Moist Loamy Lowland Forest

Description

In absence of reliable data on historic composition of plant communities, the reference state described is the current forest community that appears to be in a mid-successional development. Such a community is dominated, both in the canopy and the reproductive layer, by red maple. Common associates are boxelder (Acer negundo), white oak (Quercus alba) and black cherry (Prunus serotina). Sugar maple is sometimes also present, but no stands, where it dominates, have been observed.

Red maple typically is well represented in the seedling/sapling layer and is often accompanied by shrubs, especially dogwoods (Cornus spp.) and, in wetter locations, by winterberry (Ilex verticillata). The herbaceous layer consists of many species common to mesic forests, but it includes a number of species reflecting the somewhat poorly drained conditions, e.g. Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) and occasionally even marsh marigold (Caltha palustris).

Dominant plant species

1. red maple (Acer rubrum), tree

2. boxelder (Acer negundo), tree

3. black cherry (Prunus serotina), tree

4. white oak (Quercus alba), tree

5. dogwood (Cornus), shrub

6. jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), grass

7. stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), grass

8. sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), grass

Submodel

Description

If conditions described in Transition 1 are met, an aspen community may become established. This community may include scattered individuals of red or white oak, black cherry (Prunus serotina), white pine, as well as boxelder.

Dominant plant species

1. quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), tree

2. boxelder (Acer negundo), tree

3. red maple (Acer rubrum), tree

4. dogwood (Cornus), shrub

5. jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), grass

Submodel