05 October 2022.
Cecil County, Maryland, United States
Locality: Plants growing at Elkton State Forest along road and in wet woodlands over a distance of about 0.55 kilometers near the Elk Neck State Forest Shooting Range labelled as the address of 717 Irishtown Rd, North East, MD 21901. Plants are common but scattered on the edges and in the understory of low-lying wet woodlands.
Coordinates: 39.5823, -75.9133
(Map it)
Elevation: 57m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in part-shade to shade of deciduous forests on moist slopes and on hummocks in very moist to wet low-lying areas along seasonal or year-round flowing seeps.
Soils: The underlying geology of this area is of Cretaceous origin and comprised of Potomac Group, including Raritan and Patapsco Formations, and Patuxent Formation. The Potomac Group includes: interbedded quartzose gravels; proto-quartzitic to orthoquartzitic argillaceous sands; and white, dark gray, and multicolored silts and clays. Included withing this zone are Raritan and Patapsco Formations comprised of gray, brown, and red variegated silts and clays; lenticular, cross-bedded, argillaceous, subrounded sands; minor gravels; thickness. The Patuxent Formation is also interbedded in this zone and comprised of white or light gray to orange-brown, moderately sorted, cross-bedded, argillaceous, angular sands and subrounded quartz gravels; silts and clays subordinate that are predominantly pale gray.
Source: USGS Maryland Geologic Map Data https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=MDKp%3B5
The primary soil types in the collection area are classified as Russett-Christiana-Hambrook Complex and/or Sassafras and Croom Soils; though, others may intersect and overlay in specific areas. The soils in the collecting area are generally described as a complex series of fluviomarine deposits. The soils range from a thin loam layer at the surface to varying levels of loam to sandy loam and/or extremely gravelly sandy clay loam strata, depending upon geographical location (ie. Hillslope summits, slopes, footslopes, swales, etc.).
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 40
Associated species: Fagus grandifolia, Gaylussacia frondosa, Acer rubrum, Quercus phellos, Nyssa sylvatica, Vaccinium corymbosum Liquidambar styraciflua, Kalmia latifolia, Lyonia ligustrina, Toxicodendron radicans, Rhododendron viscosum, Solidago sp., Smilax sp., Liriodendron tulipifera, Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, Osmunda regalis, Carex sp., Amelanchier sp., Cephalanthus occidentalis, Aronia melanocarpa, Aronia arbutifolia, Pinus virginiana, Bidens tripartita, Sphagnum spp., Ilex verticillata, Magnolia virginiana, Thelypteris palustris, Scirpus cyperinus, Quercus alba, Ludwigia alternifolia, Dendrolycopodium obscurum
Comment: Plants range from 1-6 multi-stemmed, deciduous, slightly upright shrubs with a tendency toward upright lateral branching. Mature stems are smooth and tan to brown; young shoots often pubescent, but losing this feature as the growing season progresses. Mature plants range in size from 1.5-2.5 meters tall. Fruiting capsules are borne terminally, on solitary racemes or in clusters. The many small, sub-globose capsules borne on each raceme are dehiscent and loculicidal with a persistent calyx. Leaves are alternate, simple, and generally obovate with teeth particularly on the upper third of the leaves. Leaves generally glabrous above and sparsely to prominently pubescent beneath. Leaf size ranges from 35-60 mm long and 20-30 mm wide.
Collector(s):