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CEGL007230 Quercus alba - Quercus (rubra, montana) / Rhododendron calendulaceum - (Gaylussacia ursina) Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - (Northern Red Oak, Chestnut Oak) / Flame Azalea - (Bear Huckleberry) Forest
Colloquial Name: Appalachian Montane Oak - Hickory Forest (Typic Acidic Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These forests occur in a wide elevational range, from 610 to 1372 m (2000-4500 feet), in the Southern Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge/Piedmont transition, and the higher ridges of the Cumberland Mountains and Ridge and Valley in southwestern Virginia. The type occurs generally on deep soils of broad ridgetops, exposed upper slopes and saddles, occurring less frequently on protected lower slopes, bottoms and coves. Stands of this deciduous forest association are dominated or codominated by Quercus alba, occurring with other Quercus species (Quercus rubra, Quercus montana, Quercus coccinea). Associated species are characteristically montane and typical of acidic forests. This association lacks indicators of circumneutral soils and also lacks low-elevation dry-site species such as Pinus echinata, Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, and Quercus marilandica. Species other than oaks that can be important in the canopy include Carya tomentosa, Carya glabra, Carya ovalis, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, and Magnolia fraseri. Common species in the subcanopy/sapling strata include Cornus florida, Acer rubrum, Carya spp., Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia fraseri, Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, Pinus strobus, and Halesia tetraptera. Shrub cover is sparse to very dense and is often dominated by deciduous heaths. Kalmia latifolia and Gaylussacia ursina are usually present, but other shrub species can include Euonymus americanus, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Viburnum acerifolium, Calycanthus floridus, Pyrularia pubera, Ilex montana, Halesia tetraptera, and Hamamelis virginiana. In the northern portion of the range of this association (northwestern North Carolina and southwestern Virginia), Gaylussacia ursina is frequently absent from the shrub layer. Smilax glauca and Vitis rotundifolia are common vines. The herbaceous stratum is sparse to moderate in coverage, but often rich in species, approaching the diversity but not the coverage of rich cove forests. Associated herbaceous species vary with elevation and soil moisture. Often there is a dominant fern stratum, with Thelypteris noveboracensis and Polystichum acrostichoides most typically dominant.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is meant to cover the typical acidic, oak-hickory forests of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a broad concept, and there is potential for subdividing this type by moisture, elevation, or undergrowth. It can be distinguished from ~Quercus montana - (Quercus rubra) - Carya spp. / Oxydendrum arboreum - Cornus florida Forest (CEGL007267)$$ by higher species diversity and the presence of a substantial amount of Quercus alba. Twenty-four plots from Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia were classified as this association in the Appalachian Trail vegetation mapping project (Fleming and Patterson 2009a). In 12 plots from this dataset, species richness ranges from 29 to 115 species per hectare, and averages 59 species per 1000-m2 plot.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopies of stands of this association are dominated or codominated by Quercus alba, occurring with other Quercus species (Quercus rubra, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), Quercus coccinea). Species other than oaks that can be important in the canopy include Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Carya ovalis, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, and Magnolia fraseri. Stands lack indicators of circumneutral soils and also lack low-elevation dry-site species such as Pinus echinata, Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, and Quercus marilandica. Common species in the subcanopy/sapling strata include Cornus florida, Acer rubrum, Carya spp., Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia fraseri, Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, Pinus strobus, and Halesia tetraptera. Shrub cover is sparse to very dense, and is often dominated by deciduous heaths, including Kalmia latifolia and Gaylussacia ursina. Other shrub species can include Euonymus americanus, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Viburnum acerifolium, Calycanthus floridus, Pyrularia pubera, Ilex montana, Halesia tetraptera, and Hamamelis virginiana. Smilax glauca and Vitis rotundifolia are common vines. The herbaceous stratum is sparse to moderate in coverage, but often rich in species, approaching that of rich cove forests (but with a different composition). Associated herbaceous species vary with elevation and soil moisture. Some of the more constant species include Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Dioscorea quaternata, Dichanthelium spp., Carex pensylvanica, Chimaphila maculata, Desmodium nudiflorum, Goodyera pubescens, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, and Trillium catesbaei. Other species include Dichanthelium laxiflorum, Oclemena acuminata (= Aster acuminatus), Eurybia divaricata (= Aster divaricatus), Galax urceolata, Galium latifolium, Lysimachia quadrifolia, Mitchella repens, Viola hastata, Uvularia puberula, Polygonatum biflorum, Solidago curtisii, Convallaria majuscula, and Veratrum parviflorum (= Melanthium parviflorum). Often there is a dominant fern stratum, with Thelypteris noveboracensis and Polystichum acrostichoides most typically dominant. Other ferns include Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, and Dryopteris intermedia.
Dynamics: Like many contemporary eastern oak forests, stands of this type in Virginia typically exhibit poor oak recruitment and an understory of Acer rubrum and other shade-tolerant mesophytic trees. This condition is generally considered symptomatic of long-term fire exclusion.
Environmental Description: These forests occur in a wide elevational range, from 610 to 1370 m (2000-4500 feet), in the Southern Blue Ridge, the Blue Ridge/Piedmont transition, and the higher ridges of the Cumberland Mountains and Ridge and Valley in southwestern Virginia. The type occurs generally on deep soils of broad ridgetops, exposed upper slopes and saddles, occurring less frequent on protected sites, typically lower slopes, bottoms and coves. Twenty-four plots classified as this type in the Appalachian Trail project have a mean elevation of 1095 m (3592 feet) and occur mostly on convex, southwest-facing upper slopes and crests. Soil samples collected from these plots have a mean pH of 4.4, along with low calcium, magnesium, and total base saturation, and high iron and aluminum.
Geographic Range: This community is found in the Southern Blue Ridge, the Blue Ridge/Piedmont transition, and Central Appalachians of the eastern United States.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, NC, SC, TN, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683502
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.2 Appalachian-Northeastern Oak - Hardwood - Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M502 | 1.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.2.a Chestnut Oak - Hickory species / American Chestnut Forest Group | G015 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A4390 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Quercus montana Forest Alliance | A4390 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL007230 White Oak - (Northern Red Oak, Chestnut Oak) / Flame Azalea - (Bear Huckleberry) Forest | CEGL007230 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus coccinea - Carya (alba / glabra) - Pinus strobus / Cornus florida Forest (Patterson 1994)
< IA6h. Montane Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
< Montane Mixed Oak / Oak - Hickory Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
< IA6h. Montane Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990)
< Montane Mixed Oak / Oak - Hickory Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
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- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009a. A vegetation classification for the Appalachian Trail: Virginia south to Georgia. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. In-house analysis, March 2009.
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009b. Classification of selected Virginia montane wetland groups. In-house analysis, December 2009. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
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- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
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- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- White, Jr., R. D. 2003. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 160 pp.