Print Report

CEGL006336 Quercus (alba, rubra, velutina) - Carya spp. / Viburnum acerifolium Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (White Oak, Northern Red Oak, Black Oak) / Hickory species / Mapleleaf Viburnum Forest

Colloquial Name: Dry-mesic Oak - Hickory / Viburnum Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This oak-hickory forest occurs on well-drained loamy sand of midslopes in the northeastern United States. This vegetation is ecologically transitional between dry-rich oak-hickory forests of relatively high diversity and dry, acidic oak species-poor forests. Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, and Quercus velutina are prominent in the canopy. Quercus prinus and Quercus coccinea are canopy associates in the southern portion of the range. Typical hickory species include Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya tomentosa, and Carya ovalis. Other canopy associates may include Acer rubrum, Sassafras albidum, and Amelanchier arborea. At the northern range limit of this type, Pinus strobus and Betula lenta also occur as minor associates. Cornus florida is a characteristic understory tree in portions of the range. The shrub layer is characterized by Viburnum acerifolium, with other frequent associates including Hamamelis virginiana, Vaccinium corymbosum, Corylus cornuta, and Corylus americana. A short-shrub layer may be common, but is generally not abundant, and is characterized by Vaccinium pallidum and Gaylussacia baccata, with Vaccinium angustifolium occurring more frequently to the north. The herbaceous layer is characterized by Carex pensylvanica, Carex rosea, Maianthemum racemosum, Aralia nudicaulis, Hieracium venosum, Solidago bicolor, Desmodium glutinosum, Desmodium paniculatum, Melampyrum lineare, Chimaphila maculata, Eurybia divaricata, Danthonia spicata, Aureolaria spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, and Helianthemum canadense.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This vegetation is ecologically transitional between dry-rich oak-hickory forests of relatively high diversity and dry, acidic oak-species-poor forests. Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, and Quercus velutina are prominent in the canopy. Typical hickory species include Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya tomentosa, and Carya ovalis. Other canopy associates may include Acer rubrum, Quercus prinus, Sassafras albidum, and Amelanchier arborea. Pinus strobus, Tsuga canadensis, and Betula lenta may also occur as minor associates. Cornus florida is a characteristic understory tree in portions of the range. The shrub layer is typically rather sparse and characterized by Viburnum acerifolium, with other frequent associates including Hamamelis virginiana, Vaccinium corymbosum, Kalmia latifolia, Corylus cornuta, and Corylus americana. A short-shrub layer may be common but generally not abundant, characterized by Vaccinium pallidum and Gaylussacia baccata, with Vaccinium angustifolium occurring more frequently to the north. The herbaceous layer is characterized by Carex pensylvanica, Maianthemum racemosum (= Smilacina racemosa), Dryopteris marginalis, Aralia nudicaulis, Hieracium venosum, Solidago bicolor, Desmodium glutinosum, Desmodium paniculatum, Melampyrum lineare, Chimaphila maculata, Eurybia divaricata (= Aster divaricatus), Danthonia spicata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Aureolaria spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, and Helianthemum canadense. The invasive species Microstegium vimineum and Berberis thunbergii may also be present in this forest type.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  This forest type occurs on well-drained loamy sand of midslopes and other dry-mesic sites.

Geographic Range: This association occurs from Maine to Maryland.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT




Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G4G5

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Quercus (alba, rubra, velutina) / Cornus florida - Viburnum acerifolium Forest (Bartgis 1986)
= Oak - Hickory Forest (Swain and Kearsley 2001)
>< Oak - Hickory Forest (OH3) (Windisch 2014a)
= Piedmont Oak-Beech-Mountain Laurel Forest (Clancy 1996)
? SNE mesic central hardwood forest on acidic till (Rawinski 1984a)

Concept Author(s): P.C. Swain and J.B. Kearsley (2001)

Author of Description: S.L. Neid, L.A. Sneddon, S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-23-12

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