Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Box-elder - Common Hackberry - Green Ash Ruderal Forest

Colloquial Name: Midwest Ruderal Box-elder - Ash Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is currently only described from Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Minnesota. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available. This community occurs on upland sites where disturbance has allowed the generalist trees that dominate the canopy to become established. Acer negundo is the most consistently abundant tree but Celtis occidentalis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ulmus rubra, and sometimes Fraxinus nigra are also common to codominant. The tree canopy tends toward the open end of the range for forest communities and can even have a woodland character (40-60%) from restoration management activities, treefall due to the steep slopes, or other disturbances. The tree subcanopy and shrub strata are vigorous where the canopy is more open. Common subcanopy components include the canopy trees Prunus serotina, and large Rhamnus cathartica and Cornus alternifolia. The shrub stratum has young individuals of the canopy trees, Rhamnus cathartica, Cornus alternifolia, Ribes spp., Rubus spp., and Lonicera x bella. The ground layer tends to be open with few consistently abundant species. Tree seedlings, Circaea lutetiana, Carex pensylvanica, Symphyotrichum spp., Alliaria petiolata, Arctium minus, Thalictrum dioicum, and Impatiens capensis are usually present. The woody vines Parthenocissus vitacea and Vitis riparia are common. Sites range from flat to moderately steeply sloped. Sites are not flooded even during high water events. Soils range from silty clay to sands but are always at least moderately well-drained due to soil coarseness, slope, or both. This forest community occurs on sites with a history of disturbance and may have trash or other evidence of previous human development or occupation. When this community occurs on slopes, it is often steep enough to have exposed bedrock and/or talus. The ground surface averages nearly half bare ground along with litter and bedrock or rock fragments.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association was identified based on information collected during the vegetation mapping project at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. It lacks characterization based on data from a larger region and thus lacks global information.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available