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Plants & Animals > Plant Communities of the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County

Forest Types of Winnebago County

Dry Upland Forest

This community usually can be found with a southern to southwestern exposure on steep ridges, at the crest of river bluffs, and at the edge of dolomite cliffs.  Soils are dry and poorly developed because of steep slopes or because of the presence of bedrock, sand, or gravel at or near the surface.

Dominant Plants: Quercus ellipsoidalis (Hill’s Oak), Quercus macrocarpa (Bur oak), Quercus velutina (Black oak).

Characteristic Plants:     Dicranum scoparium (moss)

Representative Areas:  Atwood Homestead, Roland Olson.

 

Dry Upland Mesic Forest

This community occurs on slopes and sides of ravines.  Soil in this community is intermediate along a soil moisture gradient.  The canopy is usually more open than mesic forests.

 Dominant Plants: Quercus alba (White Oak), Quercus rubra (Red oak), Quercus velutina (Black oak).

Characteristic Plants:     Carya ovate (Shagbark hickory), Ostrya virginiana (Hop hornbeam), Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Viburnum).

Representative Areas:   Blackhawk Springs, Espenscheid Memorial, Fuller Memorial, Hartley Memorial, Headquarters, Hinchliff Memorial, Hononegah, Indian Hills, J. Norman Jensen, Kilbuck, Kishwaukee River, Laona Heights, Macktown, Oak Ridge, Pecatonica Wetlands, Rockford Rotary, Severson Dells, Seward Bluffs, Sugar River Adler, Sugar River, Trailside.

 

Mesic Upland Forest

This community occurs in narrow ravines, on north-facing sides of slopes and larger ravines, and on level ground with moderately high available moisture.  Ideal soil moisture results in a dense canopy and an understory of shade-tolerant plants.

Dominant Plants:   Acer saccharum (Sugar maple), Quercus rubra (Red oak), Tilia americana (Basswood).

Characteristic Plants:     Carpinus caroliniana (Ironwood or Blue beech), Carya cordiformis (Bitternut hickory), Morus rubra (Red mulberry), Staphylea trifolia (Bladdernut).

Representative Areas:   Hononegah, Kishwaukee Gorge North & South, Pecatonica River, Rockford Rotary.

 

Wet Mesic Upland Forest

Poor drainage on level topography causes this community.  Wet mesic upland forest usually is found along seepage areas and along shallow drainageways.  No clear dominance is evident.

Dominant Plants:  Ulmus Americana (American elm), Ulmus rubra (Slippery elm or Red elm), Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry), Quercus macrocarpa (Bur oak).

Characteristic Plants:     Ulmus Americana (American elm), Ulmus rubra (Slippery elm or Red elm), Celtis  occidentalis (Hackberry), Quercus macrocarpa (Bur oak).

Representative Areas:   Pecatonica Wetlands.

 

 

Mesic Floodplain Forest

This community is moderately well drained because of course-textured soils or relatively high elevation.

Dominant Plants: Acer saccharum (Sugar maple), Quercus alba (White Oak), Quercus macrocarpa (Bur oak).

Ulmus americana (American elm), Ulmus rubra (Slippery elm or Red elm), Tilia americana (Basswood).

Characteristic Plants:  Juglans nigra (Black Walnut), Fraxinusa americana (White ash).

Representative Areas:  Clayton Andrews, County Line, Deer Run, Four Lakes, Headquarters, Indian Hills,

  1. Norman Jensen, Pecatonica River, Pecatonica Wetlands, Rockford Rotary, Seward Bluffs, Sugar River.