Name:
Acer rubrum - Prunus serotina - Pinus strobus Ruderal Forest Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This early-successional forest vegetation of the northeastern United States occurs on sites that are becoming reforested after having been cleared for agriculture or otherwise heavily modified in the past. Environmental setting varies, but generally sites are dry-mesic to mesic, with small seepage inclusions in some examples. Physiognomy of this vegetation is highly variable, ranging from closed forest to open woodland and scrub. The generalist set of native, non-planted species include a combination of tree species, such as <i>Acer rubrum, Fraxinus americana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus strobus</i>, and <i>Prunus serotina</i>. Other associates can include <i>Acer negundo, Acer saccharinum, Ailanthus altissima, Amelanchier</i> spp., <i>Betula lenta, Betula populifolia, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana, Pinus strobus, Populus grandidentata, Quercus</i> spp., <i>Robinia pseudoacacia, Sassafras albidum</i>, and <i>Ulmus americana</i>. The low-shrub layer, if present, is usually characterized by the presence of <i>Rubus</i> spp. such as <i>Rubus allegheniensis, Rubus flagellaris, Rubus hispidus</i>, or <i>Rubus phoenicolasius</i>. This layer is often dominated by exotic species such as <i>Berberis thunbergii, Crataegus</i> spp., <i>Lonicera morrowii, Lonicera tatarica, Rhamnus cathartica</i>, and <i>Rosa multiflora</i>. The herbaceous layer is variable, often containing grasses and forbs of both native and exotic origin. The invasive species <i>Alliaria petiolata, Microstegium vimineum</i>, and <i>Polygonum cespitosum</i> can be abundant in this disturbed forest type. These forests are often young and resulted from the colonization of old agricultural fields by woody species. Recent disturbance or abundant invasive species give these forest stands a weedy character. It is unlikely that these stands will succeed to a natural plant community dominated by native species.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38516-{323D1ACD-2747-4B74-8A22-ED1D7A96794D}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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