Name:
Thuja occidentalis Acidic Forest Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The canopy may be very open to moderately dense and dominated by stunted <i>Thuja occidentalis</i>. <i>Abies balsamea, Betula alleghaniensis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica</i>, and <i>Tsuga canadensis</i> are the most common codominant species; however <i>Thuja occidentalis</i> remains diagnostic of this alliance. Associated canopy species may include <i>Betula papyrifera, Fraxinus americana, Picea rubens, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus</i>, and <i>Populus tremuloides</i>. The understory may be sparse to well-developed with a prominent shrub/sapling layer. Common shrub species include <i>Corylus cornuta, Diervilla lonicera, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia angustifolia, Linnaea borealis, Aronia melanocarpa, Ribes triste, Rubus pubescens, Taxus canadensis</i>, and <i>Vaccinium angustifolium</i>. The ground layer is diverse on mesic stands and less so on steep, drier stands. Common herbaceous associates include <i>Aralia nudicaulis, Eurybia macrophylla, Clintonia borealis, Coptis trifolia, Cornus canadensis, Galium triflorum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Lycopodium</i> spp., <i>Maianthemum canadense, Mitella nuda, Onoclea sensibilis</i>, and <i>Trientalis borealis</i>. Typical bryophytes include <i>Dicranum</i> spp., <i>Hylocomium splendens, Leucobryum glaucum, Pleurozium schreberi</i>, and <i>Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus</i>. These northern forests and woodlands occur in south-central Canada to the northern Great Lakes states, northeastern U.S. and New Brunswick. Communities in this alliance are found on gentle wet-mesic slopes to very steep well-drained slopes. The predominant aspect is north to northeast. Soils are fine-textured, calcareous, moderately deep to deep (50-100 cm), and often contain boulders at the surface. Stands are occasionally found in slightly acidic sites. The more open-canopy woodland forms of this alliance occur on calcareous bedrock outcrops and limestone cliffs.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38539-{FD3F2DA7-0195-4A78-B0DE-4F4B37240C04}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
