6. Available
Soil
Moisture-‐
the
over
riding
environmental
factor
determining
the
disposiLon
of
plant
communiLes
Shade
Tolerance-‐
All
plants
require
light,
shade
is
a
limiLng
factor
to
growth.
Hightshoe
provides
an
index
for
shade
tolerance
(very
tolerant-‐
tolerant-‐
intermediate)
Mesic-‐
a
habitat
with
moderate
soil
water
content
and
well
drained
Xeric-‐
a
habitat
with
low
soil
water
content
and
high
evaporaLon
rate
Moisture
and
Topographic
Gradients-‐
various
habitats
that
range
in
condiLons
from
lowland
to
upland,
wet
to
drier
condiLons
(see
next
5
habitat
designa/ons
lowland
wet
to
upland
dry)
7. Lowland
Wet-‐
river
margins,
streamside
floodplain
depression,
subject
to
frequent
inundaLon
(seasonal
flooding),
high
water
table,
poor
drainage
area
(OBL
–
FACW)
Lowland
Wet-‐Mesic-‐
alluvial
boSomlands,
elevated
terraces
of
major
streams,
areas
of
intermiSent
flooding
but
of
short
duraLon,
excess
moisture
in
winter
or
spring,
nearly
xeric
condiLons
during
midsummer
(FACW-‐FAC)
Upland
Mesic-‐
ravines,
sheltered
coves,
moist
but
well
drained
slopes
and
uplands,
generally
north
and
east
facing
slopes,
protected
from
sun
exposure
and
prevailing
dry
winds,
less
dry
condiLons
(FACU)
Upland
Mesic-‐Dry-‐
dry
slopes,
upland
flats,
generally
warmer
south
and
west
facing
slopes,
direct
sun
exposure
created
drier
condiLons
(FACU)
Upland
Dry-‐high
banks,
cliffs,
steep
rocky
land,
excessively
drained
sandy
soil
or
shallow
stoney
soil
over
rock
outcrop
(UPL)
8. •
OBL
=
Obligate
Wetland
Plants
Almost
always
occur
in
wetlands
•
FACW
=
FacultaLve
Wetland
Plants
Usually
occur
in
wetlands,
but
may
occur
in
non-‐wetlands
•
FAC
=
FacultaLve
Wetland
Plants
Occur
in
wetlands
and
non-‐wetlands
•
FACU
=
FacultaLve
Upland
Plants
Usually
occur
in
non-‐wetlands,
but
may
occur
in
wetlands
•
UPL=
Upland
Plants
Almost
never
occur
in
wetlands