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Abstract
Forest vegetation of some loess bluff ravines in the Jackson Purchase Region of Kentucky was sampled. A total of 27 tree species comprised the mixed mesophytic association with
Acer saccharum,
Fagus grandifolia and
Liquidambar styraciflua as the dominants. This assemblage of species agrees with that reported for the loess bluffs over 100 years ago. Basal area averaged 27.2 m?/ha; density 289.5 trees/ha; and diversity (H') ranged from 3.01-3.52. Species similarity was stronger between the forests of the loess bluffs and those of the Appalachians, but especially the dissected Illinoian till plains, than to adjacent communities on thin loess. Disjuncts from Braun's Mixed Mesophytic Forest Region,
Tilia heterophylla and
Magnolia acuminata, and the composition of loess bluff forests relative to other forests in the Jackson Purchase tend to support the refugial nature of the loess bluff ravines.
Citation
Bryant, William S. 1993. Vegetation of loess bluff ravines in the Jackson Purchase Region of Kentucky. In: Gillespie, Andrew R.; Parker, George R.; Pope, Phillip E.; Rink, George: eds. Proceedings of the 9th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-161. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 281-288
