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How to Recognize It
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This lush and diverse natural community occurs on some moist and fertile slopes bordering the Potomac floodplain. The concave (dish-like) shape of these slopes helps them retain moisture. In addition, the fact that they face north to northeast reduces their exposure to the drying rays of direct sunlight. Nutrients are provided by the underlying geology, infrequent floods, and possibly groundwater seeps. Unfortunately, no sites are accessible to the public in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
Can you find this combination of key features?
Identifying This Natural Community
- Black maple trees and other tall, well-formed trees, including sugar maple, bitternut hickory, white ash, or American basswood
- Pawpaw, northern spicebush, and more black maple in the understory
- In spring, lots of wildflowers, especially Virginia bluebells, harbinger-of-spring, squirrel-corn, toadshade, twinleaf, and perhaps blue cohosh
- Location: on the lower part of a north- to northeast-facing slope, overlooking the Potomac river
If so, welcome to the Rich Cove / Mesic Slope Forest at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
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