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A3302 Tsuga canadensis - Betula lenta - Betula alleghaniensis Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This mixed conifer-hardwood forest alliance is dominated by Tsuga canadensis, in combination with Pinus strobus, mesic hardwoods such as Acer saccharum, Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, and Fagus grandifolia, with minor associates of Betula lenta, Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, and Quercus rubra. It occurs in the northeastern U.S. ranges from Lower New England west to the Lake Erie-Lake Ontario ecoregion in Ontario and south to the higher elevations of Virginia and West Virginia.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Hemlock - Sweet Birch - Yellow Birch Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian-Northeast Hemlock - Northern Hardwood Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This mixed conifer-hardwood forested alliance is dominated by Tsuga canadensis, alone or in combination with Pinus strobus, and a variety of mesic hardwoods such as Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, and Fagus grandifolia. Other common and sometimes dominant trees include Betula alleghaniensis, Betula lenta, Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, and Quercus spp. (most commonly Quercus rubra). It occurs in the northeastern U.S., ranging from central New England west to the Lake Erie-Lake Ontario ecoregion in Ontario and south to the higher elevations of Virginia and West Virginia. Stands are often found in ravines or low cool sites, on a variety of primarily mesic soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This type has Tsuga canadensis and Pinus strobus with >25% cover and in combination with northern hardwoods such as Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, and Fagus grandifolia. Other common and sometimes dominant trees include Betula alleghaniensis, Betula lenta, Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, and Quercus spp. (most commonly Quercus rubra).

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Northward, this alliance is replaced by ~Tsuga canadensis - Betula alleghaniensis - Acer saccharum Forest Alliance (A4072)$$ and ~Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis Forest Alliance (A3251)$$ in ~Laurentian-Acadian Hemlock - White Pine - Hardwood Forest Group (G741)$$. This alliance (A3302) may most resemble those alliances on cooler sites in the Allegheny Plateau (Sections 211F and 211G) and in central New England. The USFS ecological province lines provide a general delimiter of the northern extent of this type, which is limited to areas in the northern parts of Provinces 221 and M221, 222I (Lake Erie-Lake Ontario ecoregion) and Sections 211F and 211G (Allegheny Plateau), but not otherwise in Provinces 211 or M211. In Ontario, see Crins et al. (2009). The ranges of Betula lenta, Carya cordiformis, Carya ovata, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus montana, and others are a good approximator for the northern limit of this alliance''s range, but these species may be relatively uncommon in the stands. Liriodendron and Tsuga canadensis occur along with other mixed mesophytic species in ~Appalachian-Central Interior Mesic Forest Group (G020)$$, in ~Tsuga canadensis - Liriodendron tulipifera Forest Alliance (A3304)$$, but northern hardwoods are uncommon in that alliance. See also ecological system ~Appalachian (Hemlock)-Northern Hardwood Forest (CES202.593)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Stands are dominated by Tsuga canadensis, alone or in combination with Pinus strobus and a variety of mesic hardwoods such as Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, and Fagus grandifolia. Other common and sometimes dominant trees include Quercus spp. (most commonly Quercus rubra), Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, Betula alleghaniensis, and Betula lenta. A summary of the shrub and herb layers is needed.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This mixed conifer-hardwood forested alliance of the northeastern U.S. ranges from lower elevations in central New England west to the Lake Erie-Lake Ontario ecoregion in Ontario and south to higher elevations in Virginia and West Virginia. Stands are often found in ravines or low cool sites, on a variety of primarily mesic soils.
Geographic Range: This mixed conifer-hardwood forest alliance of the northeastern U.S. ranges from Lower New England west to the Lake Erie-Lake Ontario ecoregion in Ontario and south to the higher elevations of Virginia and West Virginia.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, ON, PA, RI, VA, VT, 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.b Appalachian-Allegheny Northern Hardwood Forest G742 1.B.2.Na.3.b
Alliance A3302 Eastern Hemlock - Sweet Birch - Yellow Birch Forest Alliance A3302 1.B.2.Na.3.b
Association CEGL006019 Eastern White Pine - Eastern Hemlock / Striped Maple / Christmas Fern Forest CEGL006019 1.B.2.Na.3.b
Association CEGL006206 Eastern Hemlock - Yellow Birch - Black Cherry / Great Laurel Forest CEGL006206 1.B.2.Na.3.b
Association CEGL006328 Eastern White Pine - Eastern Hemlock Lower New England-Northern Piedmont Forest CEGL006328 1.B.2.Na.3.b
Association CEGL006639 Eastern Hemlock - Sugar Maple - American Beech / Intermediate Woodfern Forest CEGL006639 1.B.2.Na.3.b
Association CEGL006924 Eastern Hemlock - Sugar Maple - Chinquapin Oak Lower New England / Northern Piedmont Forest CEGL006924 1.B.2.Na.3.b
Association CEGL008513 Eastern Hemlock - Yellow Birch / Mountain Holly / Catawba Rosebay Forest CEGL008513 1.B.2.Na.3.b
Concept Lineage: A.412, A.401, A.413, A.128, A.3507, A.127

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

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

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Crins, W. J., P. A. Gray, P. W. C. Uhlig, and M. C. Wester. 2009. The ecosystems of Ontario. Part I: Ecozones and ecoregions. SIB TER IMA TR-01. Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, ON. 71 pp.
  • 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.