Sugar Maple - Oak - Hickory Forest State Rank: S3 - Vulnerable Mesic Forest (RMF): Sugar Maple - Oak - Hickory Forests are most occurrences of RMF diverse forests in central and eastern in Massachusetts are west Massachusetts where conditions, of the Connecticut River including nutrient richness, support Valley. The presence of Northern Hardwood species mixed with multiple species of species of Oak - Hickory Forests; hickories and oaks in SMOH is a main The herbaceous layer varies from sparse difference between these to intermittent, with sparse spring two types. Broad-leaved ephemerals that may include bloodroot or Woodland-sedge is close trout-lily. Later occurring species may to being an indicator of include wild geranium, herb Robert, wild SMOH. RMF is Rock outcrops in the spring in Sugar Maple - licorice, maidenhair fern, bottlebrush Oak - Hickory Forest area. Photo: Patricia characterized by very Swain, NHESP. grass, and white wood aster. Broad- dense herbaceous growth of spring leaved, semi-evergreen broad-leaved ephemerals; SMOH shares some of the Description: Sugar Maple - Oak - woodland-sedge is close to an indicator of species but with fewer individuals of Hickory Forests occur in or east of the the community. Witch hazel, hepaticas, fewer species. SMOH has evergreen Connecticut River Valley in and wild oats usually occur in transitions ferns, Christmas fern and wood ferns, that Massachusetts. They are associated with to surrounding forest types. RMF lack. Oak - Hickory Forests and outcrops of circumneutral rock and slopes Dry, Rich Oak Forests/Woodlands lack below them that have more nutrients than abundant sugar maple, basswood, and are available in the surrounding forest. white ash, and lack spring ephemerals and These are usually small patches within herbaceous species indicative of rich matrix forests with which many species conditions, such as herb Robert and others are shared. Many occurrences are on listed in the SMOH characteristic species. slopes with southeast to southwest aspect. Habitat for Associated Fauna: Characteristic Species: Sugar Species of forests would be expected, Maple - Oak - Hickory Forests are including forest nesting birds such as dominated by sugar maple and red oak Wood Thrush. Many vertebrate species with white ash and bitternut hickory. that include forests as part of their habitat Basswood occurs consistently as very are more dependent on size of undisturbed scattered individuals. Black, white, and/or forest than on the precise type. chestnut oaks and shagbark, pignut and/or mockernut hickories occur regularly in the Maidenhair fern with bloodroot inset. Photo: Examples with Public Access: canopy. Black birch is commonly present. Patricia Swain, NHESP. Middlesex Fells Reservation, Stoneham; The sparse subcanopy includes hop Manchester Reservoir Conservation Land, hornbeam, red maple, and canopy species. Differentiating from Related Attleboro; Wachusett Mountain State Pagoda dogwood contributes to a usually Communities: Geography is basic to Reservation, Princeton; Palmer WMA, sparse tall shrub layer. The shorter shrubs differentiating Sugar Maple - Oak - Palmer; Wells SP, Sturbridge. A baneberry with American Basswood. Photo: are dominated by maple-leaf viburnum. Hickory Forest (SMOH) from Rich, Patricia Swain, NHESP. From: Classification of Natural Communities of Massachusetts htthttpp://www;mass;gov/nhesp/://www;mass;gov/nhesp/ Updated: 2016 Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Division of FishFisheeriesries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd;, Westborough, M! 01581 (508) 389-6360 .