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CEGL006577 Acer saccharum - Fraxinus americana - Juglans cinerea / Staphylea trifolia / Adlumia fungosa Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sugar Maple - White Ash - Butternut / American Bladdernut / Allegheny-vine Forest
Colloquial Name: Northern Calcareous Talus Slope Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This semi-rich to rich forest of southern New England to the central Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania occurs on talus slopes or shallow rocky soils overlying calcareous or circumneutral bedrock. Canopy dominants are Acer saccharum with Fraxinus americana. Canopy associates include Juglans cinerea, Quercus rubra, Tilia americana, Ostrya virginiana, and Betula alleghaniensis. The open shrub layer is characterized by Staphylea trifolia, Rubus odoratus, and Cornus rugosa. A characteristic vine is Adlumia fungosa in the northern portion of the range. This community is characterized by a fairly diverse herbaceous flora. Typical herbs include Adiantum pedatum, Allium tricoccum, Anemone quinquefolia, Aralia racemosa, Asarum canadense, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dicentra cucullaria, Dryopteris goldieana, Sanguinaria canadensis, and others. Characteristic graminoids include Carex platyphylla, Carex sprengelii, Elymus hystrix, and Patis racemosa. This association grades into open woodland [see related woodland type ~Acer saccharum - Tilia americana - Fraxinus americana / Ostrya virginiana / Geranium robertianum Woodland (CEGL005058)$$] and bedrock upslope.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Prominent distinguishing features of this community are its extremely steep, bouldery/gravelly mesic habitats, the infrequency of Quercus spp., the presence of Juglans cinerea, and the general abundance of Staphylea trifolia and Adlumia fungosa. It intergrades with both dry, open forests and other mesophytic forests along environmental continua defined by slope position and interrelated degrees of rock substrate and mineral soil development. As a result, transitional or intermediate stands that are difficult to classify may be encountered.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Canopy dominants are Acer saccharum with Fraxinus americana. Canopy associates are Juglans cinerea, Quercus rubra, Tilia americana, Ostrya virginiana, and Betula alleghaniensis. The open shrub layer is characterized by Staphylea trifolia, Rubus odoratus, and Cornus rugosa. A characteristic vine is Adlumia fungosa in the northern portion of the range. This community is characterized by a fairly diverse herbaceous flora. Typical herbs include Adiantum pedatum, Allium tricoccum, Anemone quinquefolia, Aralia racemosa, Asarum canadense, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dicentra cucullaria, Dryopteris goldieana, Sanguinaria canadensis, and others. Characteristic graminoids include Carex platyphylla, Carex sprengelii, Elymus hystrix (= Hystrix patula), and Patis racemosa (= Oryzopsis racemosa).
Dynamics: Exposed rock (boulder and outcrop) cover can be up to 50%, which reduces both species richness and herbaceous cover. However, due to the relatively rapid weathering of carbonate materials and extremely fertile soils, these habitats are typically well-vegetated with herbaceous plants. High cover of mosses provides a foothold for many species, while organic mats and soil pockets are also numerous. Invasive exotic weeds do not appear to be particularly troublesome, but windthrow, slumping or landsliding of unstable colluvium, and other erosional disturbances appear to be relatively frequent in the habitats of this type.
Environmental Description: Sites include talus slopes or shallow rocky soils weathered from calcareous or circumneutral bedrock. Slopes are steep, usually with north to east aspects. Bedrock outcrops are frequent. Exposed rock (boulder and outcrop) cover can be up to 50%, which reduces both species richness and herbaceous cover.
Geographic Range: This community is known to occur in the Northern and Central Appalachian regions, from Vermont and New Hampshire south to Pennsylvania.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, QC?, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.802115
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | CEGL006577 Sugar Maple - White Ash - Butternut / American Bladdernut / Allegheny-vine Forest | CEGL006577 | 1.B.2.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: This is one of three types split from CEGL006020.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Acer saccharum - Fraxinus americana - Juglans cinerea / Staphylea trifolia / Adlumia fungosa Forest (Lundgren 2000)
? SNE Calcareous Talus Forest/Woodland (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE rich mesic forest (circumneutral to basic) (Rawinski 1984a)
< Sugar Maple - Basswood: 26 (Eyre 1980)
? Sugar maple-white ash-basswood cove forest (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
? SNE Calcareous Talus Forest/Woodland (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE rich mesic forest (circumneutral to basic) (Rawinski 1984a)
< Sugar Maple - Basswood: 26 (Eyre 1980)
? Sugar maple-white ash-basswood cove forest (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
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