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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 />

8a Forest on disturbed flats <strong>and</strong> disturbed slopes, often with extensive wind<br />

damage <strong>and</strong> high cover by nonnative species in the shrub <strong>and</strong> herb strata;<br />

Canopy dominance by tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) <strong>and</strong>/or sweetgum<br />

(Liquidambar styraciflua), with or without loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). ........................................ 10<br />

8b Forests on undisturbed slopes <strong>and</strong> flats. Tree canopy diverse (many<br />

different species present); mixed age classes; a mixture of oaks (Quercus<br />

spp.), hickories (Carya spp.), American beech (Fagus gr<strong>and</strong>ifolia), <strong>and</strong><br />

others; pines absent, or of very low cover. ...................................................................................... 11<br />

9a Forest on slopes with canopy somewhat open or interupted; dominated by<br />

chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), sometimes with bitternut hickory<br />

(Carya cordiformis) <strong>and</strong> southern sugar maple (Acer barbatum). .................................................. 12<br />

9b Closed forests on slopes or low s<strong>and</strong>y ridges adjacent to salt marshes;<br />

chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) <strong>and</strong> other calciphylic species<br />

absent; pines can be present <strong>and</strong> abundant. ..................................................................................... 13<br />

10a Forest of small, disturbed st<strong>and</strong>s on slopes bisected by the Colonial<br />

Parkway; high cover by exotics species, especially the vine japanese<br />

honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), but also with species indicative of<br />

calcareous soil such as common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), white ash<br />

(Fraxinus americana), black walnut (Juglans nigra), souther sugar maple<br />

(Acer barbatum), <strong>and</strong> bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis). ........... Disturbed Calcareous Forest<br />

10b Forest on disturbed flats; tree canopy of low diversity, mostly even-aged,<br />

most often characterized by dominance of tuliptree (Liriodendron<br />

tulipifera), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), or both; common associates include<br />

sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer rubrum), <strong>and</strong><br />

southern red oak (Quercus falcata); in general, oaks (Quercus spp.) <strong>and</strong><br />

American beech (Fagus gr<strong>and</strong>ifolia) absent or of low cover; herb layer<br />

often characterized by weeds such as Nepalese browntop (Microstegium<br />

vimineum). .............................................................. Successional Tuliptree – Loblolly Pine Forest<br />

11a Forest on mesic slopes or undisturbed flats. ................................................................................... 14<br />

11b Forest on low lying areas surrounded by tidal wetl<strong>and</strong>s; dominated by<br />

sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) <strong>and</strong> loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) with<br />

white oak (Quercus alba), southern red oak (Quercus falcata), cherrybark<br />

oak (Quercus pagoda), American holly (Ilex opaca var. opaca), <strong>and</strong><br />

slender woodoats (Chasmanthium laxum). .................... Coastal Plain Loblolly Pine – Oak Forest<br />

12a Forest with wind disturbance <strong>and</strong> dominance by exotic species in the<br />

shrub <strong>and</strong> herb layers; Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) <strong>and</strong><br />

Nepalese browntop (Microstegium vimineum) common; pines (Pinus<br />

spp.) can be common. ......................................................................... Disturbed Calcareous Forest<br />

12b Oak – hickory forest on slopes, often with exposed shell fragments;<br />

canopy somewhat open or interrupted; herb layer sparse but species rich<br />

<strong>and</strong> dominated by native species; calciphylic species evident including<br />

chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), red columbine (Aquilegia<br />

canadensis), smooth rockcress (Arabis laevigata), <strong>and</strong> others; grasses<br />

such as Bosc's panicgrass (Dichanthelium boscii), blackseed speargrass<br />

(Piptochaetium avenaceum), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium),<br />

slender Indiangrass (Sorghastrum elliottii), <strong>and</strong> others prevalent; pines<br />

(Pinus spp.) absent or very sparse. ........................................ Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forest<br />

361

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