Mixed Limestone Rich Upland

Description

As a result of a long history of human activity, the associations listed below, may in reality, reflect the current naturalized, minimally-managed state rather than the historic, pre-European settlement condition. Notice transition pathways are not always designated between some of the communities in the reference state because the differences in vegetation are more controlled by landscape position, rather than disturbances or management, or that the relationships are not understood. In addition, undisclosed successional plant community-types following disturbance may be included as community phases.

Within the reference state, the plant communities are quite variable and include:
• Acer saccharum - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis Forest (CEGL006017)
(Translated Name: Sugar Maple - Chinquapin Oak / Eastern Redbud Forest)
[Common Name: Appalachian Sugar Maple - Chinquapin Oak Limestone Forest]

Or relate to more exposed southwest aspects:
• Quercus muehlenbergii - Juniperus virginiana / Schizachyrium scoparium - Manfreda virginica Wooded Grassland (CEGL005131)
(Translated Name: Chinquapin Oak - Eastern Red-cedar / Little Bluestem - False Aloe Wooded Grassland)
[Common Name: Central Limestone Glade]

Other plant communities present may include:
• Quercus muehlenbergii - Cercis canadensis / Packera obovata - Lithospermum canescens Woodland (CEGL006231)
(Translated Name: Chinquapin Oak - Eastern Redbud / Roundleaf Ragwort - Hoary Puccoon Woodland)
[Common Name: Chinquapin Oak Limestone Woodland]
• Quercus marilandica - (Juniperus virginiana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia spicata Wooded Grassland (CEGL002428)
(Translated Name: Blackjack Oak - (Eastern Red-cedar) / Little Bluestem - Poverty Oatgrass Wooded Grassland)
[Common Name: Central Shale Glade]
• Thuja occidentalis / Carex eburnea - Pellaea atropurpurea Cliff Woodland (CEGL002596)
(Translated Name: Northern White-cedar / Bristleleaf Sedge - Purple Cliffbrake Cliff Woodland)
[Common Name: Appalachian Northern White-cedar Cliff Woodland]

(Source: NatureServe 2020)

Submodel

Description

The Semi-natural State would expect plant communities where ecological processes are primarily operating with some land conditioning in the past or present, e.g., managed forests, or plant communities that are an artifact of land management e.g., predominately invasive plants.

Submodel

Description

The Cultural State would expect the ecological site to be very strongly conditioned by land management, i.e., transformed/converted to cultivated, pasture, or plantation.

Submodel