10 September 2022.
Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Plants are growing on the lands of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. This plant is frequent but scattered on the exposed north, northeast, and east-facing steep slopes and ridge areas.
Coordinates: 40.6379, -75.9878
(Map it)
Elevation: 430m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: part sun 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: 10
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, Pinus strobus, Nyssa sylvatica, Acer pensylvanicum, Vaccinium sp., Kalmia latifolia, Quercus montana, Juniperus virginiana, Tsuga canadensis, Viburnum acerifolium, Amelanchier sp., Rhododendron maximum, Ilex mucronata, Quercus coccinea, Sambucus canadensis, Quercus prinoides, Gaylussacia baccata
Comment: This species is a deciduous, multi-stemmed broadly-rounded tree in maturity; younger plants tend to be more upright and spreading. Mature plants range in size from 4-10 meters tall x 5-10 meters wide. The tree was approximately 10 meters tall x 4 meters wide with a DBH of 20 cm. Fruits are pomes borne in terminal panicles, lustrous orange-red to red at maturity. Individual fruits are globe to sub-globose in shape and ranging from 4-10 mm in diameter. Leaves are alternate and pinnately compound with 11-17 leaflets that are generally lanceolate with serrated leaf margins; varying levels of sparse hairs on the undersides of leaves, some were nearly glabrous by late summer when observed.
Collector(s):