Name:
Quercus alba - (Quercus velutina) Woodland Alliance
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This alliance, found primarily in the central midwestern and northeastern United States, includes oak woodlands of dry to well-drained soils dominated by Quercus alba or Quercus velutina. The trees are generally shorter in stature than those occurring in a forested situation, and older trees typically exhibit spreading lower branches. Carya ovata, Quercus ellipsoidalis, Quercus palustris, and Acer rubrum are occasional canopy associates. Shrubs are usually sparse, sometimes scattered ericaceous species, but more typically Ceanothus americanus. The herbaceous flora is usually dominated by grasses and forbs such as Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Lupinus perennis, Helianthus spp., Asclepias tuberosa, Desmodium spp., and Lespedeza spp. (Lespedeza capitata, Lespedeza violacea (= Lespedeza intermedia), Lespedeza virginica), or Carex pensylvanica. On the lakeplain in southern Michigan and Ontario a variety of oaks (Quercus alba, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus palustris, and Quercus velutina) dominate the canopy, while the ground layer is dominated by Amphicarpaea bracteata, Andropogon gerardii, Apios americana, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex pensylvanica, Galium boreale, and Pteridium aquilinum. Tree densities for stems greater than 7.0 cm dbh average 98 stems/ha, with an average canopy cover of 48%. Soils of this alliance are dry to well-drained. In the East and Midwest, stands are typically found on sand or loamy sands. In southern Ontario and Michigan, stands occur on undisturbed sand ridges and raised areas in poorly drained glacial lakeplains. The pH is typically 5.0-7.2.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18447.QUERCUSALBAQUER
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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