Print Report

A3265 Fagus grandifolia - Quercus rubra Piedmont-Ridge & Valley Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are beech-oak forests found in a broad band wrapping around the Appalachian region, generally distinguished by their relative dominance by Fagus grandifolia with Quercus spp., including Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, and Quercus muehlenbergii in some examples.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - Northern Red Oak Piedmont-Ridge & Valley Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Piedmont-Ridge & Valley Beech - Red Oak Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Members of this alliance are found in a broad band wrapping around the Appalachian region, from the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia, along the Piedmont and upper/inner Atlantic Coastal Plain of the Carolinas and Georgia, west to the Ridge and Valley of Georgia and Tennessee and peripherally into the adjacent Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain. The forests of this alliance are generally distinguished by their relative dominance by Fagus grandifolia with Quercus spp., including Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, and Quercus muehlenbergii. Liriodendron tulipifera may be present in some examples. Species most typically abundant in the subcanopy include Acer saccharum (or Acer floridanum to the south), Ilex opaca, Magnolia acuminata, and Ostrya virginiana. Other more mesic and/or calciphilic species, such as Acer saccharum, Carya spp., and Fraxinus americana are of relatively minor importance. Examples generally occur on lower slopes in gently rolling topography, on low, sheltered slopes and along small streams in narrow ravines, as well as on small, well-drained stream terraces and flats, usually over acidic to subacidic soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: The forests of this alliance are generally distinguished by their relative dominance by Fagus grandifolia with Quercus spp. Other more mesic and/or calciphilic species, such as Acer saccharum, Carya spp., and Fraxinus americana are of relatively minor importance.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance needs to be critically compared to ~Fagus grandifolia - Liriodendron tulipifera - Carya cordiformis Forest Alliance (A2033)$$, as well as other alliances in G020.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are deciduous forests with a well-developed canopy and subcanopy, a variable shrub layer, and an open to sparse herbaceous layer.

Floristics: The canopy of stands is generally dominated by some combination of Fagus grandifolia with Quercus alba and/or Quercus rubra with Liriodendron tulipifera in some examples. Species most typically abundant in the subcanopy include Acer saccharum (or Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum) to the south), Ilex opaca, Magnolia acuminata, and Ostrya virginiana. The most typically abundant shrubs are Euonymus americanus and Viburnum acerifolium. Common vines are Smilax rotundifolia and Toxicodendron radicans. Herbaceous composition varies across the range; some abundant and constant species are Brachyelytrum erectum, Carex picta, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Solidago caesia. Some other herbs which appear to be abundant or characteristic include Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Adiantum pedatum, Asarum canadense, Cardamine concatenata, Carex grisea, Carex laxiflora var. laxiflora, Desmodium pauciflorum, Dicentra canadensis, Erythronium americanum, Maianthemum racemosum, Podophyllum peltatum, Polygonatum biflorum, Sanguinaria canadensis, Tiarella cordifolia, Tipularia discolor, and Uvularia sessilifolia.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Examples of this alliance generally occur on lower slopes in gently rolling topography, on low, sheltered slopes and along small streams in narrow ravines, as well as on small, well-drained stream terraces and flats, usually over acidic to subacidic soils.
Geographic Range: Members of this alliance are found in a broad band wrapping around the Appalachian region, from the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia, along the Piedmont and upper/inner Atlantic Coastal Plain of the Carolinas and Georgia, west to the Ridge and Valley of Georgia and Tennessee and peripherally into the adjacent Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, GA, KY?, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA


Confidence Level: Low

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 A3265 American Beech - Northern Red Oak Piedmont-Ridge & Valley Forest Alliance A3265 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004549 American Beech - Oak species / Mountain Laurel - American Witch-hazel / Beetleweed Forest CEGL004549 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL006227 White Oak - Mockernut Hickory / American Strawberry-bush / Arrowleaf Heartleaf Forest CEGL006227 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007200 American Beech Ridge & Valley Forest CEGL007200 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007213 White Oak - American Beech / Oakleaf Hydrangea - Mapleleaf Viburnum / Painted Sedge Forest CEGL007213 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008428 White Oak - (Tuliptree, Sweetgum) / Eastern Sweetshrub / Common Ladyfern Forest CEGL008428 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008465 American Beech - Northern Red Oak / Flowering Dogwood / Christmas Fern - Virginia Heartleaf Forest CEGL008465 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008466 American Beech - Northern Red Oak / Painted Buckeye / Black Baneberry - Northern Maidenhair Forest CEGL008466 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008551 American Beech - White Oak / Mountain Laurel - Mountain Azalea - Horsesugar Forest CEGL008551 1.B.2.Na.3.a
Concept Lineage: Associations included here come from old alliances A.228, A.229, A.239, and A.284

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: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by Michael Schafale and Gary Fleming.

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.