03 September 2022.
Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Plants growing in woodlands on the east side of Shed Road in French Creek State Park. Plants are common and found scattered along the edges of the road and into the woodlands.
Coordinates: 40.2197, -75.7737
(Map it)
Elevation: 238m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in a mesic to dry, well-drained habitat of upland deciduous forest which is very rocky. The understory layer is generally not as rich due to the rock-laden ground layer. Plants are growing in part shade to shade. The underlying geology of this area is comprised of Hammer Creek Conglomerate, characterized by cobble and pebble quartz conglomerate interbedded with red sandstone.
Source: USGS Pennsylvania Geologic Map Data (https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=PATRhc%3B2) The surface soil profile of this area is Joanna Loam (JpD), 8 to 25 percent slopes which is extremely stony. It is represented by residuum weathered from sandstone and/or residuum weathered from conglomerate. Joanna Loam is moderately to well-drained and 1.8 meters to 2.5 meters to the lithic bedrock described above.
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 10
Associated species: Rhododendron periclymenoides, Mitchella repens, Carpinus caroliniana, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Fraxinus americana, Carya tomentosa, Acer rubrum, Quercus rubra, Carex sp., Polystichum acrostichoides, Vaccinium corymbosum, Collinsonia canadensis, Fagus grandifolia, Cornus florida, Nyssa sylvatica, Ulmus americana, Quercus montana, Lindera benzoin, Eurybia divaricata, Viburnum prunifolium, Actaea racemosa, Liriodendron tulipifera, Rubus sp., Arisaema triphyllum, Vitis sp., Amelanchier spicata, Hepatica americana, Toxicodendron radicans, Medeola virginiana, Asarum canadense, Viburnum dentatum, Hamamelis virginiana, Sassafras albidum, Castanea dentata, Aralia nudicaulis, Betula lenta, Quercus prinoides, Goodyera pubescens, Ilex verticillata, Ostrya virginiana
Comment: Plants is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that is upright with an irregular habit. Plants are frequently browsed by deer. Mature plants range in size from 0.5 meters to 2 meters tall. Fruit is a bluish-black fleshy fruit with a single large seed, borne terminally in panicles with 1-10 fruits/panicle. Leaves are deciduous, simple and alternate, reaching up to 14 cm long and 10 cm wide. They are typically 3-lobed (less often unlobed), coarsely dentate, and approximately oval in shape. The lobes of the leaves have pointed tips, while the leaf bases are cordate or rounded. The upper leaf surface is medium green and hairless, while the lower surface is pale green and pubescent. The leaf petioles are pale green and pubescent, typically with a pair of small linear stipules, which may wither away as the season progresses.
Collector(s):