Name:
Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis Forest
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This dry-mesic white oak - mixed oak alkaline forest community is found in unglaciated areas of the Interior Highlands of the east-central United States. Stands occur on gentle to steep slopes with moderately to well-drained moist loamy/sandy, relatively neutral to basic soils, which are underlain by bedrock of limestone and less commonly sandstone, siltstone, or shale. Soils may be shallow to somewhat deep (20-100 cm), with rock fragments present. The canopy is dense, yet enough scattered light penetrates to encourage a rich and diverse herbaceous layer. Typical tree dominants include Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina, and Quercus muehlenbergii. Typical associates include Carya ovata and Carya alba. Other shade-tolerant tree associates that may dominate the subcanopy include Acer saccharum (or possibly Acer barbatum to the south), Ulmus rubra, Juglans nigra, Fraxinus americana, Ostrya virginiana, Carpinus caroliniana, and Amelanchier arborea. Quercus muehlenbergii is a key, but perhaps uncommon, indicator of the more neutral to alkaline soil characteristics of this type. Typical shrubs include Aesculus glabra, Asimina triloba, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Euonymus americana, Frangula caroliniana, and Viburnum rufidulum. Woody vines include Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Toxicodendron radicans. Herbaceous species include Anemone virginiana, Arisaema triphyllum, Botrychium virginianum, Carex jamesii, Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Desmodium glutinosum, Desmodium rotundifolium, Dioscorea quaternata, Goodyera pubescens, Hybanthus concolor, Iris cristata, Maianthemum racemosum, Passiflora lutea, and Sanicula canadensis. These forests occur in habitats transitional between mesic to wet riparian and floodplain communities and the drier ridgetop ecosystems.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.20348.QUERCUSALBAQUER
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
