Leaves (ravine forest): Acer platanoides + Acer pseudoplatanus + Ulmus glabra + Fagus sylvatica (4820' N 1503' E)

Description:

2011-10-23 Lower Austria, district Melk - Ysperklamm (700 msm Quadrant 7656/3).Leaves of the four most common tree species in Ysper valley gorge (ravine forest): which is somewhat untypical for this habitat where (usually) Acer pseudoplatanus and Ulmus glabra (and/or) Ulmus hollandica would dominate. (Of course there would be plenty others present, like e. g. Ulmus laevis, Fraxinus excelsior and many more.)Here, however, it is mainly those four - Norway maple, sycamore maple, Scots maple, and beech even (which is not at all typical for this habitat), interestingly with Acer platanoides even being the most common one.I don't know the reason for this but it could have something to do with the orientation of the valley - it opens to the south (A. platanoides usually prefers more sunny habitats).