Name:
Acer saccharum - Tilia americana - Fraxinus americana / Ostrya virginiana / Geranium robertianum Woodland
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
These open, circumneutral talus woodlands range from the Great Lakes to the Northern Appalachians and Lower New England regions. They occur on talus and colluvial slopes where soils are derived from circumneutral to calcareous bedrock, and often extend upslope onto ridges and low summits. The elevation range is from about 500 feet to 2000 feet with most occurrences below 1200 feet, and southerly exposure is common. Soils are thin, patchy, and dry. The hardwood canopy is very patchy, with open talus interspersed with wooded areas. Even the wooded areas generally have an open canopy, and canopy closure overall is usually less than 50%. Shrubs and herbs are scattered where soil is available; vines are unusually well represented. Herb cover may be locally extensive on stabilized areas. The bryoid layer is very minor, and varies from patches of lichens on the open talus to sparse mosses in wooded areas. The ground cover is boulder talus and deciduous litter. Canopy dominants are typically Acer saccharum and Quercus rubra, with the characteristic but usually subordinate species Ostrya virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Tilia americana. Other canopy associates include Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Betula papyrifera, Betula alleghaniensis, Juglans cinerea, and Ulmus rubra. Scattered and clumped shrubs include Cornus rugosa, Acer pensylvanicum, Acer spicatum, Rubus odoratus, Corylus cornuta, Viburnum acerifolium, Staphylea trifolia, and Ribes spp. Vines are locally abundant on talus and include Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Parthenocissus vitacea, Toxicodendron radicans, Clematis virginiana, Clematis occidentalis, Adlumia fungosa, Celastrus scandens, and Polygonum cilinode. Rich-site herbs indicative of these talus slopes include Asplenium platyneuron, Polystichum braunii, Aralia racemosa, Saxifraga virginiensis, Geranium robertianum, Arabis drummondii, Asarum canadense, Carex rosea, Carex sprengelii, Carex platyphylla, and Piptatherum racemosum (= Oryzopsis racemosa). Also present, and less restricted to circumneutral conditions, are Cystopteris bulbifera, Carex pensylvanica, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (= Hepatica americana), Dryopteris marginalis, Polypodium virginianum, and Athyrium filix-femina. This association is distinguished from other deciduous talus and low summit woodlands by the presence of enriched-site species such as Tilia americana and Juglans cinerea in the canopy, and the characteristic rich-site herb species listed above. However, sites do occur that are intermediate between this type and the more acidic oak - birch talus woodlands, Betula alleghaniensis - Quercus rubra / Polypodium virginianum Woodland (CEGL006320).
Accession Code:
VB.CC.22240.ACERSACCHARUMTI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
