Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe

Wooded Swamps and Floodplains: Midwestern Wet Flatwoods
Fagus grandifolia - Acer saccharum - Quercus bicolor - Acer rubrum Flatwoods Forest
American Beech - Sugar Maple - Swamp White Oak - Red Maple Flatwoods Forest
Beech - Hardwoods Till Plain Flatwoods
CEGL005173
DESCRIPTION: This community is dominated by trees that can be found in both upland and lowland sites. Among the
most common are Acer rubrum, Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Quercus bicolor, Quercus macrocarpa, and
Ulmus rubra. Associates include Carya ovata, Carya cordiformis, Celtis occidentalis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica,
Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus rubra, Quercus shumardii, and Ulmus americana. Typical shrub species include
Asimina triloba, Euonymus obovata, and Lindera benzoin. The herbaceous layer includes Arisaema triphyllum (=
Arisaema atrorubens), Actaea pachypoda, Circaea X intermedia (= Circaea canadensis), Galium spp., and Pilea
pumila, among others (Homoya et al. 1988, Anderson 1996).
This community is found on flat to gently sloping sites on till plains. Soils are imperfectly to poorly drained and
aerated. Soil types include Crosby, Blount, Fincastle, Brookston, and Pewamo (Homoya et al 1988)
COMMENTS: 2, MCS. The type is based on the concept of the Indiana state type - central till plain flatwoods (Homoya
et al. 1988). This type occurs as a mosaic of upland rises with Fagus grandifolia and other hardwoods and wetland
areas with Quercus palustris, Quercus bicolor, Acer rubrum, and other wetland hardwoods. It is possible that the
mosaic may become extensive enough in some areas that the two parts could be treated separately, but this needs
field checking. In any case, no other states or provinces report this kind of patterning. To help define the type, stands
may require at least 25% beech basal area or cover to fit this type (Anderson 1996). In Ontario the type may occur
above the escarpment in the Niagara Peninsula, but these may have been treated as part of the Great Lakes
lakeplain type, Quercus palustris - Quercus bicolor - Acer rubrum Flatwoods Forest (CEGL005037).
CONSERVATION RANK: G2G3. There are probably fewer than 25 occurrences of this community rangewide; it is only
known from central Indiana, where it is ranked S2, and from southeastern Michigan and northeastern Ohio. Currently
19 occurrences have been documented from Indiana. There are probably fewer than 1000 acres of this community
rangewide. Currently over 175 acres have been documented (some sites lack acreage data); the average size
documented is 35 acres. Historical acreage is unknown. Many sites have been degraded by grazing and selective
logging, and there has probably been some overall reduction in acreage. This community has somewhat restricted
environmental requirements: it is found over till plains with imperfectly to poorly drained and aerated soils. The range
is somewhat restricted; it is reported from four subsections in one ecoregion province.
DISTRIBUTION: This community is found in the central midwestern United States and adjacent Canada, ranging from
central Indiana, western Ohio, and southeastern Michigan to possibly adjacent Ontario.
USFS ECOREGIONS: 222Ha:CCC, 222Hb:CCC, 222Hf:CCC, 222If:CCC
CONSERVATION REGIONS: 45:C
STATES: IN MI OH PROVINCES: ON
MIDWEST HERITAGE SYNONYMY: IN central till plain flatwoods =
MI pin oak depression
OH beech-oak-red maple forest
OTHER SYNONYMY: South LaPorte Woods (Lindsey et al. 1969) =, Wet Beech Forests (Anderson 1996) B. Anderson
describes the differences between Wet Beech Forest stands in southwestern Ohio from those in the west/northwest
part of Ohio. Some of Anderson's mixed swamp type may also fall here, depending on percentage of beech used to
separate his wet beech forest type from this type.
USNVC HIERARCHY: FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA - QUERCUS SPP. - ACER SPP. FOREST ALLIANCE (I.B.2.N.a)
PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDWEST – 2001. APPENDIX: ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTIONS
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