Mesic Northern Forest Plant List
Graminoids
- long-awned wood grass (Brachyelytrum aristosum)
- sedges (Carex albursina, C. arctata, C. deweyana, C. hirtifolia, C. intumescens, C. leptonervia, C. pedunculata, C. plantaginea, C. radiata, C. rosea, C. woodii, and others)
- bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix)
- western fescue (Festuca occidentalis)
- wood millet (Milium effusum)
- rough-leaved rice-grass (Oryzopsis asperifolia)
- bluegrasses (Poa alsodes and P. saltuensis)
- false melic (Schizachne purpurascens)
Forbs
- baneberries (Actaea pachypoda and A. rubra)
- wild leek (Allium tricoccum)
- wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)
- jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
- blue cohoshes (Caulophyllum giganteum and C. thalictroides)
- enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea canadensis)
- Carolina spring-beauty (Claytonia caroliniana)
- blue-bead lily (Clintonia borealis)
- goldthread (Coptis trifolia)
- coral-root orchids (Corallorhiza spp.)
- squirrel-corn (Dicentra canadensis)
- Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
- beech drops (Epifagus virginiana)
- yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum)
- bedstraw (Galium triflorum)
- Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)
- false spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum)
- Indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana)
- partridge berry (Mitchella repens)
- Indian pipes (Monotropa uniflora)
- hairy sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii)
- northern wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)
- downy Solomon seal (Polygonatum pubescens)
- twisted-stalks (Streptopus spp.)
- starflower (Trientalis borealis)
- common trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
- large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)
- sweet white violet (Viola blanda)
- Canada violet (Viola canadensis)
- yellow violet (Viola pubescens)
- great-spurred violet (Viola selkirkii)
- common blue violet (Viola sororia)
Ferns
- maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum)
- lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
- rattlesnake fern (Botrypus virginianus)
- spinulose woodfern (Dryopteris carthusiana)
- glandular woodfern (Dryopteris intermedia)
- marginal woodfern (Dryopteris marginalis)
- oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)
- ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
- sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis)
- northern beech-fern (Phegopteris connectilis)
Fern Allies
- ground-pines (Dendrolycopodium dendroideum and D. obscurum)
- shining clubmoss (Huperzia lucidula)
- running ground-pine (Lycopodium clavatum)
- stiff clubmoss (Spinulum annotinum)
Shrubs
- bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
- beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta)
- leatherwood (Dirca palustris)
- Canadian fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)
- prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)
- red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
- maple-leaved arrow-wood (Viburnum acerifolium)
Trees
- balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
- striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
- red maple (Acer rubrum)
- sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
- mountain maple (Acer spicatum)
- yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
- paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
- alternate-leaved dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
- American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
- white ash (Fraxinus americana)
- ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)
- white pine (Pinus strobus)
- red oak (Quercus rubra)
- northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
- basswood (Tilia americana)
- hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Citation
Cohen, J.G., M.A. Kost, B.S. Slaughter, D.A. Albert, J.M. Lincoln, A.P. Kortenhoven, C.M. Wilton, H.D. Enander, M.E. Anderson, M.R. Parr, T.J. Bassett, and K.M. Korroch. 2025. Michigan Natural Community Classification [web application]. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan State University Extension, Lansing, MI. Available https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/communities/classification. (Accessed: April 11, 2026).