treesAcer negundo (Box Elder)Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple)Betula nigra (River Birch)Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam/ Musclewood)Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)Fagus granifolia (American Beech)Juglans nigra (Black Walnut)Lindera benzoin (Spicebush)Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum / Tupelo)Quercus alba (White Oak)Quercus rubra (Red Oak)Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac)Tsuga Canadensis (Canada Hemlock)Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood) Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Viburnum) 

Grassland – Savanna- Forest

Grassland – Savanna- Forest

Grassland – Savanna- Forest

Available Soil Moisture- the over riding environmental factor determining the disposition of plant communities

Shade Tolerance- All plants require light, shade is a limiting factor to growth. Hightshoe provides an index for shade tolerance (very tolerant- tolerant-intermediate)

Mesic- a habitat with moderate soil water content and well drained

Xeric- a habitat with low soil water content and high evaporation rate

Moisture and Topographic Gradients- various habitats that range in conditions from lowland to upland, wet to drier conditions

(see next 5 habitat designations lowland wet to upland dry)

Lowland Wet- river margins, streamside floodplain depression, subject to frequent inundation (seasonal flooding), high water table, poor drainage area(OBL – FACW)

Lowland Wet-Mesic- alluvial bottomlands, elevated terraces of major streams, areas of intermittent flooding but of short duration, excess moisture in winter or spring, nearly xeric conditions during midsummer(FACW-FAC)

Upland Mesic- ravines, sheltered coves, moist but well drained slopes and uplands, generally north and east facing slopes, protected from sun exposure and prevailing dry winds, less dry conditions(FACU)

Upland Mesic-Dry- dry slopes, upland flats, generally warmer south and west facing slopes, direct sun exposure created drier conditions(FACU)

Upland Dry-high banks, cliffs, steep rocky land, excessively drained sandy soil or shallow stoney soil over rock outcrop(UPL)

• OBL = Obligate Wetland PlantsAlmost always occur in wetlands

• FACW = Facultative Wetland PlantsUsually occur in wetlands, but may occur in non-wetlands

• FAC = Facultative Wetland PlantsOccur in wetlands and non-wetlands

• FACU = Facultative Upland PlantsUsually occur in non-wetlands, but may occur in wetlands

• UPL= Upland PlantsAlmost never occur in wetlands

Acer negundo (Box Elder)

Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple)

Betula nigra (River Birch)

Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam/ Hop Hornbeam)

Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam/ Hop Hornbeam)

Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)

Fagus granifolia (American Beech)

Juglans nigra (Black Walnut)

Lindera benzoin (Spicebush)

Lindera benzoin (Spicebush)

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)

Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum / Tupelo)

Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum / Tupelo)

Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum / Tupelo)

Quercus alba (White Oak)

Quercus alba (White Oak)

Quercus alba (White Oak)

Quercus rubra (Red Oak)

Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac)

Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac)

Tsuga canadensis (Canada Hemlock)

Viburnum dentatum (Arrowood)

Viburnum dentatum (Arrowood)

Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Virburnum)

Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Virburnum)