Name:
Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum Forest Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance is regarded as the "red oak" version of northern hardwood forests and woodlands. Canopy composition is a variable mixture of hardwood species. <i>Quercus rubra</i> (usually at least 30% of the canopy) is considered the diagnostic species. The most common codominant species include <i>Acer saccharum, Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis</i>, and <i>Fagus grandifolia</i>. Other minor canopy species may include <i>Betula papyrifera, Betula populifolia, Populus grandidentata</i>, and <i>Prunus pensylvanica</i>. Conifers, if present, generally make up less than 20% of the canopy cover and may include <i>Pinus strobus</i> or <i>Tsuga canadensis</i>. A subcanopy composed of <i>Acer pensylvanicum</i> and <i>Acer spicatum</i> may be present. Typical shrubs include <i>Acer pensylvanicum, Amelanchier</i> spp., <i>Corylus cornuta, Hamamelis virginiana, Lindera benzoin</i>, and <i>Viburnum acerifolium</i>. The herb layer may be quite diverse depending on site characteristics. Species may include <i>Actaea pachypoda, Actaea rubra, Arabis</i> spp., <i>Arisaema triphyllum, Carex blanda, Carex laxiflora, Carex pedunculata, Carex platyphylla, Festuca subverticillata, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Packera obovata, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Polygonatum pubescens, Thalictrum dioicum, Thalictrum thalictroides, Viola rotundifolia</i>, and <i>Viola sororia</i>. This alliance is found in the north-central and northeastern United States and southern Canada. These forests typically occur on deep, moist to well-drained loams and silt loams on north and east midslopes to mesic ridgetops and coves, but stands may also occur on talus slopes or dry-mesic fine sandy loams and loamy sands.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38528-{9526E23E-E2A6-4818-9E22-B1EBC7CFFDA2}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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