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How to Recognize It
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This natural community is easy to recognize because it consists of mostly chestnut oak trees and mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub in the heath family. These two species thrive in dry and infertile soil that many other species can’t tolerate. In Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, this community is found on or near dry ridge tops underlain by bedrock that weathers into extremely acidic (infertile) soil.
Can you find this combination of key features?
Identifying This Natural Community
- Abundant chestnut oak trees
- Abundant mountain laurel shrubs
- (Optional) Mosses and reindeer lichen growing on the ground
- Location: high on a sun-exposed south- or west-facing slope
If so, welcome to the Chestnut Oak Forest at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
Not sure? Check out the Compare Natural Communities Tool.