More info for the terms:
mesic,
shrub,
treeEastern hophornbeam grows on a wide variety of sites but is most common
on dry-mesic and mesic valley bottoms and lower slopes. Best
development occurs on loamy soils in ravines, on lower slopes, and on
well-drained floodplains of major rivers. The lowest slope that it
occupies is determined by its intolerance to flooding [
25,
29,
31]. Soil
pH ranges from 4.2 to 7.6 in the northern half of its range and 4.6 to
5.6 in the southern half . Elevation ranges from 250 to 750 feet
(75-230 m) in Quebec to 5,000 feet (1,520 m) in the southern
Appalachians, but the species is most common at elevations ranging from
2,800 to 3,200 feet (850-980 m) [
2,
23,
41].
Common tree associates include American elm (Ulmus americana), blackgum
(Nyssa sylvatica), sassafras (Sassafras albidium), flowering dogwood
(Cornus florida), hickories (Carya spp.), American holly (Ilex opaca),
and American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana). Shrub associates include
mountain maple (Acer spicatum), roundleaf dogwood (Cornus rugosa), witch
hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), American elder (Sambucus canadensis),
American yew (Taxus canadensis), hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium),
beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), southern bayberry (Myrica cerifera),
and greenbriers (Smilax spp.) [
33,
38,
45].