09 October 2022.
Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Plants growing in the floodplain of Octoraro Creek near 698 Lees Bridge Road, West Nottingham Township, Pennsylvania on the south side of the road. Plants are locally common and spread out in the floodplain area along the Octoraro Creek.
Coordinates: 39.7358, -76.0924
(Map it)
Elevation: 60m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants of this species are growing in full sun of a moist to seasonally mucky and wide flood plain area adjacent to Octoraro Creek. The area is dominated by deciduous herbaceous plants, scrambling vines, shrubs and occasional small trees. Much of this wet “meadow” is dominated by aggressive stands of grasses and members of the sedge family.
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. Interestingly, this area is very close to and may interface with the adjacent formation of Ultramafic Rocks that includes serpentine, steatite, and other products of alteration of peridotites and pyroxenites.
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 Hatboro Silt Loam which consists of soils formed in alluvium derived from metamorphic and crystalline rock. They are on flood plains. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Hatboro Silt Loam soils are poorly drained and have a high to very high surface runoff index. These soils are subject to periodic stream overflow, which usually occurs during the winter and spring months. The A and B horizons are moderately acidic to neutral, generally to a depth of 1-2 meters; the C horizon below ranges from a depth of 2-3 meters with uniformly acidic soils.
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 20
Associated species: Polygonum pensylvanicum, Salix nigra, Lindera benzoin, Toxicodendron radicans, Urtica dioica, Boehmeria cylindrica, Viburnum dentatum, Acer rubrum, Acer negundo, Phytolacca americana, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Rubus sp., Symphyotrichum puniceum, Vernonia noveboracensis, Scirpus cyperinus, Typha latifolia, Clematis virginiana, Arisaema dracontium, Smilax herbacea, Eutrochium dubium, Leersia virginica, Carex sp., Apocynum cannabinum, Solidago sp., Platanus occidentalis, Asclepias incarnata, Helenium autumnale, Onoclea sensibilis, Swida amomum, Sagittaria latifolia, Andropogon virginicus
Comment: This species is a deciduous shrub, frequently, with more than 20 stems, developing a densely branched crown and an overall broad spreading oval-shaped habit; individual shrubs range from 2-3.5 meters tall x 3-6 meters wide. Individual trunks are 2.5-4.5 cm in diameter, gray to grayish brown, and relatively smooth. Leaves are simple and alternate with an obovate to broadly elliptic shape; leaves are 5-13 cm long x 3-3.5 cm wide. The leaf margins are finely serrated and slightly wavy; the upper leaf surface is medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower leaf surface is medium green and glabrous to sparsely pubescent. Fruit are cone-like structures about 1.5-2 cm long, and their scales become dark brown and woody at maturity. Male catkins are already formed and hanging from branches as current season fruit mature.
Collector(s):