Print Report
CEGL008510 Liriodendron tulipifera - Quercus rubra - Magnolia acuminata / Cornus florida Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tuliptree - Northern Red Oak - Cucumber-tree / Flowering Dogwood Forest
Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Rich Cove Forest (Tuliptree - Northern Red Oak - Cucumber-tree Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Central Appalachian community type occurs throughout the Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley portions of the Virginia mountains north of the New River and may extend throughout the Central Appalachian portions of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Stands occupy mesic hollow sideslopes, ravines, and slope concavities at elevations from 240-800 m (800-2600 feet) and exceptionally to 1000 m (3300 feet). Underlying bedrock is variable and probably exerts less influence on vegetation than local soil conditions. Stands are associated both with sheltered sites on poor substrates, such as acidic sandstones, and with warmer, more exposed coves on fertile substrates. Vegetation consists largely of post-logging secondary forests with tall (>30 m), well-formed canopy trees. Liriodendron tulipifera is the characteristic, usually dominant canopy species in mixed stands with Magnolia acuminata, Quercus rubra, Acer rubrum, and Carya ovalis. Quercus montana, Fraxinus americana, Betula lenta, Tilia americana (including both var. americana and var. heterophylla), Carya glabra, Carya alba, and Quercus alba are minor canopy associates. Understory tree layers are very open and contain young reproduction of the canopy species along with Cornus florida (often dominant) and Ostrya virginiana. Cornus florida, Viburnum acerifolium, and climbing or scrambling Parthenocissus quinquefolia are usually the most abundant species of a sparse shrub layer. The herb layer varies in density from open to moderately dense, but generally lacks the lush aspect of other communities in the Rich Cove and Slope Forests group.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Most stands classified to this type in Virginia have been found to cluster with ~Liriodendron tulipifera - Fraxinus americana - (Aesculus flava) / Actaea racemosa - Laportea canadensis Forest (CEGL007710)$$, with the remainder being assignable to ~Liriodendron tulipifera / (Cercis canadensis) / (Lindera benzoin) Ruderal Forest (CEGL007220)$$. Stands at Fort Necessity, Pennsylvania, are now classified as ~Liriodendron tulipifera - Quercus spp. Ruderal Forest (CEGL007221)$$. This type should be considered provisional and may be archived following determination in West Virginia and Maryland.
Both in terms of floristics and soil fertility, this unit represents the least "rich" community type in the Rich Cove and Slope Forests group. Its classification and ecological interpretation are complicated by past logging, which in most situations has greatly favored the reproduction of the shade-intolerant Liriodendron tulipifera and Magnolia acuminata. Yet, there does not seem to be a consistent or obvious successional pattern in most stands of the association. Potential successors might include several Quercus spp., Carya spp., and Tilia americana. Given the current dominance and longevity of Liriodendron tulipifera and its persistence even in mature cove hardwood stands, successional change in this association will be slow.
Old Castanea dentata stumps and wood debris were recorded in some plots of this type. Although most forests of this association were cut long ago because of their accessibility and fine timber, a few small patches of old growth persist on the steep, hollowed slopes of Peters Mountain in Alleghany County (Fleming and Moorhead 2000). Based on an examination of these old stands, it appears that the original forest canopies on Peters Mountain were mixed associations of Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, Castanea dentata, and Liriodendron tulipifera. The latter was probably able to maintain a position in these mixed forests because of its rapid growth and superior ability to colonize light gaps caused by downfalls (Fowells 1965, Busing 1995).
Both in terms of floristics and soil fertility, this unit represents the least "rich" community type in the Rich Cove and Slope Forests group. Its classification and ecological interpretation are complicated by past logging, which in most situations has greatly favored the reproduction of the shade-intolerant Liriodendron tulipifera and Magnolia acuminata. Yet, there does not seem to be a consistent or obvious successional pattern in most stands of the association. Potential successors might include several Quercus spp., Carya spp., and Tilia americana. Given the current dominance and longevity of Liriodendron tulipifera and its persistence even in mature cove hardwood stands, successional change in this association will be slow.
Old Castanea dentata stumps and wood debris were recorded in some plots of this type. Although most forests of this association were cut long ago because of their accessibility and fine timber, a few small patches of old growth persist on the steep, hollowed slopes of Peters Mountain in Alleghany County (Fleming and Moorhead 2000). Based on an examination of these old stands, it appears that the original forest canopies on Peters Mountain were mixed associations of Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, Castanea dentata, and Liriodendron tulipifera. The latter was probably able to maintain a position in these mixed forests because of its rapid growth and superior ability to colonize light gaps caused by downfalls (Fowells 1965, Busing 1995).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation consists largely of post-logging secondary forests with tall (>30 m), well-formed canopy trees. Liriodendron tulipifera is the characteristic, usually dominant canopy species in mixed stands with Magnolia acuminata, Quercus rubra, Acer rubrum, and Carya ovalis. Quercus montana, Fraxinus americana, Betula lenta, Tilia americana (including both var. americana and var. heterophylla), Carya glabra, Carya alba, and Quercus alba are minor canopy associates. Understory tree layers are very open and contain young reproduction of the canopy species along with Cornus florida (often dominant) and Ostrya virginiana. Cornus florida, Viburnum acerifolium, and climbing or scrambling Parthenocissus quinquefolia are usually the most abundant species of a sparse shrub layer. The herb layer varies in density from open to moderately dense, but generally lacks the lush aspect of other communities in the Rich Cove and Slope Forests group. The most constant (>50% constancy) herbs in 15 Virginia plots of this vegetation are Dioscorea quaternata, Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Desmodium nudiflorum, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Solidago curtisii, Eurybia divaricata (= Aster divaricatus), Polystichum acrostichoides, Geranium maculatum, Sanguinaria canadensis, Botrychium virginianum, Brachyelytrum erectum, Uvularia perfoliata, Galium triflorum, and Maianthemum racemosum. Less constant but locally important herbaceous components include Adiantum pedatum, Osmunda claytoniana, Ligusticum canadense, Thalictrum thalictroides, and Phegopteris hexagonoptera. Species richness of plot-sampled stands ranges from 38 to 95 taxa per 400 m2 (mean = 51).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occupy mesic hollow sideslopes, ravines, and slope concavities at elevations from 240-800 m (800-2600 feet) and exceptionally to 1000 m (3300 feet). Underlying bedrock is variable and probably exerts less influence on vegetation than local soil conditions. Stands are associated both with sheltered sites on poor substrates, such as acidic sandstones, and with warmer, more exposed coves on fertile substrates. Surface boulder and stone cover averages about 14% in plots but can range up to 75% in extreme situations. Slopes are steep (mean = 20°) and typically concave in at least one direction. Soils mapped at plot-sampling sites are mostly deep, very stony colluvial loams. Samples collected from plots range from very strongly to slightly acidic (mean pH = 5.2) but have moderately high calcium (mean = 1044 ppm) and magnesium (mean = 136 ppm) levels.
Geographic Range: This community type occurs throughout the Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley portion of the Virginia mountains north of the New River. Its potential range extends throughout the Central Appalachian portions of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MD?, PA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684949
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5?
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.3 Appalachian-Interior-Northeastern Mesic Forest Macrogroup | M883 | 1.B.2.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.3.a American Beech - Tuliptree - Yellow Buckeye Forest Group | G020 | 1.B.2.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A0235 Tuliptree - Appalachian Basswood - Yellow Buckeye Forest Alliance | A0235 | 1.B.2.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL008510 Tuliptree - Northern Red Oak - Cucumber-tree / Flowering Dogwood Forest | CEGL008510 | 1.B.2.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Yellow-Poplar - White Oak - Northern Red Oak: 59 (Eyre 1980)
< Yellow-Poplar: 57 (Eyre 1980)
< Yellow-Poplar: 57 (Eyre 1980)
- Busing, R. F. 1995. Disturbance and population dynamics of Liriodendron tulipifera: Simulations with a spatial model of forest succession. Journal of Ecology 83:4.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Fowells, H. A, compiler. 1965. Silvics of the forest trees of the United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 271. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. 762 pp.
- Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
- Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
- Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, E. A. Zimmerman, W. A. Millinor, L. A. Sneddon. 2006a. Vegetation classification and mapping at Fort Necessity National Battlefield. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2006/038. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA.