Name:
Pinus strobus - Quercus (rubra, velutina) - Fagus grandifolia Forest
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This mixed white pine - oak forest of the northeastern U.S. occurs on dry-mesic to mesic, acidic, nutrient-poor, sandy loam to sandy soils. In the northern glaciated portion of the range, the forest occurs on outwash plains or moraines, as well as along mid and lower slopes and within protected ravines, and on protected ridges or upper slopes of shale, sandstone or other sedimentary rock, occasionally underlain by metamorphic or igneous rock. Along the unglaciated plateau, this community occurs on rolling topography underlain by sandstone. It occurs at elevations below 915 m (3000 feet) throughout the range. The tree canopy is dominated by a mixture of <i>Pinus strobus</i> and oaks, including <i>Quercus velutina, Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, Quercus prinus</i> (usually in minor amounts), and <i>Quercus coccinea,</i> primarily only in the southern portions of the range. Oak species drop out at the northern extreme of the type's range, leaving only <i>Quercus rubra</i>. <i>Fagus grandifolia</i> is characteristic over much of the range of this type but is absent in some areas. Other less frequent canopy associates may include <i>Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Carya alba, Pinus rigida, Populus tremuloides, Fraxinus americana, Ulmus americana, Tsuga canadensis</i>, and at the northern range limit may include <i>Betula papyrifera</i> and <i>Populus grandidentata</i>. The variable subcanopy may include <i>Hamamelis virginiana</i> or <i>Prunus serotina</i>; other species such as <i>Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida</i>, and <i>Nyssa sylvatica</i> may be present in the central and southern portions of the range. It has a sparse to well-developed, generally ericaceous shrub layer. The herb layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense cover. In disturbed settings, <i>Rhamnus cathartica</i> may be an abundant shrub. The bryophyte layer is not well-documented. This association is differentiated from mixed oak-pine forests to the south by <i>Fagus grandifolia</i> and the absence of southern-ranging species <i>Liriodendron tulipifera, Galax urceolata, Trillium catesbaei, Halesia tetraptera</i>, and others. The absence of <i>Ilex glabra</i> and the unimportance of <i>Quercus alba</i> differentiate this type from a closely related association of northeastern coastal areas, <i>~Pinus strobus - Quercus alba / Ilex glabra</i> Forest (CEGL006382)$$. Earlier successional versions in New England have less dominance by <i>Pinus </i>spp. (usually) and more by <i>Betula</i> spp. and <i>Acer rubrum</i>; these are separated as <i>~Quercus rubra - Acer rubrum - Betula</i> spp. - <i>Pinus strobus </i>Semi-natural Forest (CEGL006506)$$.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31277.CEGL006293
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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