Beech-Maple Mesic Forest Guide - New York Natural Heritage Program

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Beech-Maple Mesic Forest

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International Vegetation Classification Associations

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This New York natural community encompasses all or part of the concept of the following International Vegetation Classification (IVC) natural community associations. These are often described at finer resolution than New York's natural communities. The IVC is developed and maintained by NatureServe.

Beech - Maple Glaciated Forest (CEGL005013) [NatureServe Explorer]
Central Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest (CEGL006045) [NatureServe Explorer]
Red Oak - Northern Hardwood Forest (CEGL006173) [NatureServe Explorer]
Semi-rich Northern Hardwood Forest (CEGL006211) [NatureServe Explorer]
Northern Hardwood Forest (CEGL006252) [NatureServe Explorer]

NatureServe Ecological Systems

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This New York natural community falls into the following ecological system(s). Ecological systems are often described at a coarser resolution than New York's natural communities and tend to represent clusters of associations found in similar environments. The ecological systems project is developed and maintained by NatureServe.

Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest (CES201.564) [NatureServe Explorer]
North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest (CES202.693) [NatureServe Explorer]

Characteristic Species

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Trees > 5m

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
Sweet Birch (Betula lenta)
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
Red Spruce (Picea rubens)
Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Shrubs 2-5m

Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
American Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides)

Shrubs < 2m

Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)

Herbs

Eastern Hay-scented Fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)
Spinulose Shield Fern (Dryopteris carthusiana)
Canada May-flower (Maianthemum canadense)

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
Northern Starflower (Trientalis borealis)
Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)

Similar Ecological Communities

Rich mesophytic forest

Rich mesophytic forests occur on the Allegheny Plateau of southern New York and have a richer herb component, including such herbs as Canada waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense), running strawberry bush (Euonymus obovata), yellow mandarin (Disporum lanuginosum), and black bugbane (Cimicifuga racemosa).
Maple-basswood rich mesic forest

Maple-basswood rich mesic forests have a higher diversity of rich-soil herbs, including a variety of fern species and many spring ephemerals. Beech-maple mesic forests have more acid-tolerant herbs and ferns, and a slightly lower diversity.

Vegetation

Trees > 5m

Shrubs 2-5m

Shrubs < 2m

Herbs

Nonvascular

100

Percent Cover

This figure helps visualize the structure and 'look' or 'feel' of a typical Beech-Maple Mesic Forest. Each bar represents the amount of 'coverage' for all the species growing at that height. Because layers overlap (shrubs may grow under trees, for example), the shaded regions can add up to more than 100%.

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© 2004-2012 New York Natural Heritage Program, a partnership between
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and
the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Online Conservation Guide for Beech-Maple Mesic Forest. Available from: http://www.acris.nynhp.org/guide.php?id=9988. Accessed May 26th, 2013.