Print Report
CEGL006585 Quercus rubra - Betula lenta / Polypodium virginianum Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: This acidic, large-boulder talus slope woodland occurs in Lower New England and the Allegheny Plateau south to the northern Piedmont.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Red Oak - Sweet Birch / Rock Polypody Woodland
Colloquial Name: Oak - Birch Talus Slope Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This acidic, large-boulder talus slope woodland occurs in Lower New England and the Allegheny Plateau south to the northern Piedmont. The substrate is large boulders, with vascular plants confined to coarse-textured soils in crevices. Sites are at low to mid elevations, from near sea level to about 520 m (1700 feet). Soils are thin, patchy, and nutrient-poor. The hardwood canopy is very patchy, with open talus interspersed with wooded areas. Canopy closure overall is usually less than 50%. Shrubs are patchy and may form thickets in openings. The herb layer is sparse overall, although dense patches may occur where some soil is available; bryophytes are likewise sparse. The ground cover is exposed talus, moss-covered boulders, and deciduous litter. The tree canopy is dominated by a variable mixture of oak and birch species, including Quercus rubra and Betula lenta. White oaks such as Quercus alba and Quercus montana may occur. The understory is composed of scattered and clumped tall shrubs and small trees, including Acer spicatum, Acer pensylvanicum, Rubus spp., Viburnum acerifolium, and Ribes spp. Ericaceous shrubs are not generally prevalent, but when present may include Vaccinium angustifolium, Gaylussacia baccata, or Kalmia angustifolia. Vines are particularly characteristic, and include Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Parthenocissus vitacea, Toxicodendron radicans, Toxicodendron rydbergii, Celastrus scandens, and Polygonum cilinode. Scattered ferns and herbs are Dryopteris marginalis, Polypodium virginianum, Pteridium aquilinum, Maianthemum racemosum, Eurybia macrophylla, Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex pensylvanica, Carex lucorum, Corydalis sempervirens, Solidago bicolor, Solidago caesia, and Aralia nudicaulis. Bryophytes include Polytrichum commune, Leucobryum glaucum, Umbilicaria spp., and Cladonia spp. This association is characterized by the patchy deciduous canopy, with Betula spp. common and Ostrya virginiana sparse or absent, and by the lack of rich-site indicator herbs.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type was formerly included in CEGL006320. A similar type, ~Betula alleghaniensis - Quercus rubra / Polypodium virginianum Talus Woodland (CEGL006584)$$, occurs in the Northern Appalachian (Laurentian-Acadian) region.
This type possibly could occur in southern Ontario, but Betula lenta is a rare species in Canada, and a minor component of the forest stand it occurs in. According to Zoladeski and Hayes (2013), "In Ontario, Cherry Birch [Betula lenta] is thought to have always been a minor component of forests at its historical and extant locations; nonetheless, its population has declined by 72%, from 50 trees observed in 1967 to 14 trees in 2005. Presently, there are only two sites [near St. Catharines], in proximity to each other, together harbouring probably not more than 18 individuals... In Ontario, the forest where Cherry Birch was observed in 2010 is composed of Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and Eastern Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)."
This type possibly could occur in southern Ontario, but Betula lenta is a rare species in Canada, and a minor component of the forest stand it occurs in. According to Zoladeski and Hayes (2013), "In Ontario, Cherry Birch [Betula lenta] is thought to have always been a minor component of forests at its historical and extant locations; nonetheless, its population has declined by 72%, from 50 trees observed in 1967 to 14 trees in 2005. Presently, there are only two sites [near St. Catharines], in proximity to each other, together harbouring probably not more than 18 individuals... In Ontario, the forest where Cherry Birch was observed in 2010 is composed of Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and Eastern Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)."
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The hardwood canopy is very patchy, with open talus interspersed with wooded areas. Canopy closure overall is usually less than 50%. Shrubs are patchy and may form thickets in openings. The herb layer is sparse overall, although dense patches may occur where some soil is available; bryophytes are likewise sparse. The ground cover is exposed talus, moss-covered boulders, and deciduous litter.
Floristics: The tree canopy is dominated by a variable mixture of oak and birch species, including Quercus rubra and Betula lenta. White oaks such as Quercus alba and Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) may occur. The understory is composed of scattered and clumped tall shrubs and small trees, including Acer spicatum, Acer pensylvanicum, Rubus spp., Viburnum acerifolium, and Ribes spp. Ericaceous shrubs are not generally prevalent, but when present may include Vaccinium angustifolium, Gaylussacia baccata, or Kalmia angustifolia. Vines are particularly characteristic, and include Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Parthenocissus vitacea, Toxicodendron radicans, Toxicodendron rydbergii, Celastrus scandens, and Polygonum cilinode. Scattered ferns and herbs are Dryopteris marginalis, Polypodium virginianum, Pteridium aquilinum, Maianthemum racemosum, Eurybia macrophylla (= Aster macrophyllus), Deschampsia flexuosa, Carex pensylvanica, Carex lucorum, Corydalis sempervirens, Solidago bicolor, Solidago caesia, and Aralia nudicaulis. Bryophytes include Polytrichum commune, Leucobryum glaucum, Umbilicaria spp., and Cladonia spp. (= Cladina spp.).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This acidic, large-boulder talus slope woodland occurs in the Lower New England, and Allegheny Plateau, south to the northern Piedmont. The substrate is large boulders, with vascular plants confined to coarse-textured soils in crevices. Sites are at low to mid elevations, from near sea level to about 520 m (0-1700 feet). Soils are thin, patchy, and nutrient-poor.
Geographic Range: This woodland occurs in Lower New England and the Allegheny Plateau, south to the northern Piedmont.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, NY, ON?, PA, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.933791
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M502 | 1.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.2.c White Oak - Chestnut Oak - Pignut Hickory Forest & Woodland Group | G650 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
| Alliance | A4466 <i>Quercus rubra - Quercus montana - Betula lenta</i> Talus Woodland | A4466 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
| Association | CEGL006585 Northern Red Oak - Sweet Birch / Rock Polypody Woodland | CEGL006585 | 1.B.2.Na.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Central New England mesic conifer forest on acidic bedrock / till (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE acidic talus forest/woodland (Rawinski 1984a)
? SNE acidic talus forest/woodland (Rawinski 1984a)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Metzler, K., and J. Barrett. 2006. The vegetation of Connecticut: A preliminary classification. State Geological and Natural History Survey, Report of Investigations No. 12. Connecticut Natural Diversity Database, Hartford, CT.
- Northern Appalachian Ecology Working Group. 2000. Northern Appalachian / Boreal Ecoregion community classification (Review Draft). The Nature Conservancy, Eastern Conservation Science Center, Boston, MA. 117 pp. plus appendices.
- Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.
- Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2014. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 2.0. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/nhesp/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]
- Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2005. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.
- Zoladeski, C., and K. Hayes. 2013. Recovery strategy for the cherry birch (Betula lenta) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, ON. vi plus 12 pp.