dry-mesic basic oak-hickory forest

Sites

Slopes, ridges, upland flats, and dry-mesic sites with less acidic and more fertile soils than typical, associated with mafic or intermediate crystalline rocks or occasionally calcareous sedimentary rocks.

Soils

Developed from rocks such as diabase, gabbro, or mafic metamorphics. Series include Enon, Vance, and Wilkes.

Hydrology

Terrestrial, dry-mesic.

Vegetation

Canopy

The canopy is dominated by Quercus alba (White Oak), along with mixtures of other oaks and hickories including Q. rubra (Red Oak), Q. velutina (Black Oak), Q. muehlenbergii (Yellow Oak), Carya tomentosa (Mockernut Hickory), C. glabra (Pignut Hickory), C. carolinae-septentrionalis (Carolina Shagbark Hickory), C. ovalis (Red Hickory) and C. ovata (Common Shagbark Hickory). Other trees include Acer floridanum (Southern Sugar Maple), Fraxinus americana (White Ash), Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip-tree), Pinus spp. (Pine) and Juglans nigra (Black Walnut).

Understory

The understory includes species such as Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood), Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud), Ostrya virginiana (American Hop-hornbeam) and Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe-tree). Shrubs may include Viburnum acerifolium (Mapleleaf viburnum), V. prunifolium (Black Haw), V. rafinesquianum (Downy Arrow-wood), V. rufidulum (Southern Black Haw), Frangula caroliniana (Carolina Buckthorn), Aesculus sylvatica (Painted Buckeye) and Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac).

Herb Layer

The herb layer is usually moderately diverse, with species such as Dichanthelium boscii (Bosc’s Witch Grass), Endodeca serpentaria (Turpentine-root), Galium circaezans (Southern Forest Bedstraw), Carex spp. (Sedge), Polygonatum biflorum (Small Solomon’s-seal), Uvularia perfoliata (Perfoliate Bellwort), Brachyelytrum erectum (Common Shorthusk), Scleria oligantha (Few-flowered Nutrush), Euphorbia corollata (Eastern Flowering Spurge) and many of the herbs of the Basic Mesic Forest.

Dynamics

Disturbed areas have increased amounts of pines and weedy hardwoods such as Acer rubrum (Eastern Red Maple) and Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum). Areas that were cultivated are generally dominated by even-aged pine stands. Logged areas may have a mixture of hardwoods and pines. Under natural conditions these forests are uneven-aged, with old trees present. Reproduction occurs primarily in canopy gaps. The natural fire regime of the Piedmont is not known, but fires certainly occurred periodically. Most of the component trees are able to tolerate light surface fires with little effect. Regular fire may have created a more open forest, with gaps persisting longer than at present and perhaps forming more frequently.

Associations

Often associated with Xeric Hardpan Forest and Upland Depression Swamp Forest. Grades into Basic Mesic Forest downslope or in more sheltered sites. Grades to Dry Basic Oak-Hickory Forest upslope or acidic upland forest communities at geologic contacts.

Comments

Although this type is called basic, soil data from Virginia show that many examples do not have basic or even circumneutral pH. However, soils have higher pH, higher base saturation, and higher levels of ‘base’ cations than the more acidic Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest. It is somewhat more difficult to tell moisture levels by the vegetation in these communities. Many species that are confined to relatively mesic areas on acidic substrates occur in apparently drier sites on higher pH soils.