chapter 2 mill hill/deep creek conservation landscape

Natural Areas Inventory Update 2007 49

CHAPTER 2

Mill Hill/Deep Creek Conservation Landscape

The Mill Hill/Deep Creek Conservation Landscape has as its central feature a forested diabase ridge extending in a half circle around Upper Hanover Township. The extensive forest cover found on the ridge is of particular ecological signifi cance, as it provides critical habitat for forest interior species. The landscape also contains a high diversity of plants typical of diabase forests.

DescriptionLocationThe Mill Hill/Deep Creek Conservation Landscape is located in the northern part of Montgomery County. Containing approximately 11,000 acres, it includes parts of Upper Hanover, Douglass, New Hanover, and Upper Frederick Townships (Figure 2.1). At the southern end, it also includes the portion of Green Lane Park underlain by diabase geology.

The landscape adjoins the Upper Perkiomen Creek/Green Lane Reservoir and Unami Creek/Ridge Valley Creek Conservation Landscapes on the east. To the south, it adjoins the Spring Mountain Conservation Landscape.

GeologyThe boundary of the landscape takes in the western and southern portions of the ring of diabase that encircles East Greenville, Pennsburg, and Red Hill and extends into Lehigh and Bucks Counties (Figure 2.2). The landscape is anchored on the northern end by Mill Hill, a nar-row portion of the diabase ridge that ex-tends into Lehigh County, and includes the highest point in the county at a little over 700 ft above mean sea level.

Forest CoverThe landscape contains 5,869 acres of forest, or 53 percent of the total area of the landscape, compared to 20 percent forested land cover in Montgomery County in 2000. Applying a 50-meter buffer inside all forest edges reveals that the Mill Hill/Deep Creek landscape contains 3,278 acres that qualify as forest interior habitat (Figure 2.3). The single largest area of forest interior is located on the border between Douglass and New Hanover Townships in an area bounded by Route 663 on the east, Hill Road on the north, Green Hill Road on the west, and Little Road on the south. It is all privately owned and consists primarily of three parcels that total 324.59 acres (5.5% of the total area). Three other large parcels nearby add up to another 234.24 acres, most of which is also forested. All together, these parcels comprise 558.83 acres, or 9.5% of the landscape.

Diabase boulders exposed along the ridge at Mill Hill

50 Natural Areas Inventory Update 2007

HydrologyThe main stem of the Perkiomen Creek and the West Branch both fl ow through gaps in the dia-base ridge. The Hosensack Creek corridor from the Lehigh County line to its confl uence with the Perkiomen is part of the landscape. Deep Creek, from its headwaters to where it enters Deep Creek Lake is also within the landscape. In addition the diabase ridge contains the headwaters of several tributaries of Swamp Creek, Molasses Creek, and Macoby Creek. Analysis of data pro-vided by the Montgomery County Planning Commission reveals that 70 percent of the riparian corridor extending 10 meters on each side of the streams is forested. One hundred year fl ood-plain occupies 371 acres. The National Wetlands Inventory lists 22.6 acres of wetlands within the landscape, most of which is within the fl oodplains of the Perkiomen Creek and Deep Creek, however important wetland habitat is also present along the Hosensack Creek and at the headwa-ters of the Macoby Creek.

Critical FeaturesPreviously identifi ed Natural Areas Inventory sites within the landscape include Mill Hill, Ni-antic Northeast Woods, Deep Creek Marsh, and Henning Road Woods (Figure 2.4). Species of special concern documented in the Mill Hill/Deep Creek Conservation Landscape during 2006 fi eld studies include six plants: puttyroot orchid, ginseng, goldenseal, Indian paintbrush, brown sedge, and Mead’s sedge.

Although diabase geology discouraged conversion of most of the landscape to agriculture, 3,548 acres of preserved farmland lie within a mile of the Mill Hill/Deep Creek Conservation Land-scape, creating an island of forest (Figure 2.5).

Reptiles and Amphibians – Sixteen species of reptiles and amphibians were documented in the Mill Hill/Deep Creek Conservation Landscape during this study by Marlin Corn (Table 2.1).

Table 2.1 — Reptiles and Amphibians ofthe Mill Hill/Deep Creek Conservation Landscape

SalamandersNorthern dusky salamanderNorthern redback salamanderNorthern two-lined salamander

Frogs and ToadsWood frogPickerel frogGreen frogBullfrogSpring peeperAmerican toad

TurtlesWood turtleEastern box turtleCommon snapping turtleSpotted turtleEastern painted turtle

SnakesNorthern ringneck snakeEastern garter snake


Birds – Information on bird diversity is included in the section on Mill Hill below.

Preservation Status and Other DesignationsUpper Hanover Township owns 223.8 acres at Mill Hill, a tract on Soffa Road contains 45.2 acres, a site on Keller Road consists of 32 acres, and at the corner of Kutztown Road and Town-ship Woods Road is a 28.2-acre tract. All of these sites are forested. New Hanover Township owns 10.26 acres of wetland habitat at Deep Creek Marsh and an additional 10.26 acres at Pleas-ant Run Park. County-owned land in the landscape includes 758.2 acres at Green Lane Park.

Core AreasMill HillHuge diabase boulders create a dramatic landscape along the steep rocky spine of Mill Hill just east of the village of Palm (Figure 2.4). From the top of the ridge the power line right-of-way affords spectacular views to the north and south. This site includes one of the largest blocks of forest in the county. Upper Hanover Township owns a 223.8-acre tract that includes most of the north side of the ridge. Additional parcels within the contiguous forest area should be a high priority for protection.

On the north side of Mill Hill the Hosen-sack Creek follows the base of the ridge to its confl uence with the Perkiomen Creek on the southern edge of the village of Palm. Numerous seeps located along the bottom of the slope contribute to the fl ow in the creek. Several tributaries of Macoby Creek have their headwaters on the lower slopes on the south side of Mill Hill.

Past Uses – Although the upper slopes of Mill Hill do not appear to have been cleared, stumps in various stages of decay provide evidence of timber harvesting over the years. Some areas on the lower slopes, especially at the southwestern end, were cleared for farming but have reverted to successional forest. Aerial photographs from 1942 reveal that the fl oodplain along the creek was pastured in the past; it has since grown up into a thicket of multifl ora rose, spice-bush, and silky dogwood.

Another commercial use of the natural resources of Mill Hill was surface quarrying. There is evi-dence of stone cutting on both the north and south slopes in the form of drill holes and squared-off cut surfaces visible in the diabase boulders. Some of the old woods roads undoubtedly served as wagon routes to carry out the cut stones which were shipped by railroad to Philadelphia for paving and construction.

Plant Diversity – One PNDI-listed plant, puttyroot orchid, has been found at the site. In addi-tion the upper slopes provide habitat for species such as redbud, Allegheny vine, rock harlequin, red columbine, and fl owering raspberry. Surveys during the 2006 season resulted in a list of 355 plant species overall (Appendix 2.A).

View from the top of Mill Hill


Plant Communities – Three 100-meter transects were studied on the north slope of Mill Hill, upper slope, mid-slope and lower slope (Figure 2.6 and Appendix 2.B). Forest communities include dry oak mixed hardwood forest, tuliptree – beech – maple forest, and red maple – black ash palustrine forest. The power line right-of-way also contains examples of birch (blackgum) rocky slope woodland and tussock sedge marsh.

Reptiles and Amphibians – Reptiles and amphibians documented at the site during 2006-2007 include eastern garter snake, northern ringneck snake, eastern box turtle, wood frog and Ameri-can toad. Wetlands along the Hosensack and Macoby Creeks provide important habitat for reptiles and amphibians.

Birds – Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas data for block 81A66, which includes Mill Hill, listed 63 species of breeding birds for the period 1984-1989 (Table 2.2). Data for the 2004-2008 atlas are not yet complete. The list includes the following forest interior species: Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, and Veery.

Table 2.2 — Breeding Birds of Mill Hill(based on 1984-89 data from Breeding Bird Atlas Block 81A66)

Confi rmed Probable Possible

American Robin Belted Kingfi sher American Crow

Baltimore Oriole Cedar Waxwing American Goldfi nch

Bank Swallow Common Yellowthroat Barred Owl

Black-billed Cuckoo Eastern Bluebird Black Vulture

Canada Goose Eastern Screech-Owl Black-capped Chickadee

Chipping Sparrow Eastern Wood-Pewee Blue Jay

Common Grackle Great Crested Flycatcher Brewster’s Warbler (hybrid)

Downy Woodpecker Indigo Bunting Chimney Swift

Eastern Kingbird Northern Cardinal Eastern Towhee

Eastern Phoebe Northern Mockingbird Field Sparrow

European Starling Ovenbird Green Heron

Gray Catbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker

House Sparrow Red-tailed Hawk Pileated Woodpecker

House Wren Red-winged Blackbird Prairie Warbler

Kentucky Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak Red-eyed Vireo

Killdeer Scarlet Tanager Sharp-shinned Hawk

Mourning Dove Song Sparrow Tufted Titmouse

Northern Flicker Yellow Warbler Turkey Vulture

Ring-necked Pheasant Yellow-throated Vireo Veery

Rock Pigeon Warbling Vireo

Wood Thrush White-eyed Vireo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Worm-eating Warbler


Deer Status – Although Mill Hill is open to hunting through a cooperative arrangement with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, parts of the site still show evidence of over browsing. Data from studies we carried out on forest composition indicate that canopy species present in the sapling and seedling layers of the forest are mainly sugar maple, beech, bitternut hickory and the non-native Norway maple. Current canopy species including red oak, white oak, chestnut oak, tuliptree, and sourgum are all highly preferred by deer and are not regenerating; (Figure 2.6 and Appendix 2.B ). These data indicate that oak will be less important in the future at this site and sugar maple will be more abundant. Loss of oaks can affect many forest animals because acorns are such an important source of food.

Figure 2.6Relative Importance Values (RIV)* of Canopy Tree Species in the Canopy,

Sapling, and Seedling Layers of the Mid-slope Forest at Mill Hill

* Relative importance value (RIV) is a measure of the dominance of species comprising a given plant community. It is calculated using data on cover, frequency, and abundance of each species.

Invasive Plants – Invasive plants at Mill Hill are concentrated along the northern end of the ridge top where winged euonymus is abundant; in addition, the fl oodplain of Hosensack Creek is choked with multifl ora rose. There are scattered sites along the access road to the power line right-of-way where invasives such as Japanese angelica tree have become established. This lat-ter example is still very limited and should be eradicated before it spreads. Norway maple is also present in several areas and should be targeted for control.


Green Lane ParkBecause of the continuation of the diabase geology that defi nes the rest of the landscape, forested slopes south of Deep Creek and west of Perkiomen Creek that are part of Green Lane Park are included in the Mill Hill/Deep Creek Conservation Landscape. This portion of the park includes approximately 758.2 acres, most of which is mature forest that provides habitat for a rare plant and forest birds. The forest community is primarily red oak – mixed hardwood type.

A site that merits special mention is a forested slope along the Perkiomen Creek behind the campground. In the 1950s tall white trillium and twinleaf, wildfl owers native to western Pennsylvania, were planted. They have multiplied and spread and today present a striking display in late April together with species native to the site including purple trillium, Virginia bluebells, wood geranium, mayapple, wild sarsaparilla, rue anemone, doll’s-eyes, Dutchman’s-breeches, wood anemone, wild ginger, trout lily, bloodroot, toothwort, sessile-leaved bellwort, and maidenhair fern.

Evidence of earlier surface quarrying of diabase boulders is present on the forested slope along Deep Creek Road. A more complete discussion of Green Lane Park is included in the section on the Upper Perkiomen Creek/Green Lane Reservoir Conservation Landscape.

A land protection priority in this area should be to protect privately owned parcels that interrupt the continuity of parkland.

Other Protected Open SpaceOther publicly owned open space in the Mill Hill/Deep Creek Landscape includes a 45.3-acre tract off Soffa Road south of the village of Palm owned by Upper Hanover Township. It includes a short stretch along both sides of Perkiomen Creek and a wooded area bisected by a pipeline right-of-way. This tract contains a mix of mature forest and weedy successional areas. Of in-terest was a large population of Virginia snakeroot.

Another 28.2-acre tract of Upper Hanover Township-owned mature diabase forest is located at the corner of Kutztown Road and Township Woods Road.

The Keller Woods Open Space is a 32-acre tract also in Upper Hanover Township. A recent timber harvest opened up the canopy allowing weedy invasive plants such as multifl ora rose to expand. It will be many years before a complete forest canopy is restored. The tract includes several vernal pools with potential to serve as amphibian breeding sites.

Additional Sites Requiring ProtectionNiantic Northeast WoodsIdentifi ed in the 1995 Natural Areas Inventory as a high priority site, Niantic Northeast Woods

Large-fl owered trillium naturalized at Green Lane Reservoir Park


is a forested, south-facing, diabase slope along the Perkiomen Creek between Papermill Road and Wentlings Schoolhouse Road (Figure 2.4). An unnamed tributary of the Perkiomen Creek cascades down the slope over a bed of mossy boulders. The site spans the border between Upper Hanover and Douglass Townships, and has several private owners. Three Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program-listed plants occur there: ginseng, puttyroot, and goldenseal.

The following description is based on a survey of a portion of this site. A high diversity of native spring wildfl owers was pres-ent including foamfl ower, bishop’s-cap, mayapple, dutchman’s-breeches, Solomon’s-seal, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild ginger, bellwort, rue anemone, trout lily, wood geranium, wood anemone, showy orchis, wild leek, spring-beauty, bloodroot, hepatica, toothwort, star chickweed, early saxifrage, false mer-maid, and several violet species.

The canopy included sugar maple, tuliptree, beech, white oak, red oak, black oak, ash, black birch, sourgum, shagbark hickory, slippery elm, red maple, and a few declining hemlocks. Understory and shrub layers were characterized by flowering dogwood, spicebush, witch-hazel, blackhaw, bladdernut, and maple-leaf viburnum.

This site should be targeted for protection for several reasons:1. It includes a 3000 ft. stretch of the West Branch Perkiomen Creek. 2. Three PNDI-listed plants are present. 3. It has a high diversity of native herbaceous and woody species.

Management should include a reduction in deer numbers and removal of invasives including tree-of-heaven, Norway maple, winged euonymus, Japanese barberry, and multifl ora rose that are scattered throughout.

Deep Creek MarshLocated in New Hanover Township between Hildebrand Road and Kulp Road, this site was also listed as a high priority in the 1995 Natural Areas Inventory because of the presence of a large popula-tion of brown sedge, (Pennsylvania rare, suggested) (Figure 2.4). New Hanover Township acquired a 10.26-acre wetland tract up-stream from this site at the headwaters of a small tributary of Deep Creek. But the site where the rare sedge grows is privately owned.

The Deep Creek corridor also contains wooded slopes and fl oodplain wetlands including several manmade ponds and dammed portions

Forested slope along the Perkiomen Creek below the bridge on Paper Mill Road.

Brown sedge


of the stream. These areas are likely good amphibian breeding habitat in addition to providing habitat for at least one Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program-listed plant, brown sedge. On the basis of a survey of portions of the area, we recommend that the entire fl oodplain corridor be targeted for protection.

New Hanover Township’s Pleasant Run Park on Shultz Road includes a pond, and surrounding mowed areas, and a wetland along a tributary of Deep Creek. The open area has the potential for rare wet meadow plants if mowing frequency were reduced, especially in the low section to the west of the pond. Less mowing would also help to discourage use of the area by Canada geese, whose abundant droppings can make mowed areas near water quite unpleasant for human use.

Henning Road Woods Henning Road Woods was another high priority site identifi ed in the 1995 Natural Areas In-ventory. It occupies a steep, rocky, forested diabase slope between Hill Road and Deep Creek Road (Figure 2.4), and adjoins Green Lane Reservoir Park on the east. The property is privately owned and part of it is farmed. The woods and a small wet meadow below the house contain populations of three Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program-listed plants: mead’s sedge, Indian paintbrush, and ginseng. The property also in-cludes a 2,500 foot stretch of Deep Creek.

Repeated timber harvests and over browsing by deer have opened the woods to colonization by non-native invasive species; the most pervasive are garlic mustard and Oriental bittersweet. Severe browsing also threatens the rare plants. However, the landowner is very interested in protecting the species and open to management recommendations. The property is protected by an agricultural preservation easement.

RecommendationsConnectivity and Land Protection Priorities• Protect remaining forested land on Mill Hill (area bounded by Hosensack Road, the Lehigh

County line, Mill Hill Road and Ziegler Road).• Enlist the cooperation of Lehigh County in extending protection of the forested Mill Hill

Ridge into Lehigh County.• Connect Mill Hill and Soffa Road Woods to protected areas along the Perkiomen Creek and

provide a future trail corridor to connect Mill Hill to Green Lane Reservoir Park.• Target in-holdings that interrupt the continuity of Green Lane Reservoir Park for protection.• Target large forested parcels (>50 acres) for protection, especially in the area in Douglass

and New Hanover Townships bounded by Route 663, Hill Road, Green Hill Road, and Little Road.

Showy orchis


• Seek protection of the Niantic Northeast site including the stretch of the West Branch Perkio-men Creek from the Paper Mill Road bridge to Branch Road.

• Extend protection of the Deep Creek Corridor west from Green Lane Reservoir Park to link with New Hanover Township’s preserved wetland at Deep Creek Road west of Kulp Road and Pleasant Run Park on Shultz Road.

Management Priorities• Reduce deer density by facilitating greater access by hunters and placing more emphasis on

herd reduction strategies with the goal of restoring forest structure and species diversity.• Initiate an invasive species control programs at Mill Hill and other accessible sites. Begin by

targeting localized infestations before they spread further. At Mill Hill species that should be eradicated include Japanese angelica tree and Norway maple.

• Reduce mowing of grass areas adjacent to water to discourage use by Canada geese.

BibliographyAnonymous. 2004. Shaping Our Future: Open Space, Natural Features, and Cultural Resources Plan. Montgomery County Planning Commission, Norristown, PA.

Crossley, Gary J. 1999. A Guide to Critical Bird Habitat in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Audubon Society, Harrisburg, PA.

Fike, Jean. 1999. Terrestrial and Palustrine Forest Communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg, PA.

Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas http://bird.atlasing.org/Atlas/PA/Main, accessed 4/27/2007.

Pennsylvania Geological Society. 2007. Pennpilot Historical Aerial Photo Library,www.pennpilot.psu.edu, accessed January 2007.

Toll, Jean Barth and Michael J. Schwager. 1983. Montgomery County, The Second Hundred Years. 2 vols. Montgomery County Federation of Historical Societies, Norristown, PA.


APPENDIX 2.A

Mill Hill Plant List

Common Name Scientifi c Name Family N/IPNHPStatus

Aquatic Plants

Broad-leaved water-plantain Alisma subcordatum Alismataceae N N

Bur-reed Sparganium americanum Sparganiaceae N N

Duckweed Lemna minor Araceae N N

Marsh-purslane Ludwigia palustris Onagraceae N N

Pointed water-meal Wolffi a brasiliensis Araceae N N

Spatterdock Nuphar advena Nymphaeaceae N N

Wapato Sagittaria latifolia var. latifolia Alismataceae N N

Ferns and Other Spore-Bearing Plants

Broad beech fern Phegopteris hexagonoptera Polypodiaceae N N

Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides Polypodiaceae N N

Common polypody Polypodium virginianum Polypodiaceae N N

Ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron Polypodiaceae N N

Field horsetail Equisetum arvense Equisetaceae N N

Fragile fern Cystopteris fragilis Polypodiaceae N N

Hairy lip fern Cheilanthes lanosa Polypodiaceae N N

Hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula Polypodiaceae N N

Lady fern Athyrium fi lix-femina Polypodiaceae N N

Marginal wood fern Dryopteris marginalis Polypodiaceae N N

Marsh fern Thelypteris palustris Polypodiaceae N N

New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis Polypodiaceae N N

Rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Ophioglossaceae N N

Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis Polypodiaceae N N

Shining fi rmoss Huperzia lucidula Lycopodiaceae N N

Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes

Barnyard-grass Echinochloa crusgalli var. crusgalli Poaceae I N

Bottlebrush-grass Elymus hystrix Poaceae N N

Brachyelytrum Brachyelytrum erectum Poaceae N N

Broom sedge Carex scoparia Cyperaceae N N

Bulrush Scirpus georgianus Cyperaceae N N

Canada bluegrass Poa compressa Poaceae I N

Creeping muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera Poaceae N N

Cutgrass Leersia virginica Poaceae N N

Deer-tongue grass Dichanthelium clandestinum Poaceae N N

False nutsedge Cyperus strigosus Cyperaceae N N

Fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus Poaceae I N

Field woodrush Luzula multifl ora Juncaceae N N

Fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata Poaceae N N

Grass Arthraxon hispidus Poaceae I N

Hairy chess Bromus commutatus Poaceae I N

Japanese chess Bromus japonicus Poaceae I N

Japanese stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum Poaceae I N


Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium Poaceae N N

Muhly Muhlenbergia tenuifl ora Poaceae N N

Nodding fescue Festuca obtusa Poaceae N N

Panic grass Dichanthelium acuminatum Poaceae N N

Panic grass Dichanthelium linearifolium Poaceae N N

Path rush Juncus tenuis var. tenuis Juncaceae N N

Reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea Poaceae N N

Rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides Poaceae N N

Ricegrass Piptatherum racemosum Poaceae N N

Rough bluegrass Poa trivialis Poaceae I N

Sedge Carex albicans Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex amphibola Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex appalachica Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex cephalophora Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex cristatella Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex digitalis Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex gracilescens Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex gracillima Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex hirsutella Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex laxiculmis var. laxiculmis Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex laxifl ora Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex lurida Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex pensylvanica Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex prasina Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex radiata Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex rosea Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex sparganioides Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex squarrosa Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex stipata var. stipata Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex tribuloides var. tribuloides Cyperaceae N N

Sedge Carex vulpinoidea Cyperaceae N N

Short hair sedge Carex crinita var. crinita Cyperaceae N N

Soft rush Juncus effusus Juncaceae N N

Spike-rush Eleocharis tenuis var. tenuis Cyperaceae N N

Sweet vernalgrass Anthoxanthum odoratum Poaceae I N

Tussock sedge Carex stricta Cyperaceae N N

Virginia wild-rye Elymus virginicus Poaceae N N

Wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa Poaceae N N

Wood reedgrass Cinna arundinacea Poaceae N N

Wood reedgrass Cinna arundinacea Poaceae N N

Wool-grass Scirpus cyperinus Cyperaceae N N

Wildfl owers

Adam’s needle Yucca fl accida Agavaceae I N

Allegheny monkey-fl ower Mimulus ringens Phrymaceae N N

Allegheny-vine Adlumia fungosa Papaveraceae N N

Alum-root Heuchera americana Saxifragaceae N N

American dog violet Viola labradorica Violaceae N N


American pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides Lamiaceae N N

Anise root Osmorhiza longistylis Apiaceae N N

Asiatic dayfl ower Commelina communis Commelinaceae I N

Autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza Orchidaceae N N

Bedstraw Galium aparine Rubiaceae N N

Beggar’s-lice Hackelia virginiana Boraginaceae N N

Bellwort Uvularia perfoliata Colchicaceae N N

Bishop’s-cap Mitella diphylla Saxifragaceae N N

Bitter dock Rumex obtusifolius Polygonaceae I N

Bittercress Cardamine bulbosa Brassicaceae N N

Black nightshade Solanum americanum Solanaceae N N

Black snakeroot Actaea racemosa Ranunculaceae N N

Black-eyed-susan Rudbeckia hirta var. hirta Asteraceae N N

Bladder campion Silene vulgaris Caryophyllaceae I N

Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis Papaveraceae N N

Blue marsh violet Viola cucullata Violaceae N N

Blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium Asteraceae N N

Blue-eyed-grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Iridaceae N N

Bluestem goldenrod Solidago caesia Asteraceae N N

Bluets Houstonia caerulea Rubiaceae N N

Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum Asteraceae N N

Bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus Cucurbitaceae N N

Bur-marigold Bidens cernua Asteraceae N N

Bush-clover Lespedeza hirta Fabaceae N N

Bush-clover Lespedeza intermedia Fabaceae N N

Bushy knapweed Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos Asteraceae I N

Calico aster Symphyotrichum laterifl orum Asteraceae N N

Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis var. canadensis Asteraceae N N

Canadian sanicle Sanicula canadensis Apiaceae N N

Carrion-fl ower Smilax herbacea Smilacaceae N N

Clearweed Pilea pumila Urticaceae N N

Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Asteraceae I N

Common blue violet Viola sororia Violaceae N N

Common dandelion Taraxacum offi cinale Asteraceae I N

Common dittany Cunila origanoides Lamiaceae N N

Common dodder Cuscuta gronovii Convolvulaceae N N

Common milkweed Asclepias syriaca Apocynaceae N N

Common mullein Verbascum thapsus Scrophulariaceae I N

Common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia Asteraceae N N

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium Asteraceae I N

Common yellow wood-sorrell Oxalis stricta Oxalidaceae N N

Creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens Ranunculaceae I N

Creeping-charlie Lysimachia nummularia Myrsinaceae I N

Crown-vetch Coronilla varia Fabaceae I N

Cutleaf conefl ower Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata Asteraceae N N

Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus Alliaceae I N

Daisy fl eabane Erigeron philadelphicus Asteraceae N N


Dame’s-rocket Hesperis matronalis Brassicaceae I N

Doll’s-eyes Actaea pachypoda Ranunculaceae N N

Dotted smartweed Persicaria puntata Polygonaceae N N

Downy agrimony Agrimonia pubescens Rosaceae N N

Downy yellow violet Viola pubescens var. pubescens Violaceae N N

Downy yellow violet Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula Violaceae N N

Dwarf dandelion Krigia virginica Asteraceae N N

Early wintercress Barbarea verna Brassicaceae I N

Elm-leaved goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia var. ulmifolia Asteraceae N N

Enchanter’s-nightshade Circaea canadensis ssp. canadensis Onagraceae N N

Evening-primrose Oenothera biennis Onagraceae N N

False loosestrife Ludwigia alternifolia Onagraceae N N

False nettle Boehmeria cylindrica var. cylindrica Urticaceae N N

False Solomon’s-seal Maianthemum racemosum Ruscaceae N N

False-mermaid Floerkea proserpinacoides Limnanthaceae N N

Field garlic Allium vineale Alliaceae I N

Forest lousewort Pedicularis canadensis Orobanchaceae N N

Forked chickweed Paronychia canadensis Caryophyllaceae N N

Fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata Myrsinaceae N N

Garden orpine Sedum x alboroseum Crassulaceae I N

Garlic-mustard Alliaria petiolata Brassicaceae I N

Gill-over-the-ground Glechoma hederacea Lamiaceae I N

Golden ragwort Packera aurea Asteraceae N N

Golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum Saxifragaceae N N

Grass-leaved goldenrod Euthamia graminifolia Asteraceae N N

Great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Campanulaceae N N

Great chickweed Stellaria pubera Caryophyllaceae N N

Great nettle Urtica dioica ssp. dioica Urticaceae I N

Hairy bittercress Cardamine hirsuta Brassicaceae I N

Hairy buttercup Ranunculus hispidus var. hispidus Ranunculaceae N N

Halberd-leaf tearthumb Persicaria arifolia Polygonaceae N N

Heath aster Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pilosum Asteraceae N N

Hog-peanut Amphicarpaea bracteata Fabaceae N N

Honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis Apiaceae N N

Hooked crowfoot Ranunculus recurvatus Ranunculaceae N N

Horse-balm Collinsonia canadensis Lamiaceae N N

Indian strawberry Duchesnea indica Rosaceae I N

Indian-hemp Apocynum cannabinum Apocynaceae N N

Indian-pipe Monotropa unifl ora Ericaceae N N

Jewelweed Impatiens capensis Balsaminaceae N N

Joe-pye-weed Eutrochium fi stulosum Asteraceae N N

Joe-pye-weed Eutrochium purpureum Asteraceae N N

Jumpseed Persicaria virginiana Polygonaceae N N

King-devil Hieracium caespitosum Asteraceae I N

Lesser celandine Ranunculus fi caria Ranunculaceae I N

Liverleaf Anemone americana Ranunculaceae N N

Lopseed Phryma leptostachya Phrymaceae N N


Low smartweed Persicaria longiseta Polygonaceae I N

Marsh buttercup Ranunculus hispidus var. caricetorum Ranunculaceae N N

Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum Berberidaceae N N

Meadow closed gentian Gentiana clausa Gentianaceae N N

Naked-fl owered tick-trefoil Desmodium nudifl orum Fabaceae N N

New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis Asteraceae N N

Northern wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella Oxalidaceae N N

Old-fi eld cinquefoil Potentilla simplex Rosaceae N N

Orange day-lily Hemerocallis fulva Hemerocallidaceae I N

Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Asteraceae I N

Ox-tongue Picris hieracioides Asteraceae I N

Panicled asterSymphyotrichum lanceolatum ssp.lanceolatum var. lanceolatum

Asteraceae N N

Partridge-berry Mitchella repens Rubiaceae N N

Pinweed Lechea pulchella Cistaceae N N

Pipsissewa Chimaphila maculata Ericaceae N N

Pokeweed Phytolacca americana Phytolaccaceae N N

Purple dead-nettle Lamium purpureum Lamiaceae I N

Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Lythraceae I N

Purple-leaved willow-herb Epilobium coloratum Onagraceae N N

Purple-stemmed aster Symphyotrichum puniceum Asteraceae N N

Puttyroot Aplectrum hyemale Orchidaceae N PR

Rattlesnake-root Prenanthes altissima Asteraceae N N

Rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens Papaveraceae N N

Rose-mallow Hibiscus moscheutos Malvaceae N N

Round-leaved tick-trefoil Desmodium rotundifolium Fabaceae N N

Rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides Ranunculaceae N N

Shinleaf Pyrola elliptica Ericaceae N N

Showy orchis Galearis spectabilis Orchidaceae N N

Silver-rod Solidago bicolor Asteraceae N N

Skunk-cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Araceae N N

Slender false-foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia Orobanchaceae N N

Slender knotweed Polygonum tenue Polygonaceae N N

Slender mercury Acalypha gracilens Euphorbiaceae N N

Smooth goldenrod Solidago gigantea var. gigantea Asteraceae N N

Solomon’s-seal Polygonatum pubescens Ruscaceae N N

Southern agrimony Agrimonia parvifl ora Rosaceae N N

Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata Asteraceae N N

Spotted St. John’s-wort Hypericum punctatum Hypericaceae N N

Spring-beauty Claytonia virginica Portulacaceae N N

Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum Hyacinthaceae I N

Starry campion Silene stellata Caryophyllaceae N N

Sundrops Oenothera fruticosa ssp. fruticosa Onagraceae N N

Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata Apocynaceae N N

Swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica Saxifragaceae N N

Sweet wormwood Artemisia annua Asteraceae I N

Sweet-cicely Osmorhiza claytonii Apiaceae N N

Sweet-scented bedstraw Galium trifl orum Rubiaceae N N


Tall anemone Anemone virginiana Ranunculaceae N N

Tall meadow-rue Thalictrum pubescens Ranunculaceae N N

Tall white beard-tongue Penstemon digitalis Plantaginaceae N N

Tearthumb Persicaria sagittata Polygonaceae N N

Three-lobed conefl ower Rudbeckia triloba var. triloba Asteraceae N N

Tick-trefoil Desmodium paniculatum Fabaceae N N

Toothwort Cardamine concatenata Brassicaceae N N

Trailing nightshade Solanum dulcamara var. dulcamara Solanaceae I N

Turtlehead Chelone glabra Plantaginaceae N N

Two-leaved toothwort Cardamine diphylla Brassicaceae N N

Venus’s looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata var. perfoliata Campanulaceae N N

Virginia ground-cherry Physalis virginiana Solanaceae N TU

Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria Aristolochiaceae N N

Virginia waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum Boraginaceae N N

Virgin’s-bower Clematis virginiana Ranunculaceae N N

White avens Geum canadense Rosaceae N N

White bedstraw Galium mollugo Rubiaceae I N

White vervain Verbena urticifolia var. urticifolia Verbenaceae N N

White wood aster Eurybia divaricata Asteraceae N N

White-snakeroot Ageratina altissima var. altissima Asteraceae N N

Whorled loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia Myrsinaceae N N

Wild columbine Aquilegia canadensis Ranunculaceae N N

Wild lettuce Lactuca canadensis Asteraceae N N

Wild licorice Galium circaezans var. circaezans Rubiaceae N N

Wild licorice Galium lanceolatum Rubiaceae N N

Wild onion Allium canadense Alliaceae N N

Wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis Araliaceae N N

Wild strawberry Fragaria virginiana Rosaceae N N

Wild yam Dioscorea villosa Dioscoreaceae N N

Wild-coffee Triosteum aurantiacum Caprifoliaceae N N

Wild-ginger Asarum canadense Aristolochiaceae N N

Wood geranium Geranium maculatum Geraniaceae N N

Woodland goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum Amaranthaceae N N

Wood-nettle Laportea canadensis Urticaceae N N

Wrinkle-leaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa ssp. rugosa var. rugosa Asteraceae N N

Yellow star-grass Hypoxis hirsuta Hypoxidaceae N N

Yellow sweet-clover Melilotus offi cinalis Fabaceae I N

Yellow trout-lily Erythronium americanum Liliaceae N N

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines

Alternate-leaved dogwood Cornus alternifolia Cornaceae N N

American beech Fagus grandifolia Fagaceae N N

American chestnut Castanea dentata Fagaceae N N

American elder Sambucus canadensis Adoxaceae N N

American fi lbert Corylus americana Betulaceae N N

Autumn-olive Elaeagnus umbellata Elaeagnaceae I N

Basswood Tilia americana var. americana Malvaceae N N

Beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta Betulaceae N N


Bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis Juglandaceae N N

Black ash Fraxinus nigra Oleaceae N N

Black birch Betula lenta Betulaceae N N

Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia Fabaceae N N

Black oak Quercus velutina Fagaceae N N

Black walnut Juglans nigra Juglandaceae N N

Black willow Salix nigra Salicaceae N N

Blackberry Rubus pensilvanicus Rosaceae N N

Black-cap Rubus occidentalis Rosaceae N N

Black-haw Viburnum prunifolium Adoxaceae N N

Bladdernut Staphylea trifolia Staphyleaceae N N

Box-elder Acer negundo Sapindaceae N N

Bristly greenbrier Smilax hispida Smilacaceae N N

Butternut Juglans cinerea Juglandaceae N N

Callery pear Pyrus calleryana Rosaceae I N

Canada hemlock Tsuga canadensis Pinaceae N N

Catbrier Smilax glauca Smilacaceae N N

Catbrier Smilax rotundifolia Smilacaceae N N

Chestnut oak Quercus montana Fagaceae N N

Choke cherry Prunus virginiana Rosaceae N N

Cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli Rosaceae N N

Common blackberry Rubus allegheniensis Rosaceae N N

Diamond willow Salix eriocephala Salicaceae N N

Eastern red-cedar Juniperus virginiana Cupressaceae N N

Eastern white pine Pinus strobus Pinaceae N N

Empress-tree Paulownia tomentosa Paulowniaceae I N

Fanleaf hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma Rosaceae N N

Flowering dogwood Cornus fl orida Cornaceae N N

Frost grape Vitis riparia Vitaceae N N

Frost grape Vitis vulpina Vitaceae N N

Gray dogwood Cornus racemosa Cornaceae N N

Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Ericaceae N N

Hop-hornbeam Ostrya virginiana Betulaceae N N

Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Betulaceae N N

Japanese angelica-tree Aralia elata Araliaceae I N

Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii Berberidaceae I N

Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Caprifoliaceae I N

Japanese pieris Pieris japonica Ericaceae I N

Maple-leaved viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Adoxaceae N N

Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa Juglandaceae N N

Moonseed Menispermum canadense Menispermaceae N N

Morrow’s honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii Caprifoliaceae I N

Multifl ora rose Rosa multifl ora Rosaceae I N

Northern arrow-wood Viburnum recognitum Adoxaceae N N

Northern red oak Quercus rubra Fagaceae N N

Norway maple Acer platanoides Sapindaceae I N

Norway spruce Picea abies Pinaceae I N


Obtuse-leaved privet Ligustrum obtusifolium Oleaceae I N

Pasture rose Rosa carolina Rosaceae N N

Pawpaw Asimina triloba Annonaceae N N

Pignut hickory Carya glabra Juglandaceae N N

Pinxter-fl ower Rhododendron periclymenoides Ericaceae N N

Poison-ivy Toxicodendron radicans Anacardiaceae N N

Purple-fl owering raspberry Rubus odoratus Rosaceae N N

Pussy willow Salix discolor Salicaceae N N

Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Salicaceae N N

Red ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Oleaceae N N

Red elm Ulmus rubra Ulmaceae N N

Red maple Acer rubrum Sapindaceae N N

Redbud Cercis canadensis Fabaceae N N

Sassafras Sassafras albidum Lauraceae N N

Shadbush Amelanchier arborea Rosaceae N N

Shagbark hickory Carya ovata Juglandaceae N N

Silky dogwood, kinnikinik Cornus amomum ssp. amomum Cornaceae N N

Smooth alder Alnus serrulata Betulaceae N N

Smooth sumac Rhus glabra Anacardiaceae N N

Sourgum Nyssa sylvatica Nyssaceae N N

Spicebush Lindera benzoin Lauraceae N N

Sugar maple Acer saccharum Sapindaceae N N

Summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vitaceae N N

Swamp rose Rosa palustris Rosaceae N N

Sweet cherry Prunus avium Rosaceae I N

Sycamore Platanus occidentalis Platanaceae N N

Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima Simaroubaceae I N

Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Magnoliaceae N N

Virginia-creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vitaceae N N

White ash Fraxinus americana var. americana Oleaceae N N

White mulberry Morus alba Moraceae I N

White oak Quercus alba Fagaceae N N

Wild black cherry Prunus serotina Rosaceae N N

Wineberry Rubus phoenicolasius Rosaceae I N

Winged euonymous Euonymus alatus Celastraceae I N

Winterberry Ilex verticillata Aquifoliaceae N N

Witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana Hamamelidaceae N N


APPENDIX 2.B

Mill Hill Vegetation Transects 11/07/06

Transect 1 Mid-Slope Transect 2 Ridge Top Transect 3 Lower Slope

Trees RIV Trees RIV Trees RIV

Liriodendron tulipifera 0.304139 Betula lenta 0.222896 Betula lenta 0.187934

Carya tomentosa 0.140305 Quercus rubra 0.162231 Liriodendron tulipifera 0.170417

Quercus alba 0.105824 Acer rubrum 0.117943 Quercus alba 0.112073

Quercus velutina 0.091702 Acer saccharum 0.107445 Fagus grandifolia 0.098265

Carya cordiformis 0.076716 Fraxinus americana 0.069941 Quercus rubra 0.091219

Acer saccharum 0.060423 Quercus montana 0.060755 Fraxinus americana 0.076962

Betula lenta 0.060275 Carya tomentosa 0.047137 Nyssa sylvatica 0.054504

Nyssa sylvatica 0.029676 Prunus serotina 0.046409 Quercus montana 0.050257

Acer rubrum 0.02853 Carya glabra 0.033971 Acer platanoides 0.048704

Fraxinus americana 0.026666 Liriodendron tulipifera 0.028429 Ostrya virginiana 0.047802

Carya ovata 0.026024 Ostrya virginiana 0.028286 Acer saccharum 0.033073

Amelanchier arborea 0.025495 Carya ovata 0.025642 Carya cordiformis 0.028785

Quercus montana 0.024226 Amelanchier arborea 0.024502

Carpinus caroliniana 0.024411

Saplings and Shrubs RIV Saplings and Shrubs RIV Saplings and Shrubs RIV

Acer saccharum 0.262286 Viburnum recognitum 0.168523 Ostrya virginiana 0.128019

Fraxinus americana 0.118056 Viburnum acerifolium 0.167816 Hamamelis virginiana 0.109501

Carya cordiformis 0.094017 Acer saccharum 0.103006 Carpinus caroliniana 0.099034

Nyssa sylvatica 0.076211 Carya cordiformis 0.064545 Fagus grandifolia 0.084541

Acer rubrum 0.056268 Fraxinus americana 0.05756 Acer saccharum 0.07649

Ulmus sp. 0.056268 Ostrya virginiana 0.045447 Lindera benzoin 0.073269

Viburnum prunifolium 0.056268 Rosa multifl ora 0.045447 Viburnum prunifolium 0.066023

Lindera benzoin 0.037749 Amelanchier arborea 0.044739 Carya cordiformis 0.066023

Acer platanoides 0.028134 Toxicodendron radicans 0.044739 Rosa multifl ora 0.040258

Fagus grandifolia 0.028134 Ulmus sp. 0.042175 Fraxinus americana 0.040258

Betula lenta 0.023326 Carya glabra 0.039611 Acer platanoides 0.040258

Cornus fl orida 0.023326 Hamamelis virginiana 0.030062 Viburnum acerifolium 0.033011

Ligustrum obtusifolium 0.023326 Rubus phoenicolasius 0.024934 Staphylea trifolia 0.033011

Liriodendron tulipifera 0.023326 Sassafras albidum 0.02237 Castanea dentata 0.033011

Ostrya virginiana 0.023326 Acer platanoides 0.019805 Prunus serotina 0.025765

Prunus avium 0.023326 Fagus grandifolia 0.019805 Cornus fl orida 0.025765

Prunus serotina 0.023326 Quercus montana 0.019805 Carya sp. (ovata?) 0.025765

Vitis sp. 0.023326 Quercus rubra 0.019805

Vitis sp. 0.019805

Seedlings RIV Seedlings RIV Seedlings RIV

Acer saccharum 0.208937 Viburnum acerifolium 0.323529 Acer saccharum 0.254011

Carya cordiformis 0.14694 Toxicodendron radicans 0.220588 Carya cordiformis 0.231283

unknowns 0.128422 Fraxinus americana 0.147059 Ostrya virginiana 0.074866

Viburnum acerifolium 0.127214 Parthenocissus quinquefolia 0.088235 Viburnum acerifolium 0.074866

Acer rubrum 0.117552 Acer saccharum 0.044118 Acer platanoides 0.052139

Ulmus sp. 0.094605 Ostrya virginiana 0.044118 Fraxinus americana 0.052139

Fraxinus americana 0.088164 Quercus rubra 0.044118 Hamamelis virginiana 0.052139

Prunus serotina 0.058776 Rubus sp. 0.044118 Lindera benzoin 0.052139

Nyssa sylvatica 0.029388 Tilia americana 0.044118 Prunus serotina 0.052139

Rosa multifl ora 0.052139

Staphylea trifolia 0.052139

chapter 2 mill hill/deep creek conservation landscape

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