Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Some stands of this successional vegetation have canopies which are dominated by Liriodendron tulipifera and Acer rubrum, with lesser amounts of Robinia pseudoacacia. Other stands may have Liriodendron tulipifera at lower cover, and instead be dominated by a variable combination of other successional hardwoods, including Acer rubrum, Robinia pseudoacacia, Sassafras albidum, Betula lenta, Amelanchier laevis, Prunus serotina, Nyssa sylvatica, and/or Magnolia fraseri. The subcanopy may contain Oxydendrum arboreum and/or Cornus florida. Some examples may contain Pinus virginiana. Associated species vary. Taller shrubs include Rhododendron periclymenoides, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Ilex montana, Pyrularia pubera, Kalmia latifolia, and Calycanthus floridus; shorter shrubs include Gaylussacia ursina, Leucothoe fontanesiana, Rubus spp., and Vaccinium spp. Composition of the herbaceous stratum varies with site conditions and moisture regime and may contain field-adapted species which are tolerant of high light intensities, as well as many shade-tolerant forest herbs. Lycopodium digitatum may also form dense cover. Most of the regeneration is from stump and root sprouts, however, Liriodendron tulipifera establishment is primarily from seedlings. The upper canopy ranges from 5-9 m, but most of the regeneration is in a shrub/sapling layer at 1-3 m. Cover of woody species may be patchy to dense and is characterized by clumps of Robinia pseudoacacia and Acer rubrum, occurring as stump sprouts. Scattered thickets of evergreen ericads (Rhododendron and Kalmia) are also typical. Other species occurring as shrubs/saplings include Calycanthus floridus, Halesia carolina, Pinus strobus, Castanea dentata, Prunus serotina, Pyrularia pubera, Sassafras albidum, Castanea pumila, Hydrangea arborescens, Viburnum acerifolium, Gaylussacia ursina, Rubus spp., and Vaccinium ssp. Short shrubs (<2 m), such as Gaylussacia ursina, Rubus spp. and, Vaccinium ssp., often form a dense, continuous vegetation layer. Herbaceous species and tree seedlings occur in openings and beneath the shrub cover and include ferns (Thelypteris noveboracensis, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Pteridium aquilinum), other forests forbs (Potentilla spp., Viola spp., Ageratina altissima, Asteraceae spp., Solidago spp., Galium latifolium, Lysimachia quadrifolia, and Desmodium spp.) and grasses (Arundinaria gigantea, Panicum spp., and Dichanthelium spp.). Vines are also an important component in these forests with Vitis spp., Smilax spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Dioscorea villosa typical.

Dynamics:  Presumably, individuals arising from sprouts are more susceptible to wind breakage because of constricted vascular tissue at the stump attachment (Phillips and Shure 1990). This is an early-successional forest, on recently cut-over land, dominated by pioneer species. Prior to cutting these areas were dominated by Pinus strobus and/or Quercus spp. (Quercus alba, Quercus montana, Quercus rubra), occurring with other upland hardwood species such as Carya spp. and Liriodendron tulipifera. Canopy closure occurs rapidly after time of harvest, and by the fourth year, little unshaded, unvegetated area remains. Mid- and late-successional species will slowly re-establish dominance. Considerable competition of tree species with Vitis spp. and Rhododendron spp. may affect future stand development on some sites (McGee and Hooper 1970).