is a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees which form a moderately closed to closed canopy. Pinus strobus is a consistent constituent of the canopy and usually occurs as supercanopy trees, as well. Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina are also important canopy trees along with minor amounts of Acer rubrum, Carya alba, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus resinosa, Pinus banksiana (in Wisconsin), Populus tremuloides (in the northern parts of this alliance's range), Quercus ellipsoidalis (in the northwest), and Tsuga canadensis, and Quercus prinus (in the southeast). Subcanopy trees can include Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida, Hamamelis virginiana, Halesia tetraptera, Oxydendrum arboreum, and Nyssa sylvatica. The shrub layer is often well-developed with Gaylussacia spp., Kalmia latifolia, Rubus spp., and Vaccinium spp. most commonly dominant. Other shrubs can include Corylus americana, Gaultheria procumbens, Rhododendron maximum, and Sassafras albidum, and in the Ridge and Valley, Viburnum rafinesquianum and Viburnum prunifolium. The herb stratum is sparse to moderate, but can be quite species rich, especially in the Southern Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley, where typical species include Ageratina altissima, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Brachyelytrum erectum, Carex communis, Carex platyphylla, Carex woodii, Carex pensylvanica, Chimaphila maculata, Desmodium nudiflorum, Eupatorium purpureum, Galax urceolata, Galium latifolium, Galium circaezans, Geranium maculatum, Goodyera pubescens, Hexastylis shuttleworthii, Hieracium venosum, Houstonia purpurea, Maianthemum racemosum, Maianthemum canadense, Medeola virginiana, Mitchella repens, Monotropa uniflora, Poa cuspidata, Polygonatum biflorum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Trillium catesbaei, and Viola hastata. Stands of this alliance are dry-mesic to mesic forests found on acidic, relatively nutrient-poor, sandy loam to sandy soil on a variety of topographic positions. In the upper Midwest, most stands are on flat to rolling topography on outwash plains or moraines. In the Southern Blue Ridge, they occur on mid to lower slopes in the lower elevations (below 3000 feet) on protected ridges, and in disturbed bottoms. In the Ridge and Valley of Virginia, these forests are found on protected ravines, with rocky soils developed over shale, sandstone, or other sedimentary rock.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18055.PINUSSTROBUSQUE
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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