Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest

Sites

Lower slopes, steep north-facing slopes, ravines, and occasionally well-drained small stream bottoms, on acidic soils.

Soils

Deep, well-drained, somewhat acidic soils. Series include Altavista, Appling, Cecil, Congaree, Georgeville, Helena, Herndon, Lloyd, Tarrus, Wateree and Wedowee.

Hydrology

Terrestrial, mesic.

Vegetation

Canopy

Canopy dominated by mesophytic trees such as Fagus grandifolia (American Beech), Quercus rubra (Red Oak), Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip-tree) and Acer rubrum (Eastern Red Maple).

Understory

Typical understory trees include Acer rubrum, Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood), Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood), Ilex opaca (American Holly) and Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum). Shrub species may include Euonymus americanus (Strawberry-bush), Vaccinium pallidum (Hillside Blueberry), V. stamineum (Common Deerberry), Viburnum acerifolium (Mapleleaf viburnum), V. prunifolium (Black Haw), V. rufidulum (Southern Black Haw), V. rafinesqueanum (Downy Arrow-wood) and sometimes Hamamelis virginana (Northern Witch-hazel).

Herb Layer

The herb layer is often moderately dense and diverse, though it may be sparse under heavy shade. Herb species may include Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern), Maiathemum racemosum (Eastern Solomon’s-plume), Hylodesmum nudiflorum (Naked Tick-trefoil), Galium circaezans (Southern Forest Bedstraw), Polygonatum biflorum (Small Solomon’s-seal), Epifagus virginiana (Beechdrops), Mitchella repens (Partridge-berry), Uvularia perfoliata (Perfoliate Bellwort), Botrypus virginianus (Rattlesnake Fern), Tiarella cordifolia (Heartleaf Foamflower), Viola spp. (Violet), Anemone americana (Round-lobed Hepatica), Chamaelirium luteum (Devil’s Bit), Geranium maculatum (Wild Geranium), Hexastylis arifolia (Little Brown Jug), H. minor (Little Heartleaf), Stellaria pubera (Star Chickweed), Heuchera americana (American Alumroot), Podophyllum peltatum (May-apple), Prenanthes serpentaria (Lion’s-foot), Erythronium umbilicatum (Dimpled Trout Lily) and Cardamine angustata (Eastern Slender Toothwort).

Dynamics

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. Because Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forests generally occur in moist and topographically sheltered sites, they probably burned only rarely and with low intensity. Disturbed areas have increased amounts of pines and weedy hardwoods such as Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip-tree) and Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum). Many areas have been selectively cut many times and have increased importance of Fagus grandifolia and other noncommercial hardwoods relative to oaks.

Associations

Grades into Alluvial Forest or Bottomland Forest below. Grades into various upland communities above, typically Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest. May grade into Basic Mesic Forest at geologic contacts, or to Acidic Cliff or Heath Bluff on steeper, rockier slopes.

Comments

While not as extensive as the Oak-Hickory forests, Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest communities are fairly common. Their occurrence on steep sites has allowed many of them to escape, until recently, with less disturbance than most upland communities. Examples with old forest can be found. Fagus grandifolia is nearly always present and distinguishes it from all related Piedmont upland communities except Basic Mesic Forest.