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A0235 Liriodendron tulipifera - Tilia americana var. heterophylla - Aesculus flava Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance represents mixed mesophytic forests of the Southern Blue Ridge, Appalachian Plateau, and adjacent ecoregions occurring primarily in broad coves and lower slopes, and locally referred to as "cove forests." They have highly variable and diverse canopies, often with no clear canopy dominant, including Aesculus flava, Acer saccharum, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Tilia americana var. heterophylla.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tuliptree - Appalachian Basswood - Yellow Buckeye Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: South-Central Appalachian Mixed Mesophytic Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance represents the mixed mesophytic forests of the Southern Blue Ridge, Appalachian Plateau, and adjacent ecoregions, with highly variable and diverse canopies, often with no clear canopy dominant. They are locally referred to as "cove forests." Characteristic canopy species include Acer saccharum, Aesculus flava, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Tilia americana var. heterophylla. Other species that may occur in the canopy include Acer nigrum, Carya cordiformis, Halesia tetraptera var. monticola, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus rubra. Species composition varies with geology and/or elevation. Shrub strata are open to sparse and can include Hydrangea arborescens or Lindera benzoin. Herbaceous strata are typically lush and diverse. Species commonly found include Actaea racemosa, Asarum canadense, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Hydrophyllum canadense, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Laportea canadensis, and Sanguinaria canadensis. However, the herbaceous layer is usually very diverse and variable. A partial list of other typical species includes Adiantum pedatum, Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Arisaema triphyllum, Carex plantaginea, Cystopteris protrusa, Delphinium tricorne, Dicentra canadensis, Dicentra cucullaria, Hepatica nobilis var. acuta, Impatiens capensis, Impatiens pallida, Osmorhiza claytonii, Polystichum acrostichoides, Prosartes lanuginosa, Tiarella cordifolia, Trillium erectum, Trillium grandiflorum, and Viola canadensis. Examples of this alliance mainly occur on sites that are protected, mesic, and at low to moderate elevation (610-1370 m [2000-4500 feet]), primarily broad coves and lower slopes. Forests in this alliance are known from the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky, extending north at least through Virginia on the Northern Blue Ridge, as well as west into the Interior Low Plateau of southern Indiana, southern Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. More information is needed to characterize forests provisionally assigned to this alliance that occur in the Allegheny Plateau of West Virginia and Ohio and in Indiana, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by a high diversity of deciduous trees, Aesculus flava and Tilia americana var. heterophylla being the most characteristic, although not necessarily abundant. Other common trees include Liriodendron tulipifera and Acer saccharum. The herbaceous layer is lush and diverse, and supported by rich mesic soils formed in slight concave depressions and on lower slopes where nutrients and moisture accumulate.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Four associations placed here (CEGL007698, CEGL007878, CEGL008428, and CEGL00848) have some codominance of oaks (Quercus spp.) in their canopies, but based on overall floristics and distribution, this is the best placement for them.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These forests are characterized by a diverse, closed tree canopy, with a sparse shrub layer. The herbaceous layer is lush and diverse, with many leafy forbs.

Floristics: These mixed mesophytic forests of the Southern Blue Ridge, Appalachian Plateau, and Interior Low Plateau have highly variable canopies, often with no clear canopy dominant. These forests are locally referred to as "cove forests." Characteristic canopy species include Acer saccharum, Aesculus flava, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Tilia americana var. heterophylla. Other species that may occur in the canopy include Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, Carya cordiformis, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, Halesia tetraptera var. monticola, Magnolia fraseri, Prunus serotina var. serotina, and Quercus rubra. Species composition will vary with geology and/or elevation. Shrub strata are open to sparse and can include Calycanthus floridus, Cornus alternifolia, Hydrangea arborescens, and Lindera benzoin. Herbaceous strata are typically lush and diverse. A partial list of typical species includes Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Adiantum pedatum, Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Arisaema triphyllum, Asarum canadense, Carex austrocaroliniana, Carex manhartii, Carex plantaginea, Carex platyphylla, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Clintonia umbellulata, Cystopteris protrusa, Delphinium tricorne, Dicentra canadensis, Dicentra cucullaria, Dryopteris intermedia, Hepatica nobilis var. acuta, Hydrophyllum canadense, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Impatiens capensis, Impatiens pallida, Laportea canadensis, Mitella diphylla, Osmorhiza claytonii, Phacelia bipinnatifida, Phacelia fimbriata, Polystichum acrostichoides, Sedum ternatum, Stellaria pubera, Tiarella cordifolia, Trillium erectum, Trillium grandiflorum, and Viola canadensis (Schafale and Weakley 1990).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  These forests mainly occur on protected, mesic, low- to moderate-elevation (610-1370 m [2000-4500 feet]) sites, primarily broad coves and lower slopes. Species composition varies with geology and/or elevation.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges along the Appalachians and adjacent areas from Connecticut south to Alabama and west into the Interior Low Plateau of southern Indiana, southern Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. These forests are known from the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky. Some associations may marginally range into the adjacent Piedmont or Interior Low Plateau. More information is needed to characterize forests provisionally assigned to this alliance that occur in the Allegheny Plateau of West Virginia and Ohio, as well as Indiana and Connecticut.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, CT, GA, 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
Association CEGL005222 Tuliptree - Appalachian Basswood - Yellow Buckeye - Sugar Maple / (Umbrella-tree) Forest CEGL005222 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL006186 Tuliptree - Northern Red Oak - White Ash / Pawpaw / Black Baneberry Forest CEGL006186 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL006201 Sugar Maple - Tuliptree - White Ash / American Bladdernut Forest CEGL006201 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL006237 Sugar Maple - White Ash - American Basswood - Tuliptree / Black Baneberry Forest CEGL006237 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL006472 Appalachian Basswood - Yellow Buckeye - Sugar Maple / Bulblet Bladderfern - Canadian Wild Ginger Forest CEGL006472 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007291 Tuliptree - Appalachian Basswood - (Yellow Buckeye) / Black Baneberry Forest CEGL007291 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007695 Yellow Buckeye - Sugar Maple - (Appalachian Basswood) / Bluntleaf Waterleaf - Zigzag Goldenrod Forest CEGL007695 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007698 Northern Red Oak - Sugar Maple - Appalachian Basswood - Yellow Buckeye - (Kentucky Yellow-wood) Forest CEGL007698 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007710 Tuliptree - White Ash - (Yellow Buckeye) / Black Baneberry - Canadian Woodnettle Forest CEGL007710 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007711 Appalachian Basswood - White Ash / Bloodroot - (Red Columbine, Walking Fern) Forest CEGL007711 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007878 Northern Red Oak - Appalachian Basswood - (Mountain Silverbell) / Richweed - Yellow Fairybells Forest CEGL007878 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008412 Sugar Maple - American Basswood / Pawpaw / Twinleaf - Blue Cohosh Forest CEGL008412 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008488 Northern Red Oak - Appalachian Basswood - Southern Shagbark Hickory / Southern Sugar Maple / Oakleaf Hydrangea Forest CEGL008488 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008510 Tuliptree - Northern Red Oak - Cucumber-tree / Flowering Dogwood Forest CEGL008510 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Concept Lineage: Primarily A.235 (the predecessor of this alliance), as well as associations from A.217, A.227, A.229, A239, A.251. A2035 with Four associations placed here (MP/DFL 12-12; CEGL007698, CEGL007878, CEGL008428, and CEGL00848).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: A. Weakley, M. Schafale, K. Patterson, L. Sneddon and M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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