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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)