Print Report

A2054 Fagus grandifolia - Quercus rubra / Cornus florida Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Forests in this mid-Atlantic alliance occur in non-montane or low-elevation mesic situations, from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania south to portions of Virginia, and are characterized by a mixture of Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus alba, and Nyssa sylvatica.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - Northern Red Oak / Flowering Dogwood Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Coastal Plain-Piedmont Beech - Oak Mesic Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Forests in this mid-Atlantic alliance occur in non-montane or low-elevation mesic situations, from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania south to portions of Virginia. The tree canopy is characterized by a mixture of Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus alba, and Nyssa sylvatica. Cornus florida is a constant understory tree, often associated with Ostrya virginiana and Carpinus caroliniana. Viburnum acerifolium is a common shrub. The herb layer is of variable cover and diversity; it can be relatively lush with such species as Polystichum acrostichoides, Podophyllum peltatum, Arisaema triphyllum, Thelypteris noveboracensis, Mitchella repens, Uvularia perfoliata, and others. These forests often occur on concave and sheltered landforms, such as north-facing slopes, low slopes, high terraces along streams, and possibly other situations.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Presence of characteristic species Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Cornus florida; northern hardwood species such as Acer saccharum, Betula alleghaniensis, and others are absent or infrequent. Limited to the northern and southern Piedmont and adjacent coastal plains from Massachusetts and New York south to portions of Virginia.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is composed of closed-canopy deciduous forests, with variable cover of shrub species, and a well-developed herbaceous layer. Conifers are absent or of low cover.

Floristics: The tree canopy is characterized by a mixture of Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus alba, and Nyssa sylvatica. Additional canopy associates may include Betula lenta, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus falcata. Cornus florida is a constant understory tree, often associated with Ostrya virginiana and Carpinus caroliniana. Viburnum acerifolium is a common shrub. Ericaceous species may include Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, Kalmia latifolia, and Rhododendron periclymenoides. The herb layer is of variable cover and diversity; it can be relatively lush with such species as Ageratina altissima, Arisaema triphyllum, Botrychium virginianum, Desmodium nudiflorum, Galium circaezans, Goodyera pubescens, Hexastylis arifolia, Hexastylis minor, Mitchella repens, Podophyllum peltatum, Polygonatum biflorum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Thelypteris noveboracensis, Tipularia discolor, Uvularia perfoliata, and others.

Dynamics:  This forest alliance is relatively stable and long-lived.
Environmental Description:  These forests often occur on concave and sheltered landforms such as north-facing slopes, low slopes, high terraces along streams, and possibly other situations.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania south to portions of Virginia in the northern and southern Piedmont and adjacent coastal plains.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  DC, DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, RI?, VA


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.9 Pitch Pine - oak spp. - American Holly North Atlantic Forest Macrogroup M525 1.B.2.Na.9
Group 1.B.2.Na.9.b Black Oak - American Beech - Pitch Pine Coastal Plain Forest Group G894 1.B.2.Na.9.b
Alliance A2054 American Beech - Northern Red Oak / Flowering Dogwood Forest Alliance A2054 1.B.2.Na.9.b
Association CEGL006075 American Beech - (White Oak, Northern Red Oak) - Tuliptree / (American Holly) Forest CEGL006075 1.B.2.Na.9.b
Association CEGL006377 American Beech - White Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest CEGL006377 1.B.2.Na.9.b
Association CEGL006919 American Beech - (White Oak, Black Oak, Chestnut Oak) / Mountain Laurel Forest CEGL006919 1.B.2.Na.9.b
Association CEGL006921 American Beech - Sweet Birch - (White Oak, Northern Red Oak) / American Hornbeam Forest CEGL006921 1.B.2.Na.9.b
Concept Lineage: A2054 - the current description is based on qualitative analysis of association descriptions from two formerly described wide-ranging alliances: A.228 (Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba Forest Alliance) and A.229 (Fagus grandifolia - Quercus rubra - Quercus alba Forest Alliance). LAS 9-13: A2054 has since been substantially edited and reduced in range based on previous group membership of associations. A.229 & A.228, in part

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Quercus - Fagus grandifolia / Ilex opaca Forest Alliance (Sneddon et al. 1994)
>< Oak - Hardwood Forest (Undifferentiated) (Windisch 2014a)
>< Oak - Tulip Tree Forest (NYNHP 2013r)
Concept Author(s): L. Sneddon, M. Anderson, K. Metzler, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: L. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-01-16
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