Name:
Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum - Tilia americana var. heterophylla - Aesculus flava - (Cladrastis kentukea) Forest
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This is a mesophytic forest which ranges from the Eastern Highland Rim of Tennessee north into the Cumberlands of Kentucky. The canopy of stands is typically dominated by Quercus rubra with Carya ovata, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer saccharum, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Aesculus flava, Carya cordiformis, Carya ovalis, Prunus serotina var. serotina, Fraxinus sp., and Juglans nigra. Quercus alba may sometimes be present. The subcanopy may contain the above-mentioned canopy specie as well as Fagus grandifolia, Ulmus americana, Ostrya virginiana, Juglans cinerea, and Cladrastis kentukea (within its range). Acer saccharum may be a strong dominant in this stratum. Shrubs and small trees may include Cornus florida, Asimina triloba, and Euonymus americana. The herbaceous flora is rich and diverse, including Pachysandra procumbens, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Cardamine angustata (= Cardamine heterophylla), Cardamine concatenata, Cardamine diphylla, Packera obovata (= Senecio obovatus), Trillium flexipes, Phacelia bipinnatifida, Hydrophyllum appendiculatum, Delphinium tricorne, Monarda clinopodia (sensu lato), Iris cristata, Stellaria pubera, Carex austrocaroliniana, Carex plantaginea, Polystichum acrostichoides (which may be dominant), Adiantum pedatum, Asplenium resiliens, and Asplenium rhizophyllum, as well as Climacium americanum and other mosses. On the dissected western escarpment of the Eastern Highland Rim of Tennessee, this association has been documented from the Mississippian Fort Payne Formation at 275-350 m (900-1100 feet) elevation. On the dissected eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau and on Short Mountain, an isolated Plateau remnant, it presumably occurs on other Mississippian limestone strata at 350-600 m (1100-2000 feet) elevation. The exotic tree Ailanthus altissima may invade this community, usurping the role of Liriodendron tulipifera as a canopy-gap successional species.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.26248.QUERCUSRUBRAACE
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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