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Thuja occidentalis - Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis / Carex eburnea Forest | Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
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Name: Thuja occidentalis - Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis / Carex eburnea Forest Reference: Southeastern Ecology Working Gro... Description: This is essentially a mixed coniferous-deciduous forest of the southern and central Appalachians, with each component contributing approximately 50% of the canopy cover. Thuja occidentalis and Pinus strobus are codominant in these samples, with Tsuga canadensis a less abundant associate. A variety of hardwoods co-occur, the most constant and abundant of which are Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus alba, and Quercus rubra. Habitats are on moderately steep to steep (mean = 31 degrees), convex, west-northwest-facing slopes at relatively low elevation (mean = 521 m (1710 feet)). These slopes, situated in major stream and river valleys, are geomorphic products of long-term stream incision. Bedrock parent material at one site is interbedded limestone and sandstone of Silurian age; at another site is underlain by Ordovician limestone. Soils at both sites are evidently colluvial and have a neutral pH. The soil moisture regime was assessed as mesic at both sites, but tends toward the submesic end of this moisture class. This community type is extremely rare in Virginia, where it is known only from the two plot-sampled stands and two putative locations in Montgomery and Russell counties, all in the Ridge and Valley province. Patches of this vegetation are very small (0.1-1.0 ha), and additional occurrences are likely in suitable western Virginia habitats. Young reproduction of all three conifers (Thuja occidentalis, Pinus strobus, and Tsuga canadensis) dominates the understory layers; Sassafras albidum is also a constant understory tree, and Amelanchier arborea codominates in one plot. Hamamelis virginiana and young Tsuga canadensis dominate the shrub layer of one plot each. Other constant but low cover shrubs are Dirca palustris and Viburnum acerifolium. Tree height is variable from occurrence to occurrence. Herbaceous growth is sparse (mean stratum cover = 24%) and patchy. Many herbaceous species and woody seedlings occur at low cover. The most important herbaceous species include Eurybia divaricata (= Aster divaricatus), Brachyelytrum erectum, Chamaelirium luteum, Collinsonia canadensis, Dioscorea quaternata, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (= Hepatica americana), Solidago arguta, Solidago curtisii, and Uvularia perfoliata.  Accession Code: VB.CC.27018.THUJAOCCIDENTAL Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 01-Oct-1996 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Thuja occidentalis Forest Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Common: Southern Appalachian Northern White-cedar Slope Forest   Translated: Northern White-cedar - Eastern White Pine - Eastern Hemlock / Bristleleaf Sedge Forest   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688765 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL008426   Scientific: Thuja occidentalis - Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis / Carex eburnea Forest (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Thuja occidentalis - Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis / Carex eburnea Woodland