Physiognomy and Structure: Tree canopy varies from hardwood-dominated to conifer-dominated, with open to closed canopy cover. Stands have an irregular structure, though remnants of abandoned forest plantation structure, such as row plantings, may be evident in some cases.

Floristics: The vegetation is dominated (>80% cover) by ruderal native tree species. Understory shrub and herb species may be a mix of exotic species and native generalists. Some typical native ruderal species include conifer Pinus taeda, and hardwoods Catalpa bignonioides, Catalpa speciosa, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Maclura pomifera, and Quercus nigra. Minor exotic associates may include Albizia julibrissin, Broussonetia papyrifera, Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum), and Maclura pomifera. Maclura pomifera is a native species in a narrow region of the eastern U.S., but is so widely planted outside of its range that it is effectively exotic. Where both the ground layer and tree layer are native ruderals, the stand may overlap with degraded phases of other native forest types.

Dynamics:  Native ruderal tree species may initiate establishment before exotics or outcompete exotics. Canopy cover may be as low as 10%, but eventually stands may have more-or-less continuous canopy, leading to a shift to a more shade-tolerant ground layer. The successional stages of this type have been described in many studies, particularly the early stages of tree invasion into old fields (e.g., Singleton et al. 2001). See also Wright and Fridley (2010) for the biogeographic variation among stands of this type. This type may also form in other ways. First, native forest plantation stands (tracked in 7. ~Agricultural & Developed Vegetation Cultural Class (CCL01)$$)) could become native ruderal stands if not intensively managed and the planted trees begin to die out. Second, native forest stands that have not been plowed or planted may be stressed to the point where the characteristic native combination of species is altered (Curtis 1959). These stands are probably best tracked as altered variants of native types until the overstory itself is substantially altered to the point where exotics tree species are the dominant.