Natural Heritage

Vegetation

Parcels at Mount Pleasant include active farmland and abandoned fields that are now meadows, shrub thicket, and forests. The forests include both previously logged forest and nearly undisturbed old-growth forest. Mount Pleasant was nominated for National Landmark status in 1974 based on the quality of its old-growth forest. The mixed deciduous forest is dominated by oaks, red maple, sugar maple, white ash, beech, basswood, and hickories. Understory species include hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana), and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).

Topography and Geology

The north-facing slope is broken by several small streams and ravines. Despite its name, Frost Ravine does not have steep walls, and the gradient of the stream is rather gentle, with occasional rock ledges over which the water flows. In the ravine, there is some exposure of Sonyea group sandstones, shales, and siltstones. Large granite glacial erratics are present.

References

USGS 7.5' Quadrangle Map: Ithaca East