Northeastern Calcareous Oak Forest

This ecological system represents dry to dry-mesic calcareous forests of the northeastern U.S., within the range of Quercus muehlenbergii, from the Ridge and Valley of West Virginia and north-central Virginia, extending north into southern New England, and west into the Western Allegheny Plateau. These forests occur at low to middle elevations and are most abundant in areas with relatively drier climates, such as the Ridge and Valley, which lies in the rainshadow on the lee side of the Appalachians. They are restricted to areas where soils are influenced by calcareous geology, including limestone and dolomite. Due to the natural fertility of these soils, much of the area previously occupied by this system has been cleared in the past for agriculture and timber, but successional forests have reinvaded abandoned farmlands, and secondary natural forests persist, especially on steep slopes. Natural vegetation consists of forests dominated by oak and hickory species, especially the calciphilic Quercus muehlenbergii, and Carya cordiformis, Carya ovata, Quercus alba, and Quercus rubra, with codominance by a variety of other hardwoods, including Acer nigrum, Acer saccharum, and Fraxinus americana. In addition to saplings of these canopy trees, common shrubs and small trees include Asimina triloba, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Lindera benzoin, Ostrya virginiana, and Viburnum prunifolium. Herb layers are usually diverse, combining species with affinities for other oak-hickory forests in the region and more strict calciphiles. This system concept also includes successional communities that have been impacted by logging or developed following abandonment of agriculture.

Natural vegetation consists of forests dominated by oak and hickory species, especially the calciphilic Quercus muehlenbergii, and Carya cordiformis, Carya ovata, Quercus alba, and Quercus rubra, often with codominance from other hardwoods, including Acer nigrum, Acer saccharum, and Fraxinus americana. Additional common trees include Carya ovalis, Celtis occidentalis, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana, and Tilia americana. The subcanopy and tall-shrub layers are often distinctive and reflect calcareous soils and successional status. In addition to saplings of canopy trees, common shrubs and small trees include Asimina triloba, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Lindera benzoin, Ostrya virginiana, and Viburnum prunifolium. Herb layers are usually diverse, combining species with affinities for other oak-hickory forests in the region and more strict calciphiles. Common herbs include Actaea racemosa, Ageratina altissima, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Asclepias quadrifolia, Asplenium platyneuron, Bromus pubescens, Cynoglossum virginianum, Dichanthelium boscii, Draba ramosissima, Elymus hystrix, Festuca subverticillata, Maianthemum racemosum, Packera obovata, Polygonatum biflorum, and Sedum ternatum. Nonvascular plants are usually sparse, but exposed rock may support calciphilic mosses such as Anomodon attenuatus, Orthotrichum anomalum, and Rhytidium rugosum. This system concept also includes successional communities that have been impacted by logging or developed following abandonment of agriculture, including upland forests dominated by Liriodendron tulipifera, Juniperus virginiana, Robinia pseudoacacia, and mixtures of these and other tree species.

These forests occur at low to middle elevations and are most abundant in areas with relatively drier climates, such as the Ridge and Valley, which lies in the rainshadow on the lee side of the Appalachians. They occupy warm, dry landscape positions such as exposed ridges and southerly facing slopes. They are restricted to areas where soils are influenced by calcareous geology, including limestone and dolomite. This system can occur in large patches in the Ridge and Valley, where extensive areas of calcareous bedrock are exposed, but even in these areas they may be confined to erosional landforms where geology has the strongest influence on soil chemistry. Occurrences in the dissected plateau regions may be small, narrow patches centered on thin, horizontal limestone beds. Due to the natural fertility of these soils, much of the area previously occupied by this system has been cleared in the past for agriculture and timber, but successional forests have reinvaded abandoned farmlands, and secondary natural forests persist, especially on steep slopes. Few old-growth stands are known.

This system is found in the northeastern U.S., from the Ridge and Valley of West Virginia and north-central Virginia, extending north into southern New England, and west into the Western Allegheny Plateau of Pennsylvania. Its status in Ohio is unknown.