Print Report
CEGL005015 Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba - (Quercus michauxii) - Acer rubrum Flatwoods Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - White Oak - (Swamp Chestnut Oak) - Red Maple Flatwoods Forest
Colloquial Name: Beech - Oak - Red Maple Flatwoods
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This lowland forest community is found in the United States in southeastern Indiana and southwestern Ohio. Stands occur on level, loess-covered glacial drift of Illinoisan age. Soils are poorly drained silt loams, with an impermeable layer beneath the topsoil that can slow drainage during wet periods, but impede accessibility of deeper water sources during droughty periods. The community has a moderately dense to dense canopy of deciduous trees. Fagus grandifolia is consistently common. Other common trees include Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus alba, Quercus bicolor, Quercus palustris, and Quercus michauxii. Fraxinus americana and Quercus shumardii may be present. Asimina triloba, Carpinus caroliniana, Lindera benzoin, Toxicodendron radicans, and Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis are common shrubs or small trees. Vitis labrusca is a common, and perhaps characteristic, vine. Abundant understory species include the ferns Botrychium oneidense and Onoclea sensibilis and the herbs Chimaphila maculata, Cinna arundinacea, Impatiens capensis, Panax trifolius, Podophyllum peltatum, and Rubus hispidus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is based largely on the Indiana state type - Bluegrass Till Plain Flatwoods (Homoya et al. 1988) and Ohio''s Wet Beech Forests (Anderson 1996). The type consists of a mosaic of raised, wet-mesic areas and depressions that are wet. The vegetation varies accordingly. Floristic distinctions between the bluegrass region and the central tillplain need to be worked out, but the bluegrass occurrences do contain Quercus michauxii and Liquidambar styraciflua. Anderson (1996) cites Braun (1936) as noting that Carpinus caroliniana, Aronia prunifolia, Spiraea tomentosa, Ilex verticillata, Vitis labrusca, and Viburnum dentatum var. dentatum are characteristic of this type. To help define the type, stands may require at least 25% basal area or cover of beech (Anderson 1996). In Indiana, this type may also occur in the southwestern part of the state (Spencer County).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community has a moderately dense to dense canopy of deciduous trees. Fagus grandifolia is consistently common. Other common trees include Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus alba, Quercus bicolor, Quercus palustris, and Quercus michauxii. Fraxinus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Quercus shumardii may be present. Asimina triloba, Carpinus caroliniana, Lindera benzoin, Toxicodendron radicans, and Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis are common shrubs. Vitis labrusca is a common, and perhaps characteristic, vine. Abundant understory species include the ferns Botrychium oneidense and Onoclea sensibilis and the herbs Chimaphila maculata, Cinna arundinacea, Impatiens capensis (= Impatiens biflora), Panax trifolius, Podophyllum peltatum, and Rubus hispidus.
Heavy beech dominance may lead to a sparse representation of other associates. However, logging of the oaks may open up the canopy and favor mesic, shade-intolerant species such as Liriodendron tulipifera and Prunus serotina (Anderson 1996). Ulmus americana has decreased in this type because of Dutch elm disease. In response, Acer rubrum and Fraxinus pennsylvanica may have increased (Anderson 1996).
Heavy beech dominance may lead to a sparse representation of other associates. However, logging of the oaks may open up the canopy and favor mesic, shade-intolerant species such as Liriodendron tulipifera and Prunus serotina (Anderson 1996). Ulmus americana has decreased in this type because of Dutch elm disease. In response, Acer rubrum and Fraxinus pennsylvanica may have increased (Anderson 1996).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is usually found on loess-covered glacial drift of Illinoisan age, with level topography and poorly drained silt loam soils (Braun 1936). The substrate can form a mosaic of slightly higher, wet-mesic raised areas, and wet depressions. An impermeable layer beneath the topsoil slows drainage often resulting in wet soil conditions (Chapman 1942). In droughty periods, the upper soils dry out, and the impermeable subsoil limits the availability of deeper water sources.
Geographic Range: This lowland forest community is found in the United States in southeastern Indiana and southwestern Ohio.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: IN, OH
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685978
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M503 | 1.B.3.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.2.g <i>Quercus palustris - Quercus bicolor - Fagus grandifolia</i> Flatwoods & Swamp Forest Group | G917 | 1.B.3.Na.2.g |
| Alliance | A0230 White Oak - American Beech Flatwoods & Swamp Forest Alliance | A0230 | 1.B.3.Na.2.g |
| Association | CEGL005015 American Beech - White Oak - (Swamp Chestnut Oak) - Red Maple Flatwoods Forest | CEGL005015 | 1.B.3.Na.2.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba - (Quercus michauxii) - Acer rubrum Flatwoods Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Beech - White Oak - Red Maple - Sweet Gum Community (Braun 1936)
> Beech - White Oak - Red Maple Community (Braun 1936)
> Beech - White Oak - Sweet Gum Community (Braun 1936)
>< Beech - White Oak Associes (Braun 1936) [may include drier sites than those that are typical of this community.]
< Wet Beech Forests (Anderson 1996) [Anderson describes differences between the stands in southwest Ohio from those in the west/northwest part of the state. Parts of Anderson''s mixed swamp type may also fall into this type, depending on the percentage of beech used to define his wet beech forest type.]
> Beech - White Oak - Red Maple - Sweet Gum Community (Braun 1936)
> Beech - White Oak - Red Maple Community (Braun 1936)
> Beech - White Oak - Sweet Gum Community (Braun 1936)
>< Beech - White Oak Associes (Braun 1936) [may include drier sites than those that are typical of this community.]
< Wet Beech Forests (Anderson 1996) [Anderson describes differences between the stands in southwest Ohio from those in the west/northwest part of the state. Parts of Anderson''s mixed swamp type may also fall into this type, depending on the percentage of beech used to define his wet beech forest type.]
- Anderson, D. M. 1996. The vegetation of Ohio: Two centuries of change. Draft. Ohio Biological Survey.
- Braun, E. L. 1936. Forests of the Illinoian till plain of southwestern Ohio. Ecological Monographs 6:90-149.
- Chapman, A. G. 1942. Forests of the Illinoian till plain of southeastern Indiana. Ecology 23(2):189-198.
- 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.).
- Homoya, M. A., J. Aldrich, J. Bacone, L. Casebere, and T. Post. 1988. Indiana natural community classification. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indianapolis, IN. Unpublished manuscript.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- ONHD [Ohio Natural Heritage Database]. No date. Vegetation classification of Ohio and unpublished data. Ohio Natural Heritage Database, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus.