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CEGL006293 Pinus strobus - Quercus (rubra, velutina) - Fagus grandifolia Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern White Pine - (Northern Red Oak, Black Oak) - American Beech Forest

Colloquial Name: Northeastern White Pine - Oak Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This mixed white pine - oak forest of the northeastern U.S. occurs on dry-mesic to mesic, acidic, nutrient-poor, sandy loam to sandy soils. In the northern glaciated portion of the range, the forest occurs on outwash plains or moraines, as well as along mid and lower slopes and within protected ravines, and on protected ridges or upper slopes of shale, sandstone or other sedimentary rock, occasionally underlain by metamorphic or igneous rock. Along the unglaciated plateau, this community occurs on rolling topography underlain by sandstone. It occurs at elevations below 915 m (3000 feet) throughout the range. The tree canopy is dominated by a mixture of Pinus strobus and oaks, including Quercus velutina, Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, Quercus prinus (usually in minor amounts), and Quercus coccinea, primarily only in the southern portions of the range. Oak species drop out at the northern extreme of the type''s range, leaving only Quercus rubra. Fagus grandifolia is characteristic over much of the range of this type but is absent in some areas. Other less frequent canopy associates may include Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Carya alba, Pinus rigida, Populus tremuloides, Fraxinus americana, Ulmus americana, Tsuga canadensis, and at the northern range limit may include Betula papyrifera and Populus grandidentata. The variable subcanopy may include Hamamelis virginiana or Prunus serotina; other species such as Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida, and Nyssa sylvatica may be present in the central and southern portions of the range. It has a sparse to well-developed, generally ericaceous shrub layer. The herb layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense cover. In disturbed settings, Rhamnus cathartica may be an abundant shrub. The bryophyte layer is not well-documented. This association is differentiated from mixed oak-pine forests to the south by Fagus grandifolia and the absence of southern-ranging species Liriodendron tulipifera, Galax urceolata, Trillium catesbaei, Halesia tetraptera, and others. The absence of Ilex glabra and the unimportance of Quercus alba differentiate this type from a closely related association of northeastern coastal areas, ~Pinus strobus - Quercus alba / Ilex glabra Forest (CEGL006382)$$. Earlier successional versions in New England have less dominance by Pinus spp. (usually) and more by Betula spp. and Acer rubrum; these are separated as ~Quercus rubra - Acer rubrum - Betula spp. - Pinus strobus Ruderal Forest (CEGL006506)$$.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: In the northern part of this type''s range, it can be similar to ~Tsuga canadensis - Fagus grandifolia - Quercus rubra Forest (CEGL006088)$$, which is distinguished by having Tsuga canadensis as the principal canopy conifer. However, examples of both types may have Pinus strobus and Tsuga canadensis present. In the southern part of this type''s range, drier expressions overlap conceptually with ~Pinus strobus - Quercus alba - Quercus montana / Vaccinium stamineum Forest (CEGL008539)$$ to the south, and the overlap between those two needs clarification.

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

Floristics: The tree canopy is dominated by a mixture of Pinus strobus and oaks, including Quercus velutina, Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, Quercus prinus (usually in minor amounts), and Quercus coccinea, primarily only in the southern portions of the range. Oak species drop out at the northern extreme of the type''s range, leaving only Quercus rubra. Fagus grandifolia is characteristic but not always present. Other less frequent canopy associates may include Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Carya alba, Populus tremuloides, Fraxinus americana, Ulmus americana, Tsuga canadensis, and at the northern range limit may include Betula papyrifera and Populus grandidentata. The variable subcanopy may include Hamamelis virginiana or Prunus serotina; other species such as Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida, and Nyssa sylvatica may be present in the central and southern portions of the range. The sparse to well-developed, generally ericaceous shrub layer includes Gaylussacia spp. (usually Gaylussacia baccata), Kalmia latifolia, Vaccinium spp. (typically Vaccinium pallidum and/or Vaccinium angustifolium), and sometimes Kalmia angustifolia, as well as Rubus spp., Corylus americana, Rhododendron periclymenoides, Gaultheria procumbens, Sassafras albidum, and Viburnum prunifolium. The herb layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense cover, with species including Aralia nudicaulis, Ageratina altissima, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Brachyelytrum erectum, Carex communis, Carex woodii, Carex pensylvanica, Carex lucorum, Carex debilis, Chimaphila maculata, Desmodium nudiflorum, Galium latifolium, Gaultheria procumbens, Goodyera pubescens, Hieracium venosum, Houstonia purpurea, Maianthemum racemosum, Maianthemum canadense, Medeola virginiana, Melampyrum lineare, Mitchella repens, Monotropa uniflora, Poa cuspidata, Polygonatum biflorum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Pteridium aquilinum, Trientalis borealis, and/or Viola hastata. In disturbed settings, the exotic Rhamnus cathartica may be an abundant shrub. The bryophyte layer is not well-documented but supports Leucobryum glaucum and Polytrichum commune in occurrences in the northern portion of the range (Acadia National Park).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This mixed white pine - oak forest occurs on dry-mesic to mesic, acidic, nutrient-poor, sandy loam to sandy soils along mid and lower slopes, and along the unglaciated plateau on rolling topography underlain by sandstone. In the northern glaciated portion of the range, the forest occurs on outwash plains or moraines, as well as along mid and lower slopes and within protected ravines, and on protected ridges of shale, sandstone, or other sedimentary rock, occasionally underlain by metamorphic or igneous rock. Along the unglaciated plateau, this community occurs on rolling topography underlain by sandstone. It occurs at elevations below 915 m (3000 feet) throughout the range.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in New England south and west to New Jersey and West Virginia. Total acreage for all subsections is approximately 230,000 square km.

Nations: US

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


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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 CEGL006293 Eastern White Pine - (Northern Red Oak, Black Oak) - American Beech Forest CEGL006293 1.B.2.Na.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Eastern White Pine: 21 (Eyre 1980)
< SNE dry central hardwood forest on acidic bedrock or till (Rawinski 1984a)
< SNE dry oak/pine forests on acidic bedrock or till (Rawinski 1984a)
< SNE mesic oak/pine forest on sandy/gravelly soil (Rawinski 1984a)
< White Pine - Northern Red Oak - Red Maple: 20 (Eyre 1980)
? White pine-oak-beech dry forest (large patch to matrix) (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
Concept Author(s): Northern Appalachian Planning Team

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon, E. Largay and S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-24-06
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