Print Report
CEGL005058 Acer saccharum - Tilia americana - Fraxinus americana / Ostrya virginiana / Geranium robertianum Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sugar Maple - American Basswood - White Ash / Hophornbeam / Robert''s Geranium Talus Woodland
Colloquial Name: Rich Northern Hardwood Talus Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These open, circumneutral woodlands range from the Great Lakes to the Northern Appalachians and Lower New England regions. They typically occur on talus and colluvial slopes where soils are derived from circumneutral to calcareous bedrock, and often extend upslope onto ridges and low summits. The elevation range is from about 150 to 610 m (500-2000 feet) with most occurrences below 365 m (1200 feet), and southerly exposure is common. Soils are thin, patchy and dry. The hardwood canopy is very patchy, with open talus interspersed with wooded areas. Even the wooded areas generally have an open canopy, and canopy closure overall is usually less than 50%, often with stunted trees. Shrubs and herbs are scattered where soil is available; vines are unusually well-represented. Herb cover may be locally extensive on stabilized areas. The bryoid layer is very minor and varies from patches of lichens on the open talus to sparse mosses in wooded areas. The ground cover is boulder talus and deciduous litter. Canopy dominants are typically Acer saccharum and Quercus rubra, with the characteristic but usually subordinate species Ostrya virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Tilia americana. Where shrubs are even present, they are scattered and clumped and include Cornus rugosa, Acer pensylvanicum, Acer spicatum, Rubus odoratus, Corylus cornuta, Viburnum acerifolium, Staphylea trifolia, and Ribes spp. Vines are locally abundant on talus. Rich-site herbs indicative of these talus slopes include Asplenium platyneuron, Polystichum braunii, Aralia racemosa, Saxifraga virginiensis, Geranium robertianum, Arabis drummondii, Asarum canadense, Carex rosea, Carex sprengelii, Carex platyphylla, and Patis racemosa. This association is distinguished from other deciduous talus and low summit woodlands by the presence of enriched-site species such as Tilia americana and Juglans cinerea in the canopy, and the characteristic rich-site herb species listed above. However, sites do occur that are intermediate between this type and the more acidic oak-birch talus woodlands, ~Betula alleghaniensis - Quercus rubra / Polypodium virginianum Woodland (CEGL006584)$$ and ~Quercus rubra - Betula lenta / Polypodium virginianum Talus Woodland (CEGL006585)$$.
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: The hardwood canopy is very patchy, with open talus interspersed with wooded areas. Even the wooded areas generally have an open canopy, and canopy closure overall is usually less than 50%. Shrubs and herbs are scattered where soil is available; vines are unusually well represented. Herb cover may be locally extensive on stabilized areas. The bryoid layer is very minor, and varies from patches of lichens on the open talus to sparse mosses in wooded areas. The ground cover is boulder talus and deciduous litter. Canopy dominants are typically Acer saccharum and Quercus rubra, with the characteristic but usually subordinate species Ostrya virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Tilia americana. Other canopy associates include Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Betula papyrifera, Betula alleghaniensis, Juglans cinerea, and Ulmus rubra. Where shrubs are even present, they are scattered and clumped and include Cornus rugosa, Acer pensylvanicum, Acer spicatum, Rubus odoratus, Corylus cornuta, Viburnum acerifolium, Staphylea trifolia, and Ribes spp. Vines are locally abundant on talus and include Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Parthenocissus vitacea, Toxicodendron radicans, Clematis virginiana, Clematis occidentalis, Adlumia fungosa, Celastrus scandens, and Polygonum cilinode. Rich-site herbs indicative of these talus slopes include Asplenium platyneuron, Polystichum braunii, Aralia racemosa, Saxifraga virginiensis, Geranium robertianum, Arabis drummondii, Asarum canadense, Carex rosea, Carex sprengelii, Carex platyphylla, and Patis racemosa (= Oryzopsis racemosa). Also present, and less restricted to circumneutral conditions, are Cystopteris bulbifera, Carex pensylvanica, Carex communis, Deschampsia flexuosa, Schizachne purpurascens, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (= Hepatica americana), Dryopteris marginalis, Polypodium virginianum, and Athyrium filix-femina.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur on talus and colluvial slopes where soils are derived from circumneutral to calcareous bedrock, and often extend upslope onto ridges and low summits. The elevation range is from about 150 to 610 m (500-2000 feet) with most occurrences below 370 m (1200 feet), and southerly exposure is common. Soils are thin, patchy, and dry.
Geographic Range: This woodland ranges from the Great Lakes to the Northern Appalachians and Lower New England regions.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, ME, NB, NH, NJ?, NY, ON, QC?, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686765
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5
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.6 Eastern White Pine - Jack Pine - Northern Pin Oak Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M159 | 1.B.2.Na.6 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.6.e Laurentian-Acadian Limestone Woodland Group | G655 | 1.B.2.Na.6.e |
| Alliance | A3297 <i>Acer saccharum - Tilia americana</i> Rocky Woodland Alliance | A3297 | 1.B.2.Na.6.e |
| Association | CEGL005058 Sugar Maple - American Basswood - White Ash / Hophornbeam / Robert''s Geranium Talus Woodland | CEGL005058 | 1.B.2.Na.6.e |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Rich talus slope woodland (NAP pers. comm. 1998)
? SNE Circumneutral Talus Forest/Woodland (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE Circumneutral Talus Forest/Woodland (Rawinski 1984a)
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