Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First
Iteration A Subset of the International Classification of
Ecological Concept: Forests in this alliance occur in non-
montane or low-elevation montane mesic situations and are
dominated by Fagus grandifolia typically with some combination
of Quercus rubra and/or Quercus alba. Associated canopy and
subcanopy species can include Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer
saccharum, Magnolia tripetala, Magnolia acuminata (Ozarks),
Tilia americana var. americana (Ozarks), Tilia americana var.
heterophylla, Quercus muehlenbergii, Acer rubrum, Cornus
florida, Ostrya virginiana, Aesculus sylvatica, and Ilex opaca.
Some of these forests, particularly in the Piedmont of South
Carolina, the southern Ridge and Valley of Alabama, or in
Arkansas, may contain Acer barbatum instead of Acer saccharum.
Shrubs in this alliance include Vaccinium stamineum, Viburnum
rafinesquianum, Euonymus americana, and, in some occurrences,
Kalmia latifolia. The herb layer can be relatively lush wi