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

Forests and Woodlands: Appalachian Highlands Dry-mesic Oak Forests and Woodlands
Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Quercus prinus - Acer saccharum / Lindera benzoin Forest
White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Rock Chestnut Oak - Sugar Maple / Northern Spicebush Forest
White Oak - Chestnut Oak - Maple Acid Forest
CEGL002059
DESCRIPTION: Stands are dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, and Acer saccharum. Quercus prinus is
often present and occasionally codominant. Other minor associates include Acer rubrum, Carya ovata, Fagus
grandifolia, Liriodendron tulipifera, Nyssa sylvatica, and Quercus velutina. The shrub and small-tree layer includes
Amelanchier arborea, Carpinus caroliniana, Cercis canadensis, Corylus americana, Cornus florida, and Ostrya
virginiana. Ericaceous shrubs may be uncommon. The herbaceous layer includes Aralia nudicaulis, Carex
pensylvanica, Carex communis, Hieracium venosum, Lysimachia quadrifolia, and Maianthemum stellatum (=
Smilacina stellata) (Anderson 1996, Fike 1999).
This forest community type is found primarily in the unglaciated plateau region in southeastern Ohio and
Pennsylvania, where it occurs on non-calcareous substrates, but it may also occur on glaciated regions of the
Allegheny Plateau (Anderson 1996).
COMMENTS: 2, MCS. The concept of the type is that of oak-maple-dominated stands on neutral to acidic substrates.
Pennsylvania considered the shrub layer most diagnostic. Sugar maple should be at least 20-25% of stand
dominance (cover or basal area), and oaks at least 60%. If beech or tuliptree contain 20-25% dominance, the type
should be placed elsewhere; if beech dominates, then white oak-beech forest, Quercus alba - Fagus grandifolia
Western Allegheny Plateau Forest (CEGL006144) [but see discussion with beech-maple unglaciated forest, Fagus
grandifolia - Acer saccharum - Liriodendron tulipifera Unglaciated Forest (CEGL002411)]; if tuliptree then red oakmaple-tuliptree,
Quercus rubra - Acer saccharum - Liriodendron tulipifera Forest (CEGL006125). The type is perhaps
transitional between Appalachian oak forests, Quercus prinus - Quercus (alba, coccinea, velutina) / Viburnum
acerifolium - (Kalmia latifolia) Forest (CEGL005023), and mixed mesophytic forests or beech-maple unglaciated
forests (CEGL002411). Type may be in Indiana, but there see Quercus prinus / Smilax spp. Forest (CEGL005022).
CONSERVATION RANK: G.
DISTRIBUTION: This mixed oak acid forest community type is found primarily from the Allegheny Plateau region of
southeastern Ohio and Pennsylvania.
USFS ECOREGIONS: 221Ea:CCC, 221Ec:CCC, 221Ed:CCC, 221Ee:CCP, 221Ef:CCC, 221Eg:CCC, 221F:CP, 222Ha:CCC,
222Hb:CCC, 222Hc:CCC
CONSERVATION REGIONS: 45:C, 48:C, 49:C
STATES: OH PA WV PROVINCES:
MIDWEST HERITAGE SYNONYMY: OH oak-maple forest +
OTHER SYNONYMY: oak-maple forests (Anderson 1996) B. Anderson generally restricts the oak-maple type to
calcareous substrates in glaciated, western Ohio. However, there may still be a need for an oak-maple type in
southeast Ohio. In his chapter on oak-maple forests he states, "there are frequent stands in the plateaus dominated
by oaks and sugar maple. These, however, are mostly over non-calcareous substrates, they often possess species
characteristic of acidic substrates....most of these are more naturally considered as usually drier segments of mixed
mesophytic communities....[S]tands dominated by oak and sugar maple in the unglaciated plateau are often
transitions between mixed mesophytic and upland oak."
USNVC HIERARCHY: QUERCUS RUBRA - (ACER SACCHARUM) FOREST ALLIANCE (I.B.2.N.a)
PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDWEST – 2001. APPENDIX: ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTIONS
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