Print Report

CEGL006301 Quercus rubra - Carya (glabra, ovata) / Ostrya virginiana / Carex lucorum Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Red Oak - (Pignut Hickory, Shagbark Hickory) / Hophornbeam / Blue Ridge Sedge Forest

Colloquial Name: Oak - Hickory / Hophornbeam / Sedge Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is a dry, rich oak-hickory forest of the northeastern United States, occurring from Maine and Vermont to Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey. It is dominated by a mixture of hickories and oaks over a hop-hornbeam subcanopy with or without a parklike sedge lawn. The vegetation occurs on low-elevation ridgetops, upper slopes, south- or west-facing sideslopes, and is supported by well-drained loams or sandy loams, often derived from alkaline bedrock. The tree canopy, which ranges from nearly closed forest to partially open woodland, is dominated by a mixture of Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya ovalis, Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, with occasional Ostrya virginiana and Acer rubrum. Minor associates include Acer saccharum, Pinus strobus, and Fraxinus americana. A subcanopy of Ostrya virginiana is conspicuous in most areas. Additional species in the subcanopy or tall-shrub layer that occur in lower abundance can include Hamamelis virginiana, Cornus florida, Amelanchier arborea, Acer pensylvanicum, and Viburnum acerifolium. Low shrubs can include Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pallidum, Rubus idaeus, or Viburnum rafinesquianum. The herb layer can range from a sedge lawn of Carex lucorum, with some Carex pensylvanica, Carex woodii, Carex appalachica, or Carex rosea, to a more patchy herbaceous layer with sedges in addition to scattered Elymus hystrix, Bromus pubescens, Ageratina altissima, Festuca subverticillata, Uvularia perfoliata, Aralia nudicaulis, Maianthemum racemosum, Desmodium glutinosum, Desmodium paniculatum, Prenanthes alba, Solidago bicolor, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Carex (Laxiflorae group), Deschampsia flexuosa, Packera paupercula, Packera obovata, Symphyotrichum undulatum, Symphyotrichum patens, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Dichanthelium spp. Spring ephemerals such as Erythronium americanum and Claytonia virginica also occur in some portions of the range.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Former Carya (glabra, ovata) - Fraxinus americana - Quercus spp. Forest (CEGL006236) was lumped into this community in 2009 allowing for oak-hickory without sedge lawn stands to be included in this type (CEGL006301).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This forest has a closed to open canopy dominated by a mixture of Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya ovalis, Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, with occasional Ostrya virginiana, Quercus prinus, Carya alba, and Acer rubrum. Minor associates include Acer saccharum, Pinus strobus, and Fraxinus americana. A subcanopy of Ostrya virginiana is conspicuous in most areas. Additional species in the subcanopy or tall-shrub layers that occur in lower abundance include Hamamelis virginiana, Cornus florida, Amelanchier arborea, Acer pensylvanicum, and Viburnum acerifolium. Low shrubs can include Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia baccata, Rubus allegheniensis, Rubus idaeus, Viburnum dentatum, or Viburnum rafinesquianum. Vaccinium stamineum may be present in the most southerly (NJ/PA) occurrences of this association. The herb layer can range from a sedge lawn of Carex lucorum, with some Carex pensylvanica, Carex woodii, Carex appalachica, or Carex rosea, to a more patchy herbaceous layer with sedges in addition to scattered Elymus hystrix, Bromus pubescens, Danthonia spicata, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Ageratina altissima, Festuca subverticillata, Uvularia perfoliata, Aralia nudicaulis, Maianthemum racemosum (= Smilacina racemosa), Desmodium glutinosum, Desmodium paniculatum, Prenanthes alba, Solidago bicolor, Solidago juncea, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (= Hepatica americana), Carex spp. (Laxiflorae group), Deschampsia flexuosa, Packera paupercula (= Senecio pauperculus), Packera obovata (= Senecio obovatus), Symphyotrichum undulatum (= Aster undulatus), Symphyotrichum patens (= Aster patens), Veronica officinalis, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Dichanthelium spp. Spring ephemerals such as Erythronium americanum and Claytonia virginica also occur in some portions of the range.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community occupies upper slopes and sideslopes at low elevations, generally with southeastern to western exposures. The low relief of southern New England limits this vegetation to small occurrences, most of which are <4 ha (10 acres). Soils are well-drained loams or sandy loams and often circumneutral. Soils are often stony, but exposed bedrock, boulders, cobbles, and mineral soil are sparse.
Geographic Range: The principal distribution of this community type is centered in Lower New England, ranging from southern New Hampshire to New Jersey and northern Pennsylvania.

Nations: US

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


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.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup M502 1.B.2.Na.2
Group 1.B.2.Na.2.c White Oak - Chestnut Oak - Pignut Hickory Forest & Woodland Group G650 1.B.2.Na.2.c
Alliance A4437 White Oak - Pignut Hickory - Shagbark Hickory Northeast Forest Alliance A4437 1.B.2.Na.2.c
Association CEGL006301 Northern Red Oak - (Pignut Hickory, Shagbark Hickory) / Hophornbeam / Blue Ridge Sedge Forest CEGL006301 1.B.2.Na.2.c
Concept Lineage: CEGL006236 adequately covered by CEGL006301 and CEGL006406.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Dry Oak-Hickory-Hophornbeam Forest (Thompson and Sorenson 2000)
? SNE dry rich forest - Hickory - hop hornbeam forest variant (Rawinski 1984a)
< White Oak - Black Oak - Northern Red Oak: 52 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): E.H. Thompson and E.R. Sorenson (2000)

Author of Description: G. Fleming, P. Coulling, S.L. Neid and S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-03-13
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