Characteristic Plants Northern Hardwoods Forest These plants are frequently found in this community type. Those with an asterisk are State Rank S5 Similar Types often diagnostic of this community. Maple – Basswood – Ash Forests and Sugar Canopy Community Description Maple Forests are similar to, and often American beech* These closed canopy forests are dominated contiguous with, this type. In them, beech Eastern hemlock* by a combination of beech, yellow birch, is far less abundant, white ash is usually well Paper birch* and sugar maple. Paper birch, red maple, represented in the canopy, and the herb Sugar maple* conifers, and red oak may be present at layer contains species indicative of rich-soil Yellow birch* lower cover. Conifers and red oak can areas. Red Oak – Northern Hardwoods – Sapling/shrub each have <25% cover. Striped maple White Pine Forests have a higher proportion American beech* is a common subcanopy tree. The of red oak and can have a higher proportion Northern Hardwoods Forest Hobblebush* variable shrub layer is dominated by of conifers (>25%). Spruce – Northern Striped maple* tree regeneration. Cover, richness and Hardwoods Forests also have >25% conifers pattern, which is at the scale of single trees Sugar maple* composition vary with site conditions. in the canopy. or small groups of trees. Large (>1000 acres) Yellow birch* examples reflecting only natural disturbance Herb are scarce statewide, and intact examples Soil and Site Characteristics Conservation, Wildlife, and Bluebead lily* in central and southern Maine tend to be Sites are typically found on the lower Management Considerations Canada mayflower smaller and more isolated. to middle portion of hillslopes (slopes This is the dominant hardwood type in Shining clubmoss* generally 10-50%). Soils are generally Maine, and therefore it is extensively Starflower Beech scale disease (Nectria) has devastated mesic and well drained, though not deep harvested and managed. Most management Striped maple* Beech - Birch Maple Forest beech in many stands in eastern Maine. (typically 15-50 cm) silt loams to sandy techniques diverge from the natural gap Sugar maple* Although beech regenerates vigorously loams to loamy sands formed over glacial from sprouts after the trees have died, most Associated Rare Plants till, with pH 5.0-5.6; some occur on Location Map sprouts succumb to the disease by the time Autumn coral-root stabilized talus. Elevations range up to they reach maturity. There are indications Boreal bedstraw 2000’. that some trees may express a genetic Broad beech fern resistance to this disease. Cut-leaved toothwort Diagnostics Nodding pogonia A combination of beech, sugar maple, Distribution Tall white violet and yellow birch distinguishes this type. One of the predominant forest types in the Though red oak is often entirely absent, Associated Rare Animals New England - Adirondack Province and conifers and red oak can be present and Early hairstreak Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. Extends have up to 25% cover each. The herb east, west, and north from Maine; occurs layer lacks rich site indicators such as only as scattered areas southward. Examples on Conservation Dutchman’s breeches, maidenhair fern, and blue cohosh. Lands You Can Visit Landscape • Baxter State Park – Piscataquis Co. Pattern: Matrix, • Big & Little Squaw Mountain Public typically Lands – Piscataquis Co. hundreds of • Bigelow Preserve Public Lands acres; high- – Franklin/Somerset Co. quality patches • Deboullie Ponds Public Lands usually now – Aroostook Co. smaller. • Grafton Notch State Park & Mahoosuc Public Lands – Oxford Co. • White Mountain National Forest American Beech – Oxford Co. Diseased Beech Bark with Beech Nuts Maine Natural Areas Program