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CEGL005005 Acer saccharum - Pinus strobus / Acer pensylvanicum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sugar Maple - Eastern White Pine / Striped Maple Forest
Colloquial Name: Northern Hardwood - White Pine Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry white pine - northern hardwood forest occurs widely throughout the upper midwestern and northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The typical environmental setting is well-drained, acidic, sandy or gravelly soil over glacial till, in general a less mesic setting than northern hardwoods lacking white pine. Stands are characterized by a closed canopy, sometimes with supercanopy pine, patchy (but overall fairly sparse) shrubs, and relatively sparse herb and bryoid strata. Canopy dominants are the northern hardwood species Acer saccharum, Betula alleghaniensis, and in the Northeast Fagus grandifolia, with Pinus strobus, the pine often occurring as a supercanopy. Minor canopy associates may include Tsuga canadensis and Quercus rubra. In the Northeast at the northern edge of the range, Abies balsamea, Picea rubens and Thuja occidentalis may also occur sparingly. The subcanopy is dominated by Acer pensylvanicum. The herbaceous layer is characterized by Trientalis borealis, Maianthemum canadense, Pteridium aquilinum, Oryzopsis asperifolia, intermixed with the dwarf-shrubs Gaultheria procumbens, Vaccinium angustifolium and Gaylussacia baccata. Bryophytes include Polytrichum commune, Pleurozium schreberi, Bazzania trilobata, or Hypnum imponens. Distribution in Michigan needs further checking.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is difficult to sort out, and stands with only a scattered supercanopy of Pinus strobus (less than 25% cover) are floristically very similar to northern hardwoods types [see ~Acer saccharum - Betula alleghaniensis - Tilia americana Forest (CEGL002457)$$, ~Acer saccharum - Fagus grandifolia - Betula spp. / Maianthemum canadense Forest (CEGL005004)$$, ~Acer saccharum - Fagus grandifolia - Fraxinus americana / Arisaema triphyllum Forest (CEGL006632)$$, and ~Acer saccharum - Betula alleghaniensis - Fagus grandifolia / Viburnum lantanoides Forest (CEGL006631)$$]. Further review of this issue is needed. Note that the Ontario type to which this type is crosswalked is a mixed evergreen-deciduous type, with white pine between 25 and 50% canopy cover. The importance of white pine in this association is considered to indicate relatively dry, nutrient-poor site conditions and includes mature stands in natural condition. White pine can also be a successional component of forests that regenerated after clearing, which complicates interpretation. However, this association theoretically comprises stands where white pine is "natural" and not present as a result of land-use history.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands are dominated primarily by Acer saccharum with a Pinus strobus supercanopy (pine may be less than 25%). There may be some Tsuga canadensis. Other northern hardwood tree species may also be present. The understory may contain Oryzopsis asperifolia and Pteridium aquilinum in addition to standard northern hardwood understory.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: In the Northern Appalachian region, stands occur on sandy-gravelly soils, eskers in the Adirondacks, and also in a narrow band along lakeshores (Northern Appalachian Ecoregional Planning Team pers. comm. 1998).
Geographic Range: This type is found widely throughout the upper midwestern and northeastern United States and eastern Canada, ranging from Michigan and Ontario east to Pennsylvania and north to Maine.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MA, ME, NH, NY, ON?, PA, QC?, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684684
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.7 Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch - Eastern Hemlock Forest Macrogroup | M014 | 1.B.2.Na.7 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.7.I <i>Acer saccharum - Fagus grandifolia - Acer pensylvanicum</i> Forest Group | G922 | 1.B.2.Na.7.I |
| Alliance | A4447 Sugar Maple - Yellow Birch / Hobblebush Forest Alliance | A4447 | 1.B.2.Na.7.I |
| Association | CEGL005005 Sugar Maple - Eastern White Pine / Striped Maple Forest | CEGL005005 | 1.B.2.Na.7.I |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Acer saccharum - Pinus strobus / Acer pensylvanicum Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
< Eastern White Pine: 21 (Eyre 1980)
? White pine-northern hardwood forest (NAP pers. comm. 1998)
< Eastern White Pine: 21 (Eyre 1980)
? White pine-northern hardwood forest (NAP pers. comm. 1998)
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