19 September 2024.
Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Locality: Birdell Road, near parking lot to trail where the road ends at Chambers Lake, which is part of Hibernia County Park.
Coordinates: 40.0356, -75.8571
(Map it)
Elevation: 187m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in deep shade of a dry deciduous forest dominated by Fagus grandifolia. Slope: 0 percent. Aspect: N/A. Geology: The underlying geology of this area is of Precambrian origin and characterized as Banded Mafic Gneiss. It is characterized as dark and fine to medium grained. This formation includes rocks of probable sedimentary origin; may be equivalent to "PZmgh." (Source: USGS Pennsylvania Geologic Map Data). Soils: The primary soil type in the area of this collection is classified as Neshaminy Series Silt Loam, very deep over mafic gneiss, 3 to 8 percent slopes (NvB). (Source: USDA-NRCS Official Soil Series Descriptions). EPA Ecoregion (Level III): Northern Piedmont (64). EPA Ecoregion (Level IV): Piedmont Uplands (64c).
Number of plants sampled: 50
Associated species: Fagus grandifolia; Carya ovata; Nyssa sylvatica; Quercus rubra; Eurybia divaricata; Epifagus virginiana; Lindera benzoin; Ulmus americana; Vaccinium sp.; Sassafras albidum; Carex sp.; Elaeagnus umbellata; Berberis thunbergii; Rosa multiflora; Tilia americana; Prunus serotina; Cornus alternifolia [listed as Swida alternifolia]; Rubus sp.
Comment: Plants are multi-stemmed, highly rhizomatous, deciduous, upright shrubs, frequently forming extensive colonies. Mature plants range in size from 0.3-2.2 meters tall. 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. Fleshy fruits with a single seed are borne terminally on branches in small clusters with a few to 15 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 drooping significantly due to drought stress. Plants are common at this site. Seed collected from approximately 50 plants; approximately 350 fruits collected. The original goal for this site visit was to collect seed of Viburnum lentago. Plants were found on both sides of the road nearby; unfortunately, they had already dropped their fruit. They are located a few hundred yards past this collecting site, close to Chambers Lake at 40.034218°, -75.857072°.
Collector(s):