Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
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<strong>USGS</strong>-NPS <strong>Vegetation</strong> <strong>Mapping</strong> Program<br />
Colonial National Historical Park<br />
COMMON NAME (PARK-SPECIFIC): COASTAL PLAIN MESIC CALCAREOUS<br />
RAVINE FOREST<br />
SYNONYMS<br />
USNVC English Name: American Beech - Southern Sugar Maple - Chinquapin Oak /<br />
Bloodroot Forest<br />
USNVC Scientific Name: Fagus gr<strong>and</strong>ifolia - Acer barbatum - Quercus muehlenbergii /<br />
Sanguinaria canadensis Forest<br />
USNVC Identifier: CEGL007181<br />
LOCAL INFORMATION<br />
Environmental Description: Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest occurs on ravine<br />
slopes <strong>and</strong> on fertile upl<strong>and</strong>s with soils high in base cations. This association is found on north-<br />
to northwest-facing slopes <strong>and</strong> adjacent low interfluves downcut into Tertiary shell deposits or<br />
lime s<strong>and</strong>s, including the Pliocene marine shell deposits of the calcium-rich Yorktown<br />
Formation.<br />
<strong>Vegetation</strong> Description: Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest is a mesic, closedcanopy,<br />
deciduous forest of mixed canopy composition. The canopy can be variously dominated<br />
by Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak), Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree), Carya<br />
cordiformis (bitternut hickory), Quercus alba (white oak), <strong>and</strong>/or Liquidambar styraciflua<br />
(sweetgum). Other trees that are commonly present include Acer rubrum (red maple), Fagus<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>ifolia (American beech), Fraxinus americana (white ash), Juglans nigra (black walnut),<br />
Quercus rubra (northern red oak), <strong>and</strong> Ulmus rubra (slippery elm). The majority of st<strong>and</strong>s on the<br />
Peninsula of Virginia have Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple) as an important canopy or<br />
subcanopy component. St<strong>and</strong>s typically have dense shrub strata dominated by Asimina triloba<br />
(pawpaw) <strong>and</strong> Lindera benzoin (northern spicebush). Lush herb layers tend to be characterized<br />
by patch-dominance of clonal forbs <strong>and</strong> ferns. Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit), Carex<br />
bl<strong>and</strong>a (eastern woodl<strong>and</strong> sedge), Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis (broadleaf enchanter's<br />
nightshade), Cynoglossum virginianum (wild comfrey), Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple), <strong>and</strong><br />
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern) are widespread <strong>and</strong> abundant herbs. More locally<br />
abundant herbs include Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair), Actaea racemosa<br />
(=Cimicifuga racemosa, black bugbane), Phegopteris hexagonoptera (broad beechfern), <strong>and</strong><br />
Verbesina virginica var. virginica (white crownbeard). These forests tend to be species-rich with<br />
many additional low-cover herbaceous species present such as Sanguinaria canadensis<br />
(bloodroot) <strong>and</strong> Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (roundlobe hepatica).<br />
Most Abundant Species:<br />
Stratum Lifeform Species<br />
Tree canopy Broad-leaved deciduous tree Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory),<br />
Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak)<br />
Tall shrub/sapling Broad-leaved deciduous shrub Asimina triloba (pawpaw)<br />
Characteristic Species: Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple), Carya cordiformis (bitternut<br />
hickory), Cercis canadensis var. canadensis (eastern redbud), Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin<br />
oak), Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot).<br />
Other Noteworthy Species:<br />
Species GRank Type Note<br />
Verbesina virginica var. virginica (white crownbeard) - plant VA State watchlist (S3)<br />
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