The vegetation of the Wave Hill natural area

YOST, S. E., S. ANTENEN AND G. HARTVIGSEN (Forest Project, Wave Hill, Bronx, NY 10471). The vegetation of the Wave Hill natural area, Bronx, New York. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 118: 312-325. 1991.-A vegetation survey of the Wave Hill natural area, an urban woodland in the Bronx, NYC, was conducted in 1987. A permanent grid of 10 x 10 meter quadrats was established throughout the three ha natural area. Importance values were calculated in 238 quadrats. The most important arborescent species were Robinia pseudoacacia, Quercus rubra, and Acer platanoides. The most important non-arborescent species were Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, Lonicera maackii, and Alliaria petiolata. Four vegetation associations were recognized: oak-maple, black locust, black birch, and open areas. The high percentage (48%) and importance of non-native species is related to Wave Hill's urban location and land-use history. Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, the most important of the non-arborescent species, is a vine which appears to inhibit the growth of other species in open areas. A list of the 276 species of vascular plants identified is included in an appendix.