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HUG16015-Parks, Trails, and Open Space DRAFT Chapter 13 08/16/17 Type of Plant Community Description Deciduous Forests Deciduous forests are upland communities with stands of deciduous (broad-leaved) trees such as oak, aspen, basswood, maple, and birch. Oak forests are the predominant deciduous forests in Hugo. These forests are found in dry to mesic habitats and they consist mostly of northern red oak, northern pin oak, white oak, and bur oak. They occasionally contain wild black cherry, aspen, basswood, green ash, and paper birch. Before European-American settlement, oak trees in the Hugo area were generally found in savanna or woodland habitats as opposed to forest habitats. The oak forests of today filled in around mature savanna and woodland oaks. Therefore most oaks in the oak forests are relatively young. The forests are located in relatively steep areas that are not well suited to cultivated crops. Oak forests provide habitat for rare plant species including stemless tick-trefoil, goldies fern, and ginseng. They also provide habitat for rare animal species like red-shouldered hawks, fox snakes, bull snakes, and milk snakes. Threats to the existing oak forests in the area include invasion of nonnative plants, the spread of oak wilt and fragmentation by development. Forested Wetlands Two types of forested wetland communities exist in Hugo: conifer swamps and hardwood swamps. Conifer swamps are found on organic soils in low wet areas and along slow moving streams. They consist mostly of tamarack or tamarack mixed with paper birch and black ash. Conifer swamps provide habitat for rare plant species including waterwillow and club-spur orchid. They also provide habitats for rare animals like Blanding's turtles and snapping turtles. Hardwood swamps are found on organic soil in low wet areas usually at the edge of wetlands. They consist mostly of trees with shallow root systems that can survive saturated soil conditions black ash, red maple, yellow birch, and American elm. Hardwood swamps provide habitat for rare plants like water willow and bog bluegrass. They also provide habitat for rare animals like red shouldered hawks and Louisiana waterthrushes. Threats to existing conifer swamps and hardwood swamps include alteration of natural drainage systems, invasion of nonnative species, sediments, nutrient runoff, and, in the case of the American elm, disease.