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CEGL006130 Fagus grandifolia / Carex pensylvanica - Ageratina altissima var. roanensis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech / Pennsylvania Sedge - Appalachian White Snakeroot Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Beech Gap
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community includes forest vegetation with short-statured canopies dominated by Fagus grandifolia and occurring in the high-elevation landscapes of the Southern Appalachians. On drier sites, such as south slopes, the association is expressed as the classic "beech gap "having a dense, graminoid-dominated herbaceous stratum. On more mesic sites, such as north slopes, the community is thought to be more similar to northern hardwood forests, having a more diverse canopy and subcanopy, occurring over a field stratum that is a mixture of coarse forbs, ferns and sedges. This forest association typically occurs on concave slopes, in gaps, flat ridgetops, or upper slopes of all aspects, at elevations of greater than 1370 m (4500 feet). It is found in scattered sites on high elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee and possibly Georgia. This community is a broad-leaved deciduous forest with a canopy dominated by stunted, sometimes gnarled Fagus grandifolia, sometimes with lesser amounts of Halesia tetraptera var. monticola or Aesculus flava and Betula alleghaniensis. The subcanopy, if present, may include small stems of canopy species as well as Acer spicatum, Acer pensylvanicum, Amelanchier laevis, and Sorbus americana. Typically there is little shrub development (0-10%) with such species as Crataegus punctata, Ribes spp., Viburnum lantanoides, Rubus canadensis, Hydrangea arborescens, and Cornus alternifolia. Herbaceous cover can vary from dense, often approaching 100% coverage by species of Carex including Carex aestivalis, Carex brunnescens, Carex debilis, Carex intumescens, and Carex pensylvanica, to moderately dense (40-60% cover) and dominated by large herbs and patches of ferns, with lesser amounts of sedges. Other herbaceous species in this community are typical of rich Southern Appalachian forests and may include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Anemone quinquefolia, Arisaema triphyllum, Eurybia chlorolepis, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Actaea racemosa, Dryopteris campyloptera, Epifagus virginiana, Impatiens pallida, Medeola virginiana, Oxalis montana, Laportea canadensis, Luzula acuminata, Phacelia bipinnatifida, Poa alsodes, Prenanthes altissima, Prenanthes roanensis, Stellaria pubera, Thelypteris noveboracensis, and Trillium erectum. This community commonly occurs as small patches surrounded by other forest types, montane grasslands and shrublands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community includes forest vegetation with short-statured canopies dominated by Fagus grandifolia and occurring in the high-elevation landscapes of the Southern Appalachians. On drier sites, such as south slopes, the association is expressed as the classic "beech gap "having a dense, graminoid-dominated herbaceous stratum On more mesic sites, such as north slopes, the community is thought to be more similar to northern hardwood forests, having a more diverse canopy and subcanopy, occurring over a field stratum that is a mixture of coarse forbs, ferns and sedges. This community is thought to be limited to the range of Picea rubens and Abies fraseri (Whittaker 1956).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is a broad-leaved deciduous forest with a canopy dominated by stunted, sometimes gnarled Fagus grandifolia sometimes with lesser amounts of Halesia tetraptera var. monticola or Aesculus flava and Betula alleghaniensis. The subcanopy, if present, may include small stems of canopy species as well as Acer spicatum, Acer pensylvanicum, Amelanchier laevis, and Sorbus americana. Typically there is little shrub development (0-10%) with such species as Crataegus punctata, Ribes spp., Viburnum lantanoides, Rubus canadensis, Hydrangea arborescens, and Cornus alternifolia. Herbaceous cover can vary from dense, often approaching 100% coverage by species of Carex including Carex aestivalis, Carex brunnescens, Carex debilis, Carex intumescens, and Carex pensylvanica to moderately dense (40-60% cover) and dominated by large herbs and patches of ferns, with lesser amounts of sedges (Whittaker 1956, Crandall 1958, Bratton 1975). Other herbaceous species in this community are typical of rich Southern Appalachian forests and may include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Anemone quinquefolia, Arisaema triphyllum, Eurybia chlorolepis (= Aster chlorolepis), Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Dryopteris campyloptera, Epifagus virginiana, Impatiens pallida, Medeola virginiana, Oxalis montana, Laportea canadensis, Luzula acuminata, Phacelia bipinnatifida, Poa alsodes, Prenanthes altissima, Prenanthes roanensis, Stellaria pubera, Thelypteris noveboracensis, and Trillium erectum (Whittaker 1956, Crandall 1958, Schafale and Weakley 1990).
Dynamics: Extreme exposure to wind and storms contribute to the high number of wind-blown trees and the stunted nature of the canopy. Frequent damage caused by wind and ice create gaps in the canopy. The origin and maintenance of this community has been debated by ecologists. It has been proposed that beech gaps became established during warmer climates of 7000-900 BC, and that they were once more extensive than today (Flint 1957 in Schofield 1960). Russell (1953) concluded that cold and high winds were responsible for the occurrence of these forests. Fuller (1977) suggested that the allelopathic effects of beech litter may be a factor in maintaining this community. Due to the extreme environment, growth and reproduction of Fagus grandifolia are relatively slow in this mid to late successional community. Despite their small size, canopy trees may be quite old. Although beech nuts may be produced by the larger trees, reproduction of beech appears to be almost entirely vegetative from root or stump sprouts (Russell 1953). Small canopy gaps within this type are commonly invaded by a dense thicket of Rubus canadensis.
Environmental Description: This community typically occurs on concave slopes, in gaps, flat ridgetops, or upper slopes of all aspects, at elevations of greater than 1370 m (4500 feet) (Russell 1953, Whittaker 1956, Crandall 1958). High rainfall and low temperatures create mesic conditions. Strong winds and ice storms periodically damage these forests, creating canopy gaps and contributing to its stunted appearance. This community commonly occurs as small patches surrounded by other forest types, montane grasslands and shrublands. In North Carolina, Burton series (Typic Haplumbrept) soils support the Southern Appalachian Beech Gap (Schafale and Weakley 1990). The soil is generally greater than 20 cm deep. The pH ranges from 4.5-6.0, which is considerably less acidic than the adjacent Red Spruce-Fraser Fir Forests (Russell 1953). Leaf mold is thinner compared to the spruce-fir ecosystems. Also lacking is the accumulation of peat or excessive depth of litter (Russell 1953).
Geographic Range: This community is found in scattered sites on high elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, and Tennessee and possibly Georgia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA?, NC, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684081
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.3 Appalachian-Interior-Northeastern Mesic Forest Macrogroup | M883 | 1.B.2.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.3.b Appalachian-Allegheny Northern Hardwood Forest | G742 | 1.B.2.Na.3.b |
| Alliance | A0266 Yellow Birch - Yellow Buckeye Forest Alliance | A0266 | 1.B.2.Na.3.b |
| Association | CEGL006130 American Beech / Pennsylvania Sedge - Appalachian White Snakeroot Forest | CEGL006130 | 1.B.2.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: CEGL006246 merged into CEGL006130.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Fagus grandifolia / Carex pensylvanica - Ageratina altissima var. roanensis Forest (Fleming and Patterson 2009a)
< IA4d. Southern Appalachian Beech Gap (Allard 1990) [one of two parts]
? Permesotrophic Forest (Rawinski 1992)
< Sugar Maple - Beech - Yellow Birch: 25 (Eyre 1980)
? Sugar Maple-Beech Yellow Birch (81) (USFS 1988)
< IA4d. Southern Appalachian Beech Gap (Allard 1990) [one of two parts]
? Permesotrophic Forest (Rawinski 1992)
< Sugar Maple - Beech - Yellow Birch: 25 (Eyre 1980)
? Sugar Maple-Beech Yellow Birch (81) (USFS 1988)
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