Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy of stands of this association is dominated by mesophytic trees such as Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, and in the western Piedmont, Tsuga canadensis. Typical understory trees include Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, Acer rubrum, and Ilex opaca. Shrub species may include Vaccinium stamineum, Viburnum rafinesqueanum, Euonymus americanus, and sometimes Kalmia latifolia. The herb layer is often moderately dense and diverse, though it may be sparse under heavy shade. Herb species may include Polystichum acrostichoides, Viola spp., Dichanthelium (= Panicum) spp., Galium circaezans, Hexastylis arifolia, Hexastylis minor, Desmodium nudiflorum, Erythronium umbilicatum ssp. umbilicatum, Chamaelirium luteum, Epifagus virginiana, Tiarella cordifolia var. collina, Heuchera americana, Stellaria pubera, Podophyllum peltatum, Prenanthes serpentaria, Thalictrum thalictroides, Chrysogonum virginianum var. virginianum, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Thelypteris noveboracensis, and Botrychium virginianum (Schafale and Weakley 1990). Exact composition varies locally with position on slope and nature of soil. Western Piedmont sites often have increasing importance of Tsuga canadensis, Rhododendron spp., and other species that are more typical of the Southern Blue Ridge.

Dynamics:  Under natural conditions these forests are uneven-aged, with old trees present. Reproduction occurs primarily in canopy gaps. Rare, severe natural disturbances such as wind storms may allow pulses of increased regeneration and allow the less shade-tolerant species to remain in the community. However, Skeen, Carter, and Ragsdale (1980) argued that even the shade-intolerant Liriodendron could reproduce enough in gaps to persist in the climax Piedmont forests (Schafale and Weakley 1990).

The natural fire regime of the Piedmont is not known but fires certainly occurred periodically. Because Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forests generally occur in moist and topographically sheltered sites, they probably burned only rarely and with low intensity (Schafale and Weakley 1990).

Disturbed areas have increased amounts of pines and weedy hardwoods such as Liriodendron tulipifera and Liquidambar styraciflua. Many areas have been selectively cut many times and have increased importance of Fagus grandifolia and other noncommercial hardwoods relative to oaks (Schafale and Weakley 1990). Other areas that were disturbed in the distant past may be younger and, therefore, may have a higher proportion of oaks with beeches mainly in the understory.