Print Report
CEGL006471 Acer saccharum - Tilia americana / Staphylea trifolia / Dryopteris marginalis - (Impatiens pallida) Forest
Type Concept Sentence: This rich boulderfield forest occurs on slopes partially covered with boulders derived from calcium-rich bedrock in the Central Appalachians and Piedmont; examples contain the trees Tilia americana, Fraxinus americana, and Acer saccharum, with Acer nigrum in some examples.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sugar Maple - American Basswood / American Bladdernut / Marginal Woodfern - (Pale Touch-me-not) Forest
Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian-Piedmont Rich Boulderfield Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in the Central Appalachians of Pennsylvania, Maryland, northern Virginia, and probably northeastern West Virginia, extending eastward locally in the Piedmont. It is associated with steep, usually stream- or river-fronting slopes covered by rocky colluvium weathered from various calcium-bearing sedimentary, metasedimentary, and igneous bedrock, including the Sykesville metasedimentary melange, hornblende tonalite, metapyroxenite, metabasalt, mica schists, phyllite, calcareous shale, limestone, and dolomite. Substrates vary from stable, large-block boulderfields to fine talus and unstable, loose scree. Surface substrate in 16 plots averaged 15% bedrock cover and 42% cover of boulders and large rocks. North and east aspects prevail among these plots. Colluvial soils are strongly calcareous and frequently restricted to interstices among rocks but may form deeper deposits where microtopography permits. Vegetation is a rich mesophytic forest with the overstory consisting largely of Tilia americana (mostly var. americana but occasionally var. heterophylla), Fraxinus americana, and Acer saccharum. Acer nigrum is also codominant in a few localities. Minor overstory associates include Carya cordiformis, Ulmus rubra, Celtis occidentalis, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus montana, and Quercus muehlenbergii. Because of frequent blowdowns and canopy gaps induced by the continuous, often unstable substrates, stands tend to be somewhat open to very open. Staphylea trifolia is constant and abundant in the shrub layer. Other characteristic small trees, shrubs, and vines that may achieve high cover are Asimina triloba, Ostrya virginiana, Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Hydrangea arborescens. Density of herbs varies seasonally, as well as with rock cover and available microhabitats. Spring ephemerals, especially Cardamine concatenata and Dicentra canadensis, are fairly common in most stands, while dense colonies of Impatiens pallida overwhelmingly dominate the late-season aspect of some stands. Other herbs that occurred in half or more of plot samples are, in descending order of constancy, Dryopteris marginalis, Eurybia divaricata, Arisaema triphyllum, Asarum canadense, Polystichum acrostichoides, Solidago flexicaulis, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, Hydrophyllum virginianum, and Actaea racemosa. Less constant herbs that may be important locally include Arabis laevigata, Cystopteris bulbifera, Pilea pumila, Polymnia canadensis, Sanguinaria canadensis, Symphyotrichum cordifolium, and Thalictrum dioicum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The classification is supported by analysis of data from 16 plots during the National Capital Region Parks project.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation of this type is a rich mesophytic forest with the overstory consisting largely of Tilia americana (mostly var. americana but occasionally var. heterophylla), Fraxinus americana, and Acer saccharum. Acer nigrum is also codominant in a few localities. Minor overstory associates include Carya cordiformis, Ulmus rubra, Celtis occidentalis, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), and Quercus muehlenbergii. Because of frequent blowdowns and canopy gaps induced by the continuous, often unstable substrates, stands tend to be somewhat open to very open. Staphylea trifolia is constant and abundant in the shrub layer. Other characteristic small trees, shrubs, and vines that may achieve high cover are Asimina triloba, Ostrya virginiana, Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Hydrangea arborescens. Density of herbs varies seasonally, as well as with rock cover and available microhabitats. Spring ephemerals, especially Cardamine concatenata and Dicentra canadensis, are fairly common in most stands, while dense colonies of Impatiens pallida overwhelmingly dominate the late-season aspect of some stands. Other herbs that occurred in half or more of plot samples are, in descending order of constancy, Dryopteris marginalis, Eurybia divaricata (= Aster divaricatus), Arisaema triphyllum, Asarum canadense, Polystichum acrostichoides, Solidago flexicaulis, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, Hydrophyllum virginianum, and Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa). Less constant herbs that may be important more locally include Arabis laevigata, Cystopteris bulbifera, Pilea pumila, Polymnia canadensis, Sanguinaria canadensis, Symphyotrichum cordifolium (= Aster cordifolius), and Thalictrum dioicum. Many additional species occur at low constancy and cover. Mean species richness of 16 plot samples was 42 taxa per 400 m2. Despite the very rocky substrate, the exotic weed Alliaria petiolata is capable of becoming established or even rampant in this community. This species was present in 94% of plot samples, occasionally achieving 5 to 10% cover. Several other exotics were present at low cover and constancy.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is associated with steep, usually stream- or river-fronting slopes covered by rocky colluvium weathered from various calcium-bearing sedimentary, metasedimentary, and igneous bedrock. Substrates vary from stable, large-block boulderfields to fine talus and unstable, loose scree. Habitats developed on the Sykesville metasedimentary melange, hornblende tonalite, metapyroxenite, and metabasalt tend to have more stable boulder deposits, while habitats formed by weathering of mica schists, phyllite, calcareous shale, limestone, and dolomite tend to have finer and looser debris. The habitats usually include sections of outcrops that are often extensive above the talus deposits. Surface substrate in 16 plots averaged 15% bedrock cover and 42% cover of boulders and large rocks. North and east aspects prevail among these plots. Soils are colluvial and frequently restricted to interstices among rocks but may form deeper deposits where microtopography permits. Samples extracted from plots varied from strongly acidic to circumneutral but had consistently high to very high calcium levels, high magnesium, and moderately low iron and aluminum.
Geographic Range: This association is found in the Central Appalachians of Pennsylvania, Maryland, northern Virginia, and probably northeastern West Virginia, extending eastward locally on river bluffs of the Piedmont.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MD, PA, VA, WV?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.795478
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.3 Appalachian-Interior-Northeastern Mesic Forest Macrogroup | M883 | 1.B.2.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.3.b Appalachian-Allegheny Northern Hardwood Forest | G742 | 1.B.2.Na.3.b |
| Alliance | A4126 Sugar Maple - American Basswood - Northern Red Oak Rocky Forest Alliance | A4126 | 1.B.2.Na.3.b |
| Association | CEGL006471 Sugar Maple - American Basswood / American Bladdernut / Marginal Woodfern - (Pale Touch-me-not) Forest | CEGL006471 | 1.B.2.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Acer (nigrum, saccharum) - Tilia americana / Staphylea trifolia / Thalictrum dioicum Forest (Lea 2003)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Fleming, G. P. 1999. Plant communities of limestone, dolomite, and other calcareous substrates in the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical Report 99-4. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. Unpublished report submitted to the USDA Forest Service. 218 pp. plus appendices.
- Fleming, G. P. 2007. Ecological communities of the Potomac Gorge in Virginia: Composition, floristics, and environmental dynamics. Natural Heritage Technical Report 07-12. Unpublished report submitted to the National Park Service. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 341 pp. plus appendices.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., and K. Taverna. 2006. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, western region. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2006. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulling. 2001. Ecological communities of the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Preliminary classification and description of vegetation types. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 317 pp.
- Fleming, G. P., and W. H. Moorhead, III. 2000. Plant communities and ecological land units of the Peter''s Mountain area, James River Ranger District, George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical Report 00-07. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. Unpublished report submitted to the USDA Forest Service. 195 pp. plus appendices.
- Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
- Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
- Lea, C. 2003. Vegetation types in the National Capital Region Parks. Draft for review by NatureServe, Virginia Natural Heritage, West Virginia Natural Heritage, Maryland Natural Heritage, and National Park Service. March 2003. 140 pp.
- Southworth, S., and D. Denenny. 2006. Geologic map of the national parks in the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1331. [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1331/]