Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This needle-leaved evergreen forest has greater than 75% canopy coverage by Abies fraseri, typically with many standing dead stems. Canopy trees are of small diameter (less than 20 cm) and short stature (less than 10 m tall), giving these forests a stunted appearance. Other species that may occur in the canopy or subcanopy with low coverage are Picea rubens, Sorbus americana, Betula alleghaniensis, Prunus pensylvanica, and Acer spicatum. There may be considerable variation in the density of shrub cover, but it is typically low (<20%) and dominated by deciduous species. Typical shrub species include Viburnum lantanoides, Vaccinium erythrocarpum, Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa (= Sambucus racemosa var. pubens), Menziesia pilosa, Rubus allegheniensis, and Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus. Where shrubs are sparse, herb cover is usually dense, with Oxalis montana, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, and Dryopteris campyloptera often dominant. Other common herbs include Oclemena acuminata (= Aster acuminatus), Eurybia chlorolepis (= Aster chlorolepis), Clintonia borealis, Solidago glomerata, Rugelia nudicaulis, Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Chelone lyonii, Circaea alpina ssp. alpina, Streptopus lanceolatus (= Streptopus roseus), Viola macloskeyi ssp. pallens, Geum radiatum, and Huperzia lucidula. Mosses, liverworts, and lichens grow densely on fallen logs, tree trunks, and the forest floor, giving the community a distinctive carpeted appearance. Characteristic bryophyte species include Hylocomium splendens, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, and Hylocomiastrum umbratum.

Dynamics:  This community is affected by debris avalanches, wind disturbance and lightning fire. Because of the shallow soils and extreme wind exposure, this forest is susceptible to large blowdowns. Logging and damage by the balsam woolly adelgid has greatly increased the effect of natural windfall. This community is a late-successional type, but it is subject to repeated disturbance. Prunus pensylvanica is a dominant species immediately following disturbance. In later successional stages, Betula alleghaniensis increases in dominance. An exotic insect, the balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae), invaded the Southern Appalachians in the late 1950s and has drastically altered the last undisturbed remnants of this community. This exotic pest kills mature Abies fraseri within seven years of infestation. Abies fraseri is the only rare plant species associated with this vegetation in Virginia. In areas where mature Abies fraseri has been lost to woolly adelgid infestation, thickets of Rubus spp., Abies fraseri seedlings and saplings, Betula alleghaniensis, and Sorbus americana are dominant. Over time, Picea rubens, Betula alleghaniensis, Abies fraseri, Acer spicatum, and Sorbus americana increase in the tree layer, while Abies fraseri, Menziesia pilosa, Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus, and Sambucus racemosa increase in the shrub layer (White et al. 1993). Succession is especially slow after severe disturbance such as logging and slash fires. The most severely disturbed sites are predominately Prunus pensylvanica and Rubus spp. and may remain in a non-forested stage of succession for 60 years or more.