Name:
Fraxinus nigra - Liriodendron tulipifera - Acer rubrum / Caltha palustris - Carex bromoides Forest
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This community type occupies groundwater-saturated stream headwaters, large spring seeps and runs, and lateral areas in ravine and stream bottoms where groundwater emerges at the base of slopes. Overstory composition is mixed, with Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, and Fraxinus americana the most abundant species. Frequent associates are Fraxinus nigra, Betula alleghaniensis, Betula lenta, and Tilia americana. Fraxinus nigra is more abundant and sometimes dominant in the understory, along with Acer rubrum and Fraxinus americana. With increasing elevation, Fraxinus nigra becomes less frequent and Betula alleghaniensis becomes increasingly important, codominating most stands above 762 m (2500 feet). Canopy closure is often incomplete (mean stratum cover = 60-80%), most evidently because of blowdowns. Very wet microhabitats that impede the establishment and firm rooting of trees may also contribute to a somewhat open canopy. Shrub stratum diversity is moderately high; Lindera benzoin is usually the most abundant species, and considerable stratum cover is contributed by tree saplings. Other frequently occurring true shrubs are Alnus serrulata, Carpinus caroliniana, Hamamelis virginiana, Ilex verticillata, and Sambucus canadensis. Except in local areas where shrubs are dense, herbaceous cover is high (mean stratum cover = 90%). One or both of the early-maturing forbs Symplocarpus foetidus (mostly at lower elevations) and Veratrum viride are usually dominant over substantial areas. Because of microtopographic diversity (see below), herbaceous patch-mosaics are typical in this vegetation. More-or-less constant (50% constancy), sometimes locally abundant species include Eurybia schreberi (= Aster schreberi), Caltha palustris, Carex bromoides, Carex gynandra, Carex prasina, Chelone glabra, Chrysosplenium americanum, Cinna arundinacea, Dryopteris carthusiana, Dryopteris goldiana, Glyceria striata, Impatiens capensis, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Ranunculus recurvatus, Saxifraga pensylvanica, Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus), Sphenopholis pensylvanica, Thalictrum pubescens, and Viola cucullata. Moss cover is often significant but only rarely includes Sphagnum spp. (not recorded in Virginia plots). Typical upland mesophytes commonly occur in well-drained hummock microhabitats and contribute to relatively high species-richness values for this type of wetland.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.26788.FRAXINUSNIGRALI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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