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CEGL007881 Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba / Cornus florida Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - White Oak / Flowering Dogwood Forest
Colloquial Name: Central Interior Beech - White Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This beech - white oak forest is found in the Interior Low Plateau and the Southern Ridge and Valley of Kentucky, Tennessee (and possibly adjacent Georgia), the Cumberland region of Kentucky, and adjacent areas of the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain. Stands occur on mesic mid to lower slopes in moderately dissected terrain. Stand positions vary from north-facing slopes and low slopes to high terraces along streams. The vegetation is generally dominated by Fagus grandifolia with more or less Quercus alba depending on past logging history. Associated canopy and subcanopy species can include Acer saccharum, Quercus muehlenbergii, Fraxinus americana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Nyssa sylvatica, Sassafras albidum, Acer rubrum, Cornus florida, Ostrya virginiana, and Ilex opaca. Shrubs which may be present include Vaccinium stamineum, Viburnum acerifolium, Euonymus americanus, and, in some occurrences, Kalmia latifolia. The herb layer can be relatively lush with such species as Polystichum acrostichoides, Galium circaezans, Desmodium nudiflorum, Erythronium americanum, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Epifagus virginiana, Tiarella cordifolia var. collina, Heuchera americana, Stellaria pubera, Podophyllum peltatum, Botrychium virginianum, and others.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is similar to ~Quercus alba - Fagus grandifolia / Hydrangea quercifolia - Viburnum acerifolium / Carex picta Forest (CEGL007213)$$, found in northern Alabama, but is more broadly defined and geographically distinct from it. The associations have been kept separate until more detailed floristic and range information can be obtained for this type (CEGL007881). CEGL007881 is often less species-rich than the current concept of CEGL007213. ~Fagus grandifolia - Liriodendron tulipifera / Euonymus americanus / Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides Forest (CEGL007201)$$ is somewhat similar but lacks codominance by Quercus species. Information on species from stands in eastern Kentucky is provided by Campbell (2001), who tentatively crosswalks his 5C3 to this type. Further review is needed before incorporating his description.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by at least 40% Fagus grandifolia with more or less Quercus alba depending on past logging history. Associated canopy and subcanopy species can include Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer saccharum, Quercus pagoda, Quercus rubra, Quercus coccinea, Cornus florida, Nyssa sylvatica, Sassafras albidum, and Ostrya virginiana (Franklin 1990, NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). Other potential species include Quercus muehlenbergii, Acer rubrum, and Ilex opaca. Shrubs which may be present include Vaccinium stamineum, Viburnum acerifolium, Euonymus americanus, and in some occurrences, Kalmia latifolia. The herb layer can be relatively lush with such species as Polystichum acrostichoides, Galium circaezans, Desmodium nudiflorum, Erythronium americanum, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Epifagus virginiana, Tiarella cordifolia var. collina, Heuchera americana, Stellaria pubera, Podophyllum peltatum, Botrychium virginianum, and others. Campbell (2001) provides an extensive list of species for eastern Kentucky; see also NatureServe Ecology unpublished data from Fort Donelson.
Dynamics: Stands may be successionally unstable, with an increase in mesophytic dominants over time (Franklin et al. 1993). However, ground layer fires that eliminated the mesophytic regeneration could stabilize the stands.
Environmental Description: Stands occur on mesic mid to lower slopes in moderately dissected terrain. Stand positions vary from north-facing slopes and low slopes to more rocky stands (Franklin et al. 1993). At Land Between the Lakes, this community is restricted to deep limestone-derived soils of the Baxter Series and silty soils of the Brandon Series, generally on lower slopes with northwest, north, to southeast aspects (Franklin 1990). This association is generally found between oak-hickory forests above and even more mesic and rich stands below in more concave and deeply dissected terrain, if that is available in the landscape.
Geographic Range: This association was defined for the Interior Low Plateau of Tennessee. It ranges to the Cumberlands and Interior Low Plateau of Kentucky and Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain in Tennessee, but more information is needed to determine its full range. Currently the range across USFS Sections 221H, 222E, and 222C covers approximately 58,000 square km.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA?, IN?, KY, MS, TN, VA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685489
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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 | A2033 American Beech - Tuliptree - Bitternut Hickory Forest Alliance | A2033 | 1.B.2.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL007881 American Beech - White Oak / Flowering Dogwood Forest | CEGL007881 | 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: = Acer saccharum - Quercus alba - Fagus grandifolia type (Franklin et al. 1993)
= Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba / Cornus florida Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba / Cornus florida Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Campbell, J. 2001. Native vegetation types of Appalachian Kentucky. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Lexington, KY. 210 pp.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Franklin, S. 1990a. The effect of soil and topography on forest community composition at Land Between the Lakes, KY and TN. M.S. thesis, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. 138 pp.
- Franklin, S. B., P. A. Robertson, J. S. Fralish, and S. M. Kettler. 1993. Overstory vegetation and successional trends of Land Between the Lakes, USA. Journal of Vegetation Science 4:509-520.
- Franklin, S. Personal communication.
- INHDC [Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center]. No date. Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center, Division of Nature Preserves, Department of Natural Resources, Indianapolis.
- Nordman, C., M. Russo, and L. Smart. 2011. Vegetation types of the Natchez Trace Parkway, based on the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe Central Databases (International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications). Arlington, VA. Data current as of 11 April 2011. 548 pp.
- Pyne, M., E. Lunsford Jones, and R. White. 2010. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Mammoth Cave National Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 334 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- White, Jr., R. D. 2005. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Fort Donelson National Battlefield. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 135 pp.
- White, R. D., Jr. 2006. Vascular plant inventory and ecological community classification for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 246 pp.