American Beech Woods

Description

Prior to settlement by Europeans, the uplands along the lower Wabash River contained mesic forest more typical of the eastern United States. American beech, tulip tree and sugar maple are common in the uplands and are particularly abundant in the ravines. American Beech Woods, named after the dominant tree species, contains old second growth beech-maple forest. Common woody understory trees are blue beech and ironwood, while herbaceous plants include hepatica, showy orchid, beech drops and squaw root. The latter two plants are unusual because they lack chlorophyll. To obtain food beech drops parasitizes the American beech and squaw root lives on decaying matter.