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G020 Fagus grandifolia - Liriodendron tulipifera - Aesculus flava Forest Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group is composed of tall, productive and diverse forests primarily dominated by a diverse suite of deciduous broad-leaved trees of the unglaciated Appalachians, Piedmont, and Interior Low Plateau regions of the eastern United States. They are best developed on lower slopes and in sheltered landforms, typically with northern to eastern exposures.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - Tuliptree - Yellow Buckeye Forest Group

Colloquial Name: Appalachian-Central Interior Mesic Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group is composed of tall, productive and diverse forests primarily dominated by a diverse suite of deciduous broad-leaved trees of the unglaciated Appalachians, Piedmont, and Interior Low Plateau regions of the eastern United States. They range from about 125 m (400 feet) elevation to generally 1375 m (4500 feet), and occasionally to 1525 m (5000 feet) in the Southern Appalachians. They are best developed on lower slopes and in sheltered landforms, typically with northern to eastern exposures. Stands are most extensive, diverse and well-developed in the Central and Southern Appalachians, and in the Cumberland and Allegheny Plateaus. Examples in the Interior Low Plateau are somewhat less diverse in comparison, but are still the most diverse and productive forests in this particular region. The most typical and usually dominant forest tree species include Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, Acer saccharum, Tilia americana (both var. americana and var. heterophylla, the latter being especially characteristic), and Fagus grandifolia. Other associates can include Fraxinus americana, Juglans nigra, and Magnolia spp. (e.g., Magnolia acuminata, Magnolia tripetala, Magnolia macrophylla). Stands are typically dominated by genera other than Carya and Quercus, although some species of these genera may be present, including Carya cordiformis, Carya ovalis, Carya ovata, Quercus alba, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus rubra, and Quercus shumardii. A diverse herbaceous layer will contain species such as Adiantum pedatum, Arisaema triphyllum, Galium spp., Osmorhiza claytonii, Podophyllum peltatum, Polygonatum biflorum, Trillium spp., and Viola spp.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are rich, productive forests in sheltered landforms, with diverse canopies, found in the Central and Southern Appalachians, the Cumberland and Allegheny plateaus, the Piedmont, and the Interior Low Plateau of the eastern United States. A well-developed herbaceous layer, often very dense and usually high in species richness, and with abundant spring ephemerals, is characteristic.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: There has been a long-standing discussion about how to delineate and subdivide the broad concept of mesic or "mesophytic" forests in eastern North America. This group encompasses these forests in the non-coastal plain, unglaciated eastern United States. It does not include related coastal plain forests, nor the related "beech-maple" and "maple-basswood" forests to the north of this group. Forests of the Piedmont and parts of the Interior Low Plateau are clearly less diverse than those of the core of the group''s distribution, the Southern Appalachians and Cumberlands. This variation is best accommodated at the alliance and association level, and all are included in this broad group. In the Southern Appalachian region, this type is restricted to lower elevations. At higher elevations it transitions to ~Appalachian-Allegheny Northern Hardwood - Conifer Forest Group (G742)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group is composed of tall (25-50 m) broad-leaved deciduous trees forming a closed canopy. Stands are diverse and productive. Understory trees are common, and the shrub layer is of variable structure. The herbaceous layer is generally lush, composed of leafy forbs.

Floristics: The most typical and usually dominant forest tree species include Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, and Tilia americana var. heterophylla. Other associates can include Fraxinus americana, Juglans nigra, and Magnolia acuminata. Tsuga canadensis may be a component of some stands. Southern Appalachian examples will contain Aesculus flava, Halesia tetraptera var. monticola, and Magnolia fraseri. Some characteristic shrubs include Calycanthus floridus, Clethra acuminata, Leucothoe fontanesiana, Hydrangea quercifolia, Rhododendron maximum, Staphylea trifolia, and Viburnum acerifolium. A well-developed herbaceous layer, often very dense and usually high in species richness, and with abundant spring ephemerals, is characteristic. Ulrey (1999) listed Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Caulophyllum thalictroides, Laportea canadensis, Osmorhiza claytonii, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Viola canadensis as characteristic herbs in Southern Appalachian stands. Central Appalachian and Cumberland examples can contain Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Adiantum pedatum, Arisaema triphyllum, Asarum canadense, Botrychium virginianum, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Claytonia virginica, Cryptotaenia canadensis, Dicentra canadensis, Dryopteris marginalis, Erythronium americanum, Galium triflorum, Geranium maculatum, Hepatica nobilis var. acuta, Hydrophyllum canadense, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Osmorhiza spp., Laportea canadensis, Prosartes lanuginosa, Sanguinaria canadensis, Sedum ternatum, Tiarella cordifolia, Trillium erectum, Trillium grandiflorum, and many others.

Dynamics:  This group primarily naturally contains stable, uneven-aged forests, with canopy dynamics dominated by gap-phase regeneration on a fine scale. Occasional extreme wind or ice events may disturb larger patches. Natural fire dynamics are not well-known and fire probably only occurred in years that were extremely dry. Fires may have occurred at moderate frequency but were probably usually low enough in intensity to have only limited effects. Most of the component species are among the less fire-tolerant in the region.
Environmental Description:  Stands of this group are best developed in somewhat protected landscape positions such as coves or lower slopes. Soil/substrate/hydrology: These high-diversity, predominately deciduous forests occur on a variety of soils and substrates across their broad range. In the Central Appalachians, Piedmont, and Interior Low Plateau, they are best developed on deep and enriched soils (in some cases due to, or enhanced by, the presence of limestone or related base-rich geology), in non-montane settings. In the Southern Appalachians, bedrock may be of virtually any type. Acidic rocks, such as felsic igneous and metamorphic rocks, support rich cove forests in a more limited range of sites than do basic rocks, such as mafic metamorphic rocks or marble. Soils may be rocky or fine-textured, and may be residual, alluvial, or colluvial.
Geographic Range: This group is found primarily in three areas in a broad band of unglaciated terrain in the eastern United States primarily between about 33°N and 38°N latitude, extending further north to about 42°N in southwestern New York. Its range includes the Appalachians and Piedmont (from southwestern New York south to Alabama, as well as the Allegheny and Cumberland plateaus, and the unglaciated Interior Low Plateau.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AL, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV


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.a American Beech - Tuliptree - Yellow Buckeye Forest Group G020 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Alliance A0235 Tuliptree - Appalachian Basswood - Yellow Buckeye Forest Alliance A0235 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Alliance A2033 American Beech - Tuliptree - Bitternut Hickory Forest Alliance A2033 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Alliance A3265 American Beech - Northern Red Oak Piedmont-Ridge & Valley Forest Alliance A3265 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Alliance A3304 Eastern Hemlock - Tuliptree Forest Alliance A3304 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Beech - Sugar Maple: 60 (Eyre 1980)
> Cove Hardwoods Forest (Whittaker 1956)
> Mesic Eutrophic (Cove) forests (Peet and Christensen 1980)
> Rich mesophytic forest (Edinger et al. 2002)
Concept Author(s): R.H. Whittaker (1956)

Author of Description: M. Pyne and S. Gawler

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by F. Gilliam and S. Franklin.

Version Date: 05-04-15
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