27 October 2023.
Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Slopes on the east side of Creek Road above the North Branch of White Clay Creek.
Coordinates: 39.7855, -75.8025
(Map it)
Elevation: 90m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Well-drained mesic-dry to rocky dry deciduous woodlands in part shade to full shade. Slope: 15-35%. Aspect: West to northwest. The underlying geology of this area includes two formations. The first and primary formation is Lower Paleozoic Glenarm Wissahickon Formation, lithologically similar to oligoclase-mica schist of the Wissahickon Formation, but also includes lenticular amphibolite bodies having ocean-floor basalt chemistry. The second formation is Lower Paleozoic Mafic Gneiss Formation that is dark and medium grained. It includes rocks of probable sedimentary origin. (Sources: USGS Pennsylvania Geologic Map Data). The primary soil type in the collection area is classified as Manor Series. The Manor Series consists of well-drained residuum weathered from micaceous schist. Soils in the upper pedon (0-33 cm) are very dark grayish brown loam with strong fine granular structure; also, very friable with fine mica flakes and strongly acid. Lower pedon soils (34-56 cm) are strong brown, sandy loams. They have weak medium sub-angular blocky structure, are friable with many fine and a few medium mica flakes; this pedon is very strongly acid. (Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey).
Number of plants sampled: 20
Associated species: Ulmus americana; Toxicodendron radicans; Fagus grandifolia; Quercus rubra; Liriodendron tulipifera; Ilex verticillata; Cornus alternifolia (as Swida alternifolia); Rubus sp.; Lindera benzoin; Fraxinus pennsylvanica; Carpinus caroliniana; Acer rubrum; Asarum canadense; Polystichum acrostichoides; Hamamelis virginiana; Solidago caesia; Viburnum dentatum; Rhododendron periclymenoides; Eurybia divaricata; Carya tomentosa; Amelanchier sp.; Carex sp.; Viburnum prunifolium; Maianthemum racemosum; Castanea dentata; Kalmia latifolia; Mitchella repens; Polypodium virginianum. Note; While not directly associated with the Viburnum acerifolium, there was an extensive population of highly rhizomatous Ribes sp. On the streamside of the road. Further investigation is needed during flowering and fruiting to determine what species this is.
Comment: Plants are multi-stemmed, rhizomatous, deciduous upright-spreading irregular shrubs, frequently forming colonies. Mature plants range in size from 0.3-1.3 meters tall. Fleshy fruits with a single seed are borne terminally on branches in small clusters with a few to 10 or more fruits per inflorescence. Fruits are round and dark purple-black when fully mature and approximately 5-8 mm in diameter; at maturity, the cymes turn yellow to red. Leaves are opposite and generally three-lobed; however, occasionally, some leaves area simple and unlobed. Leaf size ranges from 20-35 mm long and wide. Leaves on many plants are in fall color that ranges from almost ghostly white to pale red. Plants are occasional to common in the understory of the woodlands. Seeds collected from 20+ plants.
Collector(s):