07 October 2022.
Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Plants growing on the steep banks along Octoraro Creek accessed by canoe. Plants are locally common but generally uncommon along the Octoraro Creek.
Coordinates: 39.7527, -76.0827
(Map it)
Elevation: 63m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in part-shade to part-sun of mixed deciduous and evergreen forests on steep rocky habitats along the Octoraro Creek.
Soils: The underlying geology of this area is estimated to be of lower Paleozoic origin and comprised of Peters Creek Schist. This is comprised of chlorite-sericite schist containing interbedded quartzite.
Source: USGS Pennsylvania Geologic Map Data (https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=PAPZpc%3B0)
The primary soil types in the collection area are classified as Manor loam, 25 to 60 percent slopes, very stony. The soils in the collecting area originated as residuum, weathered from the micaceous schist exposed geology and are generally considered coarse-loamy, micaceous, mesic typic dystrudepts that are very acidic and well-drained. There is a variable depth of soil depending upon the steepness of slopes. Some areas contain significant exposed Peters Creek Schist overlain by a highly decomposed organic mat intermingled with a dense root mat of woody and herbaceous plants.
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 15
Associated species: Kalmia latifolia, Lindera benzoin, Fraxinus pensylvanica, Carpinus caroliniana, Polystichum acrostichoides, Eurybia divaricata, Amelanchier sp., Toxicodendron radicans, Vaccinium corymbosum, Acer negundo, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Sassafras albidum, Impatiens pallida, Parathelypteris noveboracensis, Urtica dioica, Boehmeria cylindrica, Acer rubrum, Betula lenta, Quercus rubra, Nyssa sylvatica, Cornus florida, Carya tomentosa, Hamamelis virginiana
Comment: This species is a broad-leaved, evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub with a coarse texture and upright spreading stems that form a broadly rounded habit; usually 4-8 meters tall x 4-10 meters wide. This species can also occasionally be rhizomatous. Leaves thick and leathery with entire margins and often glabrescent; they are oblong to obovate or elliptic, 7-25 cm long x 2-7 cm wide, often revolute with an acuminate to sometimes acute apex. The leaves are generally dull to lustrous dark green above and pale green beneath. Fruits are capsules and borne erect on pedicels, 8-20 cm long x 4-6.5 mm wide; capsules are stipitate-glandular-hairy.
Collector(s):