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This page is one of a series discussing forest ecosystems and plant associations of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties, Pennsylvania. Go up to index.

Sources

Data for this page is primarily from NatureServe, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Forest Service.

About these lists

An important caveat is that these lists are drawn from sample plots, most commonly studied on public lands (usually national parks). Researchers have also worked to find similiarities with existing forest descriptions, most usefully those identified on maps, from which localized conclusions can be drawn. These may be helpful for individuals attempting to identify characteristics of their own properties.

It is also important to note that sample plots represent an observation at a point in time and of hopefully representative but localized species that is not likely to be comprehensive.

Conversely, these samples serve as among the most advanced association listings to date. Most prior system definitions relied soley on trees, largely ignoring the understory, shrub and herbaceous layers as well as the physical properties of the tracts. As such they provide useful landscaping suggestions on the types and character of herbaceous and woody species suitable for a sustainable landscape that effectively stewards the land.

About Pennystone

The Pennystone project provides information relating to sustainable landscape practices using native species, with emphasis on the northeastern counties of Pennsylvania.

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Pocono forest ecosystems by characteristics

Although the mapping is based on sample plots, lists of tree, shrub and herbaceous layer associations with descriptive land characteristics provide valuable starting points for landscapers working with native species in northeastern Pennsylvania.

This index for the most part ignores the major forest systems (many specific ecosystems overlap anyway) and groups them by relative positions on the varied slope positions and plateaus of the region.

An alternative approach would be via a discussion of the major forest alliances in the region.

Ridgetops, Upper Slopes

Bear Oak Shrubland Alliance
Ridgetops, summits and rock outcrops where glacial outwash plains have "frost pocket" depressions.
Central Appalachian Blueberry Shrubland
Mid- to high-elevation acidic rock outcrops or summits, ledges, summits of igneous or metamorphic rock; sometimes found in depressions on level outwash plains or valley floor frost pockets.
Blueberry Granite Barrens
Northern or high-elevation rocky ridges, summits and outcrops in the glaciated northeastern states.
Allegheny Oak Forest
Dry upper slopes and terraces of sandstone or shale in unglaciated portions of the High Allegheny Plateau, Western Allegheny Plateau and Central Appalachians.
Pitch Pine Rocky Summit
Dry rocky ridges and summits of low to moderate elevations, anywhere from near sea level to about 1700 feet.
Ridgetop Scrub Oak Barrens
Open or sparsely wooded high-elevation ridges, hilltops and outcrops or rocky slopes.
Red Oak - Heath Woodland / Rocky Summit
Dry low- to mid-elevation summits and south-facing upper slopes with prominent, exposed bedrock.
Semi-rich Northern Hardwood Forest
Ridgetops as well as slight concavities on slopes between 800 and 2000 feet.
Dry, Rich Oak - Hickory Forest
Ridgetops as well as mid to upper level dry to mesic slopes and coves, usually on southern or eastern exposures.
Dry Chestnut Oak - Heath Forest
Common on dry ridgetops, and additionally on high plateaus, high slopes, steep side slopes, especially in the glaciated low plateau in Pennsylvania.
Inland Pitch Pine - Oak Forest
Ridges as well as south-facing slopes throughout the northeast.
Central Appalachian Chestnut Oak Forest
Dry upper and also middle slopes, especially exposed convex slopes in the central Appalachians.
Oak - Hickory / Hophornbeam / Sedge Lawn Forest
Low-elevation ridgetops and upper slopes as well as side slopes facing south, west and, most commonly, southeast.
Northeastern Dry Oak-Hickory Forest
High to midslopes, steps-in-slope and other dry-mesic sites, often downslope from Dry Oak-Heath Forest on slightly less xeric sites and upslope of the more mesic Northern Red Oak-Mixed Hardwood Forest.
Little Bluestem - Poverty Grass Outcrops
Rock outcrops, flat summits, plateaus and southwest facing upper slopes, above 1200 feet.
Mixed Pine - Hillside Blueberry Forest
Narrow ridges and knobs, steep upper slopes, bluff and cliff tops, and other exposed sites, usually on south-, southeast- or southwest-facing aspects.
Hemlock - Beech - Oak Forest
Mesic to sub-mesic broad, convex ridges, as well as valley side slopes from New England to Virginia.

Middle Slopes

Appalachian Sugar Maple - Chinquapin Oak Limestone Forest
Low hills and knobs in relatively small, sometimes linear, patches except where carbonate substrates are more continuously exposed.
Allegheny Oak Forest
Terraces of sandstone or shale, as well as uppers slopes, in unglaciated portions of the High Allegheny Plateau, Western Allegheny Plateau and Central Appalachians.
Central Appalachian White Pine - Eastern Hemlock Forest
Midslopes; somewhat geographically restricted, uncommon but not rare.
Central Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest
Flat to moderate mesic slopes of any aspect, although north-facing cool sites are common.
Dry-Mesic Oak Forest
Primarily protected, rocky, mountain slopes, especially in lower to middle slope positions. Also, steep and often concave slopes as well as relatively high surface cover of outcrops, boulders and stones. Slope aspect varies and ranges from north to southeast.
Hemlock - Beech - Oak Forest
Mesic to sub-mesic valley side slopes and as well as broad, convex ridges, from New England to Virginia.
Hemlock - Northern Hardwood Forest
Often north-facing rocky flat to moderately steep slopes. In unglaciated areas, sites include deep, sheltered ravines and along high-gradient mountain streams.
Central Appalachian Hemlock - Northern Hardwood Forest
Rocky ravines or moderately steep slopes of any aspect, on stream terraces, or occasionally on flats throughout the Central Appalachian Mountains and High Allegheny Plateau
Northern Red Oak - Mixed Hardwood Forest
Coves, moist north- and east-facing sometimes steep midslopes, and well-drained flats, primarily in the Allegheny Plateau and Appalachian Mountain regions.
Red Oak - Heath Woodland / Rocky Summit
Dry low- to mid-elevation summits and south-facing upper slopes with prominent, exposed bedrock.
Mesic Pine Barrens
The Long Pond Barrens; some acreage in this rare community has been lost to development and road construction.
Red Oak - Northern Hardwood Forest
Midslopes and coves, commonly at low to mid elevations under 1,700 feet.
Golden-saxifrage Forested Seep
Small herbaceous seepage areas in woodlands with a scattered cover of forbs.
Central Appalachian Hemlock - Northern Hardwood Forest
Rocky ravines or moderately steep slopes of any aspect, on stream terraces, or occasionally on flats throughout the Central Appalachian Mountains and High Allegheny Plateau
Dry, Rich Oak - Hickory Forest
Mid to upper level dry to mesic slopes, coves and ridgetops, predominantly on southern or eastern exposures.
Northern Hardwood Forest
Usually on the middle of gentle to moderately steep slopes with a northern or sometimes eastern aspect. Most are at low to mid elevations.
Dry Chestnut Oak - Heath Forest
Common on dry steep side slopes, high slopes, dry ridgetops and high plateaus, especially in the glaciated low plateau in Pennsylvania.
Inland Pitch Pine - Oak Forest
Ridges and south facing slopes, throughout the northeast.
White Pine - Oak Forest
Mid and lower slopes. In the glaciated portion: outwash plains or moraines, within protected ravines, on protected ridges of shale, sandstone or other sedimentary rock, sometimes underlain by metamorphic or igneous rock. In unglaciated plateaus: on rolling topography underlain by sandstone. Low elevation sites are flat to gently sloping.
Tuliptree - Beech - Maple Forest
Gentle to slightly steep low and midslopes often on mesic toeslopes, in coves, or along small drainages, where near-surface groundwater creates mesic conditions, or where past disturbance has opened up the forest canopy
Central Appalachian Chestnut Oak Forest
Dry middle and upper slopes, especially exposed convex slopes in the central Appalachians.
Oak - Hickory / Hophornbeam / Sedge Lawn Forest
Low-elevation ridgetops, upper slopes, south- or west-facing side slopes but most commonly southeast.
Eastern White Pine Forest
Moderately to steeply sloping sites or in sheltered ravines.
Northeastern Dry Oak-Hickory Forest
High to midslopes, steps-in-slope and other dry-mesic sites, often downslope from Dry Oak-Heath Forest on slightly less xeric sites and upslope of the more mesic Northern Red Oak-Mixed Hardwood Forest.
Temperate Shale Cliffs and Talus
Harsh, steep, unstable shale talus and cliffs.
Northern Calcareous Talus Slope Forest
Talus slopes or shallow rocky soils overlying calcareous or circumneutral bedrock, usually with north to east aspects.
Dry Eastern Hemlock - Oak Forest
Moderate to very steep sheltered slopes, usually middle slope positions, facing northeast to northwest, with elevations ranging from 500 to 2500 feet.
Mixed Pine - Hillside Blueberry Forest
Narrow ridges and knobs, steep upper slopes, bluff and cliff tops, and other exposed sites, usually on south-, southeast- or southwest-facing aspects.
High-Elevation Hemlock - Yellow Birch Seepage Swamp
Usually located in high-elevation valleys or slope concavities, in diffuse stream headwaters and lateral, groundwater-saturated flats along larger streams.

Low slopes and bottomlands

Central Appalachian Blueberry Shrubland
Sometimes found in depressions on level outwash plains or valley floor frost pockets, but more typically on mid- to high-elevation acidic rock outcrops or summits, ledges, summits of igneous or metamorphic rock.
Northern Hardwood - White Pine Forest
In the northern Appalachian region, on sandy-gravelly soils, often on eskers and in narrow bands along lakeshores.
Inland Pitch Pine / Scrub Oak Barrens
Northeastern sand plains, outwash plains, sand dunes and glacial till.
Dry-Mesic Oak Forest
Primarily protected, rocky, lower to middle slope positions. Also, steep and often concave slopes as well as relatively high surface cover of outcrops, boulders and stones. Slope aspect varies and ranges from north to southeast.
Northern Red Oak - Mixed Hardwood Forest
Well-drained flats; also, coves and moist north and east-facing sometimes steep midslopes, all primarily in the Allegheny Plateau and Appalachian Mountain regions.
Golden-saxifrage Forested Seep
Small herbaceous seepage areas in woodlands with scattered cover of forbs
White Pine - Oak Forest
Low to middle slopes. In the glaciated portion: outwash plains or moraines, within protected ravines, on protected ridges of shale, sandstone or other sedimentary rock, sometimes underlain by metamorphic or igneous rock. In unglaciated plateaus: on rolling topography underlain by sandstone. Low elevation sites are flat to gently sloping.
Tuliptree - Beech - Maple Forest
Gentle to slightly steep low and midslopes often on mesic toeslopes, in coves, or along small drainages, where near-surface groundwater creates mesic conditions, or where past disturbance has opened up the forest canopy
Oak-Pine Successional Forest
Former agricultural land and old fields no longer intensively mowed, plowed or managed. Sites are typically flat to gently sloping.
Red Maple - Sweet Birch Hardwood Forest
Former agricultural land or sites from which oaks were selectively lumbered. Not found on dry ridgetops, wet bottomlands or active floodplains and rarely on bouldery or rocky sites.