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, and K.M. Korroch. 2020. Michigan Natural Community Classification [web application]. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan State University Extension, Lansing, Michigan. Available https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/communities/classification. (Accessed: December 12, 2024).