22 September 2024.
York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Outcrops along the Susquehanna River, accessed from the Historic Lock 12 parking lot off of Pennsylvania Road 372.
Coordinates: 39.8166, -76.3314
(Map it)
Elevation: 38m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing from part-sun to full sun in crevices of the outcrops and where organic debris has accumulated in between boulders along the Susquehanna River. The sites range from nearly xeric to dry mesic, at least on the surface. Plants are generally growing 4-10 m above the normal flow of the river; however, the Holtwood Dam is less than 1 kilometer upstream and debris found trapped in the boulders indicates that there is periodic flooding, at least, in the lower zone of 4+ meters or so above normal river flow. This habitat has a diverse assemblage of deciduous trees and shrubs as well as abundant herbaceous taxa. Slope: 0 to 10 percent. Aspect: Northeast (generally). Geology: The underlying geology of this area is probably of lower Paleozoic age and characterized as the Octoraro Formation. It includes albite-chlorite schist, phyllite, some hornblende gneiss, and granitized members. Soils: The area where this species occurs is right on the edge of two soil zones that transition from the river’s edge to mesic conditions upslope. The first is generally referred to as Rock Outcrop. This terrestrial matrix in which plants grow is largely exposed underlying rock geology with accumulated outwash, rock decomposition, and organic debris buildup. The second is Mt. Airy (80%) and Manor (20%) Series soils, 25 to 60 percent slopes, extremely stony (MRF). (Source: California Soil Resource Lab/NRCS Official Soil Series Descriptions). EPA Ecoregion (Level III): Northern Piedmont (64). EPA Ecoregion (Level IV): Piedmont Uplands (64c).
Number of plants sampled: 5
Associated species: Baptisia tinctoria; Fagus grandifolia; Alnus serrulata; Toxicodendron radicans; Schizachyrium scoparium; Solidago bicolor; Solidago racemosa; Vaccinium angustifolium; Acer rubrum; Aronia melanocarpa; Betula nigra; Vaccinium stamineum; Vaccinium corymbosum; Hypericum prolificum; Ionactis linariifolia; Rubus sp.; Fraxinus pennsylvanica; Viburnum dentatum; Quercus montana; Nyssa sylvatica; Platanus occidentalis; Symphyotrichum sp.; Ageratina altissima; Chionanthus virginicus; Lonicera japonica; Rhododendron arborescens; Hamamelis virginiana; Physocarpus opulifolius; Crataegus sp.; Kalmia latifolia; Rhododendron periclymenoides; Parthenocissus quinquefolia; Prunus serotina; Diospyros virginiana; Amelanchier sp.; Cornus amomum [listed as Swida amomum]; Asplenium platyneuron; Eutrochium sp.; Carya glabra; Ulmus americana; Viburnum prunifolium; Uvularia sessilifolia; Clematis virginiana; Solidago juncea; Vitis sp.; Rosa carolina; Carya cordiformis; Reynoutria japonica; Polystichum acrostichoides; Athyrium filix-femina; Eurybia divaricata; Tilia americana; Betula lenta; Quercus rubra; Rubus phoenicolasius; Veronicastrum virginicum; Sedum ternatum; Aquilegia canadensis; Vaccinium pallidum; Pycnanthemum tenuifolium; Ambrosia artemisifolia; Cystopteris sp.; Carpinus caroliniana; Asplenium trichomanes; Rhus copallinum.
Comment: Plants are multi-stemmed, deciduous, upright stunted shrubs. Mature plants reach 1.5 to 2 meters tall and wide. Leaves are simple, alternate, and finely serrate along the margins. Leaves are ovate-lanceolate, ranging in size from 7.5-10 cm long. Fleshy fruits, containing 1-5 seeds, are borne along the stems and in the leaf axils singly and in small clusters. Fruits are globose and bright red and approximately 5-8 mm in diameter; sepals subtending the fruit are densely hairy. This species is infrequent on the boulder outcrops and woodland edge along this portion of the Susquehanna River. Seed collected from 5 plants; approximately 480 to 550 fruits collected.
Collector(s):