10 September 2022.
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Plants are growing on the lands of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. This species was frequent, and found in mixed woodland habitats as well as steep rocky, exposed outcrops.
Coordinates: 40.6416, -75.9912
(Map it)
Elevation: 455m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing from shade to full sun on a dry-mesic to very dry, well-drained upland/montane habitat characterized by an upland mixed deciduous and evergreen forest that is very rocky. All of the plants found in this habitat go through periods of drought during the growing season due to the limited litter/soil layer in which moisture can be held.
The underlying geology of this area is of Silurian origin and comprised of Shawangunk Formation. This formation is primarily light- to dark-gray, fine- to very coarse-grained sandstone and conglomerate containing thin shale interbeds.
Source: USGS Pennsylvania Geologic Map Data (https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=PASs%3B14)
The surface soil profile of this area is the Hazleton series consists of deep and very deep, well drained soils formed in residuum of acid gray, brown or red sandstone on uplands. The matrix includes a considerable accumulation of thin, flat, coarse fragments of sandstone, limestone, or schist with diameters up to 15 cm. Slope ranges from 0-80%. Permeability is moderately rapid to rapid.
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 5
Associated species: Ilex montana, Hamamelis virginiana, Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Prunus serotina, Polypodium virginianum, Rubus sp., Quercus rubra, Solidago sp., Solidago flexicaulis, Sassafras albidum, Toxicodendron radicans, Aralia nudicaulis, Pinus strobus, Nyssa sylvatica, Acer pensylvanicum, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium sp., Kalmia latifolia, Quercus montana, Juniperus virginiana, Rhododendron maximum, Viburnum acerifolium, Amelanchier sp., Sorbus americana, Persicaria pensylvanica, Carex sp., Cornus florida, Castanea dentata, Ilex mucronata, Quercus coccinea, Sambucus canadensis, Quercus prinoides, Gaylussacia baccata, Dryopteris marginalis
Comment: This species is a coniferous, evergreen tree, typically single-stemmed; even so, occasionally, there are multi-trunked individuals. At this site, most cone-bearing trees range from 4-12 meters tall; no very large trees were observed. Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is prevalent in this population; even so, most trees appear quite healthy. Trees generally have a narrowly pyramidal shape with slightly drooping branches with age and height. Needles appear two-ranked and flattened, the undersurface is glaucous with two prominent stomatal bands; the upper surface is dark shiny green; margins are minutely serrated. Easily identified from other species by leaves borne on the stem upside down, showing the underside of the leaf. Cones are ovoid, 1.5-2.5 cm long and borne on the ends of the branches.
Collector(s):