| Striped
Maples |
Robert
Leverett |
|
Oct
16, 2006 06:30 PDT |
ENTS,
The following table lists our ENTS striped
maple measurements to date
taken in the Northeast.
State Site Subsite Height
Circ
MA MTSF Encampment 65.0 1.7
MA MTSF Encampment 60.5 1.8
MA MTSF Encampment 60.3 1.6
MA MTSF Trees of Peace 59.9 1.3
MA MTSF Encampment 59.5 1.8
MA MTSF Encampment 56.5 1.7
MA MTSF Encampment 56.0 1.7
MA MTSF Algonquin 55.0 1.6
MA MTSF Algonquin 54.0 1.8
MA MTSF Encampment 53.0 1.7
MA MTSF Encampment 52.0 1.7
MA MTSF Encampment 51.5 1.7
MA MTSF Encampment 50.0 1.7
MA MTSF Encampment 48.4 2.0
MA MTSF Encampment 47.5 1.5
MA MTSF Encampment 47.2 1.9
MA MTSF Encampment 44.0 1.4
NY Adirondacks 54.0 1.7
NY Adirondacks 52.2 2.2
NY Adirondacks 50.7 1.9
NY Adirondacks 47.5 2.1
NY Adirondacks 46.5 2.0
NY Adirondacks 45.5 1.6
NY Adirondacks 43.0 1.7
NY Adirondacks 39.3 1.9
PA Cook Forest 41.4 2.3
PA Cook Forest 39.9 1.1
PA Cook Forest 32.1 1.2
PA Cook Forest 27.0 0.6
The above list reflects a serious effort
on the part of yours truly
to measure understory species - after having completely ignored
them for
years. Despite the dominance of MTSF in the above list, I'm sure
when
the PA team begins to pay serious attention to the striped
maple, the
numbers will go up for PA drastically. On Sunday I measured an
American
hornbeam in MTSF to begin a list on that species. Its
measurements are
28.5 feet in hgt and 1.6 feet in circumference.
Bob
Robert T. Leverett
Cofounder, Eastern Native Tree Society
|
| RE:
Striped Maples |
Ernie
Ostuno |
| Oct
16, 2006 08:24 PDT |
Bob,
When I saw the title I thought you were referring to another
hailstorm
that "stripped" some maples... ;)
But seriously, your understory tree measurements are probably
every bit
as important as the more attention-getting overstory
measurements in
quantifying the health and vitality of an old growth site. Also,
this
might be an effective way to measure/document the impact of
overgrazing
by deer in recent decades.
I've noticed a great variability in understory characteristics
at old
growth sites. I've also noticed that most of the impressive old
growth
hemlock sites in PA had large rhododendron. Has anyone done any
height/age measuring of rhododendron? Is there some type of
symbiotic
relationship between hemlock and rhodo, besides the hemlock
providing
lots of shade? We sometimes have a tendency to ignore some
members of
the old growth ecosystem or see them as merely obstacles to be
"surfed"
to get to the beloved giants.
Ernie
|
| Striped
Maple |
Robert
Leverett |
| Oct
16, 2006 10:26 PDT |
Ernie,
Yep, that was an oops; i.e, stripped instead
of striped. In terms of
the importance of understory species, well said. Although I
never see
naturally occurring Rhododendron in Massachusetts, there are
Mountain
Laurel communities on old-growth sites in the Berkshires that
deserve
documentation. Mountain laurel is the state flower of
Connecticut.
Basically, Sassafras, Striped Maple,
Hophornbeam, American hornbeam,
Witch Hazel, Mountain Maple, and various sumacs all need
documentation
here in the Berkshire region. After dealing with these species,
I'll
work my way down to the bonafide shrubs like Red Elder, Hobble
Bush,
Spice Bush, Winterberry, etc.
Bob
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