Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

I. FOREST
I.B.2.N.a. Lowland or submontane cold-deciduous forest
I.B.2.N.a.5. ACER SACCHARUM - FRAXINUS AMERICANA - TILIA AMERICANA FOREST ALLIANCE
Sugar Maple - White Ash - American Basswood Forest Alliance

Concept: This alliance, found in the northeastern United States and southern Canada, is broadly defined and contains a number of communities generally known as 'rich forests,' 'mixed mesophytic forests,' and 'rich northern hardwood forests.' The tree canopy of these forests is variable, but Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, and Tilia americana are almost always present. Associated canopy trees include Quercus rubra, Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus rubra, Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia, Juglans nigra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia acuminata, and Prunus serotina var. serotina. The shrub layer is variable in cover and includes Cornus alternifolia, Hamamelis virginiana, Lonicera canadensis, Rhododendron periclymenoides (= Rhododendron nudiflorum), Staphylea trifolia, and Viburnum acerifolium. The herbs include Cardamine (subgen. Dentaria) spp., Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Elymus hystrix, Osmorhiza spp., Trillium grandiflorum, Viola spp., and others. Stands of this alliance occur on flat to rolling topography, and some stands may be on steep slopes. Soils are usually deep, moderately to well-drained sands, loams, silt loams, moderately acid to moderately alkaline, and of high fertility, often derived from calcareous parent materials. Soil moisture holding and cation exchange capabilities are high.

Comments: The nominal Tilia species is Tilia americana var. americana, which occurs north of the range of Tilia americana var. heterophylla. In the Ridge and Valley of Virginia, this alliance occurs on steep, calcareous, bouldery, slopes and may have floristic affinities with rich calcareous forests farther south.

Range: This alliance is found in lower Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia; and in Ontario, Canada.

States/Provinces: CT KY MA MD ME MI NB NH NJ NY OH ON PA RI TN? VA VT WV

TNC Ecoregions: 47:P, 48:C, 49:C, 50:C, 52:C, 59:C, 60:C, 61:C, 62:C, 63:C, 64:C

USFS Ecoregions: 212Aa:CPP, 212Ab:CPP, 212Ba:CCP, 212C:CP, 212Da:CCP, 212Db:CC?, 212Dc:CC?, 212Ea:CC?, 212Eb:CC?, 212Ec:CCP, 212Ed:CCP, 212Fa:CCC, 212Fb:CCC, 212Fc:CCC, 212Fd:CCC, 212Ga:CCC, 212Gb:CCC, 212Hl:CPP, 212Hn:CPP, 212Ho:CPP, 212Hx:CPP, 212Hy:CPP, 212Ja:CPP, 212Jb:CPP, 212Jc:CPP, 212Jl:CPP, 212Jn:CPP, 212Jo:CPP, 221Ad:CC?, 221Ae:CCC, 221Af:CCC, 221Ag:CCC, 221Ah:CCP, 221Ai:CCP, 221Ak:CC?, 221Al:CCP, 221Am:CC?, 221Ba:CCC, 221Bb:CCC, 221Bc:CCC, 221Bd:CCC, 221Da:CCP, 221Db:CCP, 221Dc:CCP, 221Ea:CCC, 221Eb:CCP, 221Ee:CCP, 221Fa:CCC, 221Fb:CCC, 221Ja:CCC, 222D:CC, 222E:C?, 222F:CC, 222Ia:CCP, 222Ib:CCP, 222Ic:CCP, 222Id:CCP, 222Ie:CCP, 222If:CCP, 222O:CC, 231Aa:CCC, 231Ae:CCC, 231Ak:CCC, 231Al:CCC, 231Ap:CCC, M212Aa:CCP, M212Ab:CCP, M212Ac:CCP, M212Ad:CCC, M212Ae:CCC, M212Af:CCC, M212Ba:CCC, M212Bb:CCC, M212Bc:CCC, M212Bd:CCP, M212Ca:CCC, M212Cb:CCC, M212Cc:CCP, M212Cd:CCC, M212Da:CCC, M212Db:CCP, M212Dc:CCC, M212Dd:CCP, M212De:CCC, M212Df:CCC, M212Ea:CCC, M212Eb:CCC, M212Fa:CPP, M212Fb:CPP, M221Aa:CCC, M221Ab:CCC, M221Ac:CCC, M221Ba:CCC, M221Bb:CCC, M221Bc:CCC, M221Bd:CCP, M221Be:CCP, M221Bf:CCP, M221Ca:CCP, M221Cb:CCP, M221Cc:CC?, M221Cd:CC?, M221Ce:CCC, M221Da:CCC, M221Db:CCP, M221Dc:CCC

Federal Lands: USFS (Daniel Boone, George Washington, Jefferson)

Synonymy: Sugar Maple - Basswood Association (Brush et al. 1980); Sugar Maple - Basswood: 26, in part (Eyre 1980); Fraxinus americana - Juglans cinerea / Hydrophyllum virginianum Association (Rawinski et al. 1994); Calcareous Talus Forest / Woodland (Swain and Kearsley 2001); Rich, Mesic Forest Community (Swain and Kearsley 2001); Sugar maple - basswood forest (Fike 1999); Talus Slope Forest (Smith 1991)

References: Brush et al. 1980, Cleland et al. 1994, Eyre 1980, Faber-Langendoen et al. 1996, Fike 1999, Fleming 1999, Host and Pregitzer 1991, Lincoln 1961, Rawinski et al. 1994, Smith 1991, Swain and Kearsley 2001

Authors: ECS/MCS, RW, East Identifier: A.217

Concept: This community type occurs on mesic lower slopes at low elevations, over nutrient-rich substrates in the Ridge and Valley, Cumberlands, Central Appalachians, and Piedmont. Soils may be derived from limestone, dolomite, shale, siltstone, and crystalline formations, as well as from nutrient-rich alluvium. Rock outcrops and bouldery colluvium are often prominent, but the soils supporting this unit are apparently deep, dark, and very fertile, with high mean pH and Ca levels. Canopy composition is mixed and variable, but either Acer saccharum var. saccharum or Acer nigrum, or both, are consistently important and characteristic. Carya cordiformis, Celtis occidentalis, Fraxinus americana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus rubra, Tilia americana, and Ulmus rubra are frequent canopy associates. From the James River south, Aesculus flava is a frequent canopy associate. The most typical and abundant shrub layer species are Asimina triloba and Lindera benzoin, with shrub layers usually somewhat to very open (mean stratum cover = 35%). Herbaceous layers are dense (>80% cover) and contain a number of leafy early-flowering species, among the most abundant of which are Jeffersonia diphylla, Hydrophyllum canadense, and Caulophyllum thalictroides. Somewhat more delicate spring ephemerals that are frequent to locally abundant include Chaerophyllum procumbens var. procumbens, Delphinium tricorne, Dicentra canadensis, Dicentra cucullaria, Erigenia bulbosa, Erythronium americanum ssp. americanum, Floerkea proserpinacoides, Mertensia virginica, Phlox divaricata, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Trillium sessile. Additional characteristic herbs are Asarum canadense, Carex albursina, Carex jamesii, Cystopteris protrusa, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Impatiens pallida, Osmorhiza claytonii, Osmorhiza longistylis, and Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula (= Viola pubescens var. leiocarpon).

Comments: Although its canopy composition is similar to that of other rich forests, this type may be distinguished by the prevalence of Asimina triloba and herbaceous species that, at least in Virginia, are confined to low elevations and are absent (or mostly so) from rich forest communities of mountain coves and ravines. Likewise, mountain species characteristic of medium to high elevations are generally absent. This community may be further distinguished by its relatively low-elevation habitats bordering major streams and alluvial floodplains. Because of the proximity to floodplains, species perhaps most often associated with alluvial habitats, e.g., Acer negundo, Celtis occidentalis, Juglans nigra, Ulmus americana, Mertensia virginica, etc., are occasionally important, and the type, or at least its shrub and herbaceous components, may "spill over" onto fertile, well-drained floodplains.

Since many characteristic plants of this unit (e.g., Acer nigrum, Carex jamesii, Erigenia bulbosa, Floerkea proserpinacoides, Hydrophyllum canadense, Jeffersonia diphylla, Phlox divaricata, and Trillium sessile) have ranges centered west or northwest of Virginia, it seems likely that the geographic distribution of this type lies primarily west of the Appalachians. Bowen et al. (1995) describe similar vegetation in the Tennessee River Gorge as a "north slope mixed mesophytic community." In a study of Jessamine Gorge, Kentucky, Campbell and Meijer (1989) detail another similar community, among the characteristic species of which are Acer saccharum, Quercus rubra, Fraxinus americana, Tilia spp., Carex albursina, Carex jamesii, Erythronium spp., Trillium sessile, Jeffersonia diphylla, and Dicentra spp., forests of well-drained floodplain terraces in this gorge have a similar composition, but with Fagus grandifolia, Erigenia bulbosa, Phlox divaricata, and Polemonium reptans more prominent. Additional species recorded in putative (unsampled) Virginia stands of this type and not recorded in other community types of the data set include, in the Potomac River drainage, Arabis shortii, Enemion biternatum, Erythronium albidum, Phacelia ranunculacea, and Valeriana pauciflora; in southwestern Virginia, Actaea rubifolia (= Cimicifuga rubifolia), Phacelia purshii, Stellaria corei, Stylophorum diphyllum, and Synandra hispidula; and scattered throughout, Allium tricoccum, Carex careyana, Ellisia nyctelea, Panax trifolius, and Polemonium reptans (Fleming 1999).

Range: This community probably occurs at low elevations throughout the central Appalachian region, Cumberlands, and Piedmont in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, and probably Tennessee. Its full geographic range, however, has not been determined. In Virginia, most occurrences are along major waterways of the Piedmont and mountains, including the Potomac River, the Shenandoah River and its two forks, the James River and its major tributaries, the Roanoke (Staunton) River and its major tributaries, and the New River and its major tributaries. The status of the type in the Clinch River, Powell River, and Holston River drainages of southwestern Virginia is less certain.

States/Provinces: KY:S?, MD:S?, TN?, VA:S?, WV?

TNC Ecoregions: 50:C, 52:C, 59:C, 61:P

USFS Ecoregions: 221Db:CCP, 221Ja:CCC, 231Aa:CCC, 231Ae:CCC, 231Ak:CCC, 231Al:CCC, 231Ap:CCC, M221Aa:CCC, M221Ab:CCC, M221Bd:C??, M221Ce:CCP, M221Da:CCC, M221Db:CC?

Federal Lands: USFS (George Washington, Jefferson)

Synonymy: Acer (nigrum, saccharum var. saccharum) / Asimina triloba / Jeffersonia diphylla - Hydrophyllum canadense Forest (Fleming 1999), Acer (nigrum, saccharum) - Tilia americana / Asimina triloba / Jeffersonia diphylla - Hydrophyllum canadense Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001), Aesculus flava - Acer saccharum / Dicentra cucullaria - Jeffersonia diphylla Association (Rawinski et al. 1996), Sugar Maple - Basswood: 26 (Eyre 1980) B

References: Bowen et al. 1995, Campbell and Meijer 1989, Eyre 1980, Fleming 1999, Fleming and Coulling 2001, Fleming et al. 2001, Rawinski et al. 1996

Authors: G. Fleming, SCS Confidence: 1 Identifier: CEGL008412

Concept: This semi-rich to rich forest of southern New England to Virginia occurs on talus slopes or shallow rocky soils overlying calcareous or circumneutral bedrock. Canopy dominants are Acer saccharum with Fraxinus americana. Canopy associates are Juglans cinerea, Quercus rubra, Tilia americana, Carya cordiformis, Ostrya virginiana, Quercus muehlenbergii, and Carpinus caroliniana. Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia and Ulmus spp. may also occur. The shrub layer is fairly open, characterized by Staphylea trifolia, Corylus spp. and Hamamelis virginiana and with Kalmia latifolia, Rubus odoratus, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Vitis spp. This community is characterized by a fairly diverse herbaceous flora. Typical herbs include Actaea pachypoda, Allium tricoccum, Aralia nudicaulis, Aralia racemosa, Asplenium platyneuron, Asarum canadense, Eurybia divaricata (= Aster divaricatus), Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis (= Circaea quadrisulcata), Cystopteris fragilis, Cystopteris bulbifera, Dryopteris spp., Polystichum acrostichoides, Sanguinaria canadensis, Solidago flexicaulis, Trillium erectum, Woodsia obtusa, and others. Characteristic graminoids include Carex laxiflora, Carex sprengelii, Carex virescens, Elymus hystrix (= Hystrix patula), and Piptatherum racemosum (= Oryzopsis racemosa). This association grades into open woodland [see related woodland types Tilia americana - Fraxinus americana / Acer spicatum / Cystopteris fragilis Woodland (CEGL006204) and Acer saccharum - Tilia americana - Fraxinus americana / Ostrya virginiana / Geranium robertianum Woodland (CEGL005058)] and bedrock upslope.

Comments: Prominent distinguishing features of this community are its extremely steep, bouldery/gravelly mesic habitats, the infrequency of Quercus spp., the general abundance of Staphylea trifolia and Cystopteris bulbifera, and the prevalence of other more or less lithophytic or rock-loving species e.g., Hydrangea arborescens, Asplenium rhizophyllum, Sedum spp., Mitella diphylla, Solidago flexicaulis, etc. Although this community type's mean species richness is comparable to that of many Rich Cove and Slope Forests, its herbaceous cover is less dense because of the very rocky substrates. Conspicuously absent, or less important, are species such as Caulophyllum thalictroides, Trillium spp., and Diplazium pycnocarpon, which thrive in deep mineral soils. This community usually occurs in small patches, its distribution controlled by the prevalence of large rock outcrops and associated bouldery colluvium. It intergrades with both dry, open forests and other mesophytic forests along environmental continua defined by slope position and interrelated degrees of rock substrate and mineral soil development. As a result, transitional or intermediate stands that are difficult to classify may be encountered.

Boulderfield forests and woodlands are poorly inventoried in Virginia and regionally. Few community types have been delineated or described in the literature or the National Vegetation Classification (USNVC). Because limestone and dolomite are extensively exposed in both Kentucky and Tennessee, the potential occurrence of this or a similar community south of Virginia and West Virginia needs investigation. Additional inventory and study may indicate that the southern variants of this type (with abundant Aesculus flava, Phacelia bipinnatifida, etc.) should be recognized as a separate association or regional subtype.

Range: This community is reported to occur in the northern and central Appalachian regions, from Vermont and New Hampshire south to Virginia and West Virginia. In Virginia, the type is locally scattered in carbonate rock districts throughout the Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Mountains.

States/Provinces: CT:S?, MA:S3, MD:S?, NH:S?, NJ:S2, NY:S3, PA:S2?, VA:S?, VT:S3

TNC Ecoregions: 59:C, 60:?, 61:C, 64:C

USFS Ecoregions: 212F:??, 212G:??, 221Ae:CCC, 221Af:CCC, 221Ag:CCC, 221Ah:CCP, 221Ai:CCP, 221Al:CCP, 221Ba:CPP, 221Dc:CPP, M212Bb:PPP, M212Bc:PPP, M212Bd:PPP, M212Cb:PPP, M212Cc:PPP, M221Aa:CCC, M221Ab:CCC, M221B:C?, M221Ce:CCC, M221Da:C??

Federal Lands: USFS (George Washington, Jefferson)

Synonymy: Talus Slope Community (Breden 1989) B, Acer saccharum / Asarum canadense community (Metzler and Barrett 1996), Acer (nigrum, saccharum) - Tilia americana - (Aesculus flava) / Staphylea trifolia / Cystopteris bulbifera Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001), Sugar maple-white ash-basswood cove forest (CAP pers. comm. 1998), Tilia americana / Staphylea trifolia / Cystopteris bulbifera Forest (type 1.2) (Fleming 1999), Sugar Maple - Basswood: 26 (Eyre 1980) B, SNE Calcareous Talus Forest/Woodland (Rawinski 1984), SNE rich mesic forest (circumneutral to basic) (Rawinski 1984), Transition Hardwood Talus Woodland (Thompson 1996)

References: Breden 1989, Breden et al. 2001, CAP pers. comm. 1998, Eyre 1980, Fleming 1999, Fleming and Coulling 2001, Fleming et al. 2001, Lundgren 2000, Metzler and Barrett 1996, Metzler and Barrett 2001, Rawinski 1984, Swain and Kearsley 2001, Thompson 1996, Thompson and Sorensen 2000

Authors: G. Fleming and P. Coulling, ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL006020

Concept: This is a rich mesic, deciduous forest of the High Alleghenies, Western Allegheny Plateau, and Central Appalachians south to the Cumberlands of eastern Kentucky. Stands occur in coves, slope bases, lower slopes, and moderate slopes. Soils are typically deep, fertile, moderately to well-drained and are often derived from calcareous parent materials, with textures including sands, loams, and silt loams. The canopy is dominated by Acer saccharum with Fraxinus americana, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Tilia americana being very characteristic. Associated canopy trees include Quercus rubra, Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus rubra, Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, Betula lenta, Fagus grandifolia, Juglans nigra, Carya cordiformis, and Prunus serotina. The shrub layer is of variable composition, characterized by Cornus alternifolia, Hamamelis virginiana, Lindera benzoin, Asimina triloba, Lonicera canadensis, Rhododendron periclymenoides (= Rhododendron nudiflorum), and Viburnum acerifolium. The herb layer is diverse and made up of Adiantum pedatum, Asarum canadense, Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Cardamine spp. (= Dentaria spp.), Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (= Hepatica americana), Hydrophyllum virginianum, Elymus hystrix (= Hystrix patula), Osmorhiza spp., Trillium grandiflorum, Viola spp., Dryopteris marginalis, Botrychium virginianum, Anemone quinquefolia, Geranium maculatum, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Sanguinaria canadensis, Claytonia virginica, Allium tricoccum, Cardamine concatenata, Arisaema triphyllum, and Laportea canadensis.

Comments: Despite considerable compositional variation, this unit appears to be a widespread and robust vegetation type. Damman and Kershner (1977) describe similar vegetation from gneissic areas of western Connecticut, with key species including Acer saccharum, Tilia americana, Fraxinus americana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Lindera benzoin, Carpinus caroliniana, Ulmus rubra, Carya cordiformis, Osmorhiza claytonii, Asarum canadense, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (= Hepatica americana), Galearis spectabilis, Viola pubescens, and Deparia acrostichoides. The Sugar Maple - Basswood - Tulip Poplar Community described by Martin (1975) from southeastern Kentucky, and the Acer saccharum - Liriodendron tulipifera - Fraxinus americana Community described by Andreu and Tuckman (1995) from the Tellico Lake area of eastern Tennessee are similar, but not fully comparable because only woody vegetation was analyzed in these studies. In extreme southwestern Virginia, this community type is gradational to Aesculus flava - Acer saccharum - (Fraxinus americana, Tilia americana var. heterophylla) / Hydrophyllum canadense - Solidago flexicaulis Forest (CEGL007695) of high-elevation coves in the Southern Appalachians. However, CEGL006237 may be distinguished by generally occurring at much lower elevations, having lower species richness, and lacking (or nearly lacking) a number of primarily southern species prominent in CEGL007695, including Actaea podocarpa, Aesculus flava, Hydrophyllum canadense, Phacelia fimbriata, Phlox stolonifera, Sanicula odorata, Stachys nuttallii, and Trillium sulcatum. A few occurring frequently in CEGL006237 (especially its high-elevation subtype), including Aconitum reclinatum, Betula alleghaniensis, Piptatherum racemosum, and Sanicula trifoliata, are absent or uncommon in CEGL007695. The exotic weed Alliaria petiolata is a rampant invader of some stands of this vegetation on the Northern Blue Ridge.

Range: This forest is found in the High Alleghenies, Western Allegheny Plateau, Central Appalachians, and Cumberlands from New York and New Jersey south to West Virginia, Virginia, and eastern Kentucky.

States/Provinces: KY:S?, MD:S?, NJ:S?, NY:S2S3, OH:S?, PA:S?, VA:S?, WV:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 49:C, 50:C, 59:C, 61:P

USFS Ecoregions: 212F:CC, 212G:CC, 221D:CC, 221Ea:CCC, 221Ee:CCP, 221Fa:CCC, 221Fb:CCC, 231A:CC, M221Aa:CCC, M221Ab:CCC, M221Ac:CCC, M221Ba:CCC, M221Bb:CCC, M221Bc:CCC, M221Bd:CC?, M221Ce:CCC, M221Da:CCC, M221Db:CC?, M221Dc:CC?

Federal Lands: USFS (Daniel Boone, George Washington, Jefferson)

Synonymy: Acer saccharum - Tilia americana / Caulophyllum thalictroides - Laportea canadensis - Osmorhiza claytonii Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001), Acer saccharum - Betula alleghaniensis / Acer pensylvanicum / Laportea canadensis - Angelica triquinata Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001), Sugar maple-white ash-basswood cove forest (matrix/large patch) (CAP pers. comm. 1998), Acer saccharum var. saccharum - Tilia americana / Laportea canadensis - Caulophyllum thalictroides - Trillium grandiflorum Forest (type 1.3) (Fleming 1999), Acer saccharum - Tilia americana / Laportea canadensis - Caulophyllum thalictroides - Deparia acrostichoides Forest (Coulling and Rawinski 1999), Liriodendron tulipifera - Acer saccharum - Tilia americana / Laportea canadensis - Impatiens pallida Association, pro parte (Rawinski et al. 1996), Sugar Maple - Basswood: 26 (Eyre 1980) B

References: Anderson et al. 1998, Breden et al. 2001, CAP pers. comm. 1998, Campbell 2001, Coulling and Rawinski 1999, Damman and Kershner 1977, Edinger et al. 2002, Eyre 1980, Fike 1999, Fleming 1999, Fleming and Coulling 2001, Fleming et al. 2001, Lundgren 2000, Martin 1975, Rawinski et al. 1996

Authors: G. Fleming and P. Coulling, ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL006237

Concept: This rich maple - ash - basswood forest association is found from the northeastern United States and Canada to the central Great Lakes area, south to the High Alleghenies of Virginia and West Virginia. Stands occur on nutrient-rich, mesic or wet-mesic settings on sloped to rolling terrain. Slope bottoms, where colluvium collects, is a common landscape position. The surface soils are deep sand, loamy sand, or loam and may be underlain by sandy clay loam to clay loam. The sites are somewhat poorly drained to well-drained and can have a water table 0.4-2 m below the surface. Small (<1 ha) seep areas that may occur within these forests have soils that are usually saturated. This forest community has a well-developed tree canopy composed of deciduous species. Shrubs are scattered, but the herbaceous stratum is generally extensive. Bryoids are only a minor component of the ground layer, which is predominantly nitrogen-rich sugar maple leaves. Acer saccharum and Fraxinus americana are the dominant trees; Tilia americana is frequent but not necessarily abundant. Ostrya virginiana is very common as a small tree. Quercus rubra, Acer rubrum, Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia, and Prunus serotina are typical associates. Ulmus rubra and Juglans cinerea are occasional. Shrubs that may be found in this community include Cornus alternifolia, Viburnum lantanoides (= Viburnum alnifolium), Hamamelis virginiana, Dirca palustris, and Lonicera canadensis. The ground flora, including many spring ephemerals, is diverse and consists primarily of nutrient- and light-requiring species. Many of these flower and fruit early in the spring before the tree canopy has fully leafed out; Dicentra cucullaria, Dicentra canadensis, Hepatica spp., Asarum canadense, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Viola canadensis, Viola rotundifolia, Actaea pachypoda, Osmorhiza claytonii, Panax quinquefolius, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Erythronium americanum are typical. Fern richness is often high, with characteristic species including Adiantum pedatum, Cystopteris bulbifera, Deparia acrostichoides (= Athyrium thelypterioides), Dryopteris goldiana, Dryopteris filix-mas, Botrychium virginianum, Athyrium filix-femina, Phegopteris hexagonoptera (= Thelypteris hexagonoptera), and, especially in seepy spots, Matteuccia struthiopteris. Various sedges are present (particularly the Laxiflorae) such as Carex laxiflora, Carex platyphylla, Carex plantaginea, Carex leptonervia, Carex hitchcockiana, Carex aestivalis, Carex davisii, Carex bebbii, and others. The herbaceous flora in seeps often contains Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex scabrata, Ageratina altissima (= Eupatorium rugosum), Glyceria melicaria, Impatiens capensis (sometimes Impatiens pallida as well), and Solidago flexicaulis. These forests are differentiated from less-rich northern hardwood forests, e.g., Acer saccharum - Betula alleghaniensis - Fagus grandifolia / Viburnum lantanoides Forest (CEGL006252), primarily by their abundant and diverse herbaceous layer, as well as by the greater prominence of sugar maple and ash in the canopy and reduced importance of beech.

Comments: The attribution of this type to the Ridge and Valley subsection is based on the location of a single stand on the westernmost scarp slope of the Ridge Valley (east slope of Middle Mountain) at the Allegheny Front. The status of this association in the region between New York and the Virginias (i.e., Pennsylvania and Maryland) is uncertain.

Range: This forest association ranges generally from Ontario and New England west to Michigan and south to New Jersey and New York, with a discontinuous southward extension in the high Allegheny Mountains to western Virginia and eastern West Virginia.

States/Provinces: CT:S?, MA:S3, MD?, ME:S3, MI:S3, NB:S?, NH:S?, NJ:S2?, NY:S3, ON:S?, PA?, RI:S?, VA:S?, VT:S4, WV:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 47:P, 48:C, 59:C, 60:C, 61:C, 62:P, 63:C, 64:C 30

USFS Ecoregions: 212B:CC, 212D:CC, 212E:C?, 212Fa:CCC, 212Fb:CCC, 212Fc:CCC, 212Fd:CCC, 212Ga:CCC, 212Gb:CCC, 212Hl:CPP, 212Hn:CPP, 212Ho:CPP, 212Hx:CPP, 212Hy:CPP, 212Ja:CPP, 212Jb:CPP, 212Jc:CPP, 212Jl:CPP, 212Jn:CPP, 212Jo:CPP, 221Ae:CCC, 221Af:CCC, 221Ag:CCP, 221Ah:CCP, 221Ai:CCP, 221Al:CCP, 221Ba:CCC, 221Bb:CCC, 221Bc:CCC, 221Bd:CCC, 222Ia:CCP, 222Ib:CCP, 222Ic:CCP, 222Id:CCP, 222Ie:CCP, M212Ad:CCC, M212Ae:CCC, M212Af:CCC, M212Ba:CCC, M212Bb:CCC, M212Bc:CCP, M212Bd:CCP, M212Ca:CCC, M212Cb:CCC, M212Cd:CCC, M212Da:CCC, M212Db:CCP, M212Dc:CCC, M212Dd:CCP, M212De:CCC, M212Df:CCC, M212Ea:CCC, M212Eb:CCC, M212Fa:CPP, M212Fb:CPP, M221Aa:CCC, M221Ba:CCC, M221Bd:CC?

Federal Lands: USFS (George Washington)

Synonymy: Dry-Mesic Calcareous Forest (Breden 1989) B, SNE rich mesic forest (circumneutral to basic) (Rawinski 1984), Acer saccharum - Tilia americana - Fagus grandifolia / Caulophyllum thalictroides - Viola blanda - (Allium tricoccum) Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001), Rich northern hardwood forest (NAP pers. comm. 1998), Sugar maple-white ash-basswood-bluebead cove forest (CAP pers. comm. 1998), Acer saccharum - Tilia americana / Caulophyllum thalictroides - Laportea canadensis Association (Fleming and Moorhead 1996), Sugar Maple - Basswood: 26 (Eyre 1980) B, Rich Northern Hardwood Forest (Thompson 1996) =

References: Breden 1989, Breden et al. 2001, CAP pers. comm. 1998, Edinger et al. 2002, Eyre 1980, Fleming and Coulling 2001, Fleming and Moorhead 1996, Fleming et al. 2001, Gawler 2002, Metzler and Barrett 2001, NAP pers. comm. 1998, Rawinski 1984, Sperduto 2000a, Swain and Kearsley 2001, Thompson 1996, Thompson and Sorensen 2000

Authors: D. Faber-Langendoen, mod. L. Sneddon, mod. G. Fleming, ECS Confidence: 2 Identifier: CEGL005008

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report I.B. Deciduous forest

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