Name:
Acer rubrum - Fraxinus spp. / Nemopanthus mucronatus - Vaccinium corymbosum Forest
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This forested red maple swamp of stream drainages and wetland borders occurs in northern to central New England and New York. The hydrologic regime is variable among occurrences, generally influenced by seasonal flooding and often limited groundwater seepage. This association may occur in basins with little drainage, or on stream floodplains that remain saturated through most of the growing season. Soils vary according to setting; generally the substrate is mineral soil, acidic to weakly minerotrophic, but in some settings organic soil may be well-developed. The deciduous canopy ranges from closed to patchy, but the overall cover is that of a closed-canopy forest. The shrub layer, particularly in openings, is generally well-developed. The herb layer is usually fairly well-developed and may be extensive. The canopy is characteristically dominated by Acer rubrum with associates of Fraxinus nigra, Betula alleghaniensis, and Ulmus americana. Tsuga canadensis, Picea rubens, and Abies balsamea, while not abundant, characterize this association as one of cooler climates. Typical shrubs include Ilex verticillata, Nemopanthus mucronatus, Lindera benzoin, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Viburnum recognitum, and Vaccinium corymbosum. The herbaceous layer is often dominated by ferns, including Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, and Osmunda claytoniana. Other species frequently in the herbaceous layer include Impatiens capensis, Caltha palustris, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex intumescens, Carex trisperma, and Arisaema triphyllum. The bryophyte flora is not well documented; Sphagnum spp. and Mnium spp. are frequent, although not necessarily abundant. Acer rubrum - Fraxinus (pennsylvanica, americana) / Lindera benzoin / Symplocarpus foetidus Forest (CEGL006406) is distinguished by its greater abundance and extent of seepage indicators and it lacks northern species like Picea rubens, Abies balsamea, and Nemopanthus mucronatus. Acer rubrum / Carex stricta - Onoclea sensibilis Woodland (CEGL006119) is also similar, but has a more open canopy and typically a graminoid-dominated herbaceous layer. This association is also related to Acer rubrum - Prunus serotina / Cornus amomum Floodplain Forest (CEGL006503), which occurs along floodplains of major streams and minor rivers. While both can be dominated by red maple in the canopy, the understory vegetation differs somewhat, with species more typical of floodplains (Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus amomum, Prunus serotina) in that type, and species typical of more constantly saturated conditions in this type.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.24208.ACERRUBRUMFRAXI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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