A vegetational survey of the Allegheny National Forest summer 1980 [Pennsylvania]

During the summer of 1980, a vegetational (trees, shrubs and ground cover) survey was conducted in the Alleghany National Forest. Two hundred and ten macroplots (22.5 m × 15.0 m) were sampled in 41 Ecological Land Types as predetermined by the United States Forest Service. Over 4,000 forest trees were counted and identified. Dominant and sub-dominant trees and shrubs were determined for each Ecological Land Type. Ground cover was also sampled and identified in 30 microplots (0.3 m × 0.6 m) per macroplot. A total of 6300 microplots were sampled. A total of over 130 species were surveyed. Dominant tree vegetation within the Allegheny National Forest includes Acer rubrum (Red maple), Acer saccharum (Sugar maple), Prunus serotina (Black Cherry), and Fagus grandifolia (American beech). Betula lutea (Yellow birch), Betula lenta (Sweet birch), and Tsuga canadensis (American hemlock) are also common. Understory vegetation is comprised mostly of small trees, saplings, and Acer pensylvanicum (Striped maple). Ferns such as the New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) and the Hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) are the dominant ground cover vegetation. Also common are species of ground pine (Lycopodium). The Allegheny National Forest is a typical Maple - Beech - Birch - Cherry ecosystem.