Name:
Quercus macrocarpa Forest Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance is restricted to the northern Great Plains and the Black Hills. The canopy can be moderately closed to closed but is often relatively open for a forest alliance. The overstory of this alliance is usually dominated by <i>Quercus macrocarpa</i>, although in some elements <i>Populus tremuloides</i> is a codominant. Associated trees include <i>Betula papyrifera, Fraxinus pennsylvanica</i>, and <i>Ulmus americana</i> throughout its range, and <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> in the Black Hills. There is a subcanopy of <i>Ostrya virginiana, Juniperus virginiana</i>, and small overstory species. In the eastern portion of its range, <i>Juglans nigra</i> and <i>Celtis</i> spp. are often found in the canopy and subcanopy. A shrub layer may be present, typically dominated by species 0.5-2 m tall, such as <i>Amelanchier alnifolia, Corylus americana, Corylus cornuta, Prunus virginiana, Ribes</i> spp., and <i>Symphoricarpos occidentalis</i>. Smaller shrubs such as <i>Mahonia repens</i> and <i>Rosa</i> spp. are also commonly found in this alliance. The herbaceous layer typically contains <i>Aralia nudicaulis, Carex</i> spp., <i>Caulophyllum thalictroides, Elymus virginicus, Maianthemum stellatum</i>, and <i>Viola</i> spp. This alliance is found on rolling hills, mountain slopes (in the Black Hills), and along watercourses. These topographic positions provided some protection from the fires that regularly occurred in the surrounding grasslands. In the drier parts of its range, this alliance is predominantly found on north-facing slopes or along watercourses where the microclimate is more mesic. The soils of this alliance tend to be deep, loamy, and moderately well-drained to well-drained.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38037-{3BA7A0B6-90A3-4676-8DE7-CDE07DF7BDA8}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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