10 September 2022.
Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Plants are growing on the lands of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. This species was common in the woodlands.
Coordinates: 40.6379, -75.9878
(Map it)
Elevation: 415m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing from part 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: 1
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, Tsuga canadensis, Viburnum acerifolium, Amelanchier sp., Sorbus americana, Persicaria pensylvanica, Carex sp., Cornus florida, Rhododendron maximum, Ilex mucronata, Quercus coccinea, Sambucus canadensis, Quercus prinoides, Gaylussacia baccata, Dryopteris marginalis
Comment: Plants are typically single stemmed trees. Unfortunately, due to Chestnut Blight, most of the plants seen in the woodlands are sucker sprouts from remnant stumps found throughout the forest. The tree from which fruits were collected was a single-stemmed specimen, growing in full sun. The tree was approximately 10 meters tall x 4 meters wide with a DBH of 20 cm. Fruits are globe-shaped burs covered in soft spines, ranging in size from 3-6 cm diameter; burs contain 2-3 seeds. Leaves are elliptic, oblanceolate or lanceolate, ranging from 10-20 cm long with serrations along the margins. Leaves are largely glaucous beneath.
Collector(s):