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CEGL004417 Betula alleghaniensis - Acer saccharum - Aesculus flava / Acer pensylvanicum / Trillium undulatum Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Yellow Birch - Sugar Maple - Yellow Buckeye / Striped Maple / Painted Trillium Forest
Colloquial Name: Cumberland Mountains High-Elevation Hardwood Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a northern hardwoods forest of eastern Kentucky and adjacent Virginia, found only on Black Mountain, the highest elevation in Kentucky. The canopy has several codominants, including Acer saccharum, Aesculus flava, Betula alleghaniensis, Prunus serotina var. serotina, and Tilia americana var. heterophylla with lesser amounts of Carya sp., Fagus grandifolia, Magnolia acuminata, Magnolia fraseri, and Quercus rubra. This association has a very lush herb layer developed on deep soils over level bedded sandstone, shale, and coal, including many species typical of rich forests in the region, such as Caulophyllum thalictroides, Laportea canadensis, Maianthemum racemosum, and Trillium grandiflorum. However, the species that are characteristic of this type include Angelica triquinata, Carex appalachica, Carex leptonervia, Carex roanensis, Eutrochium steelei, Lilium superbum, Maianthemum canadense, Veratrum parviflorum, Platanthera psycodes, Solidago curtisii, Solidago puberula, Solidago roanensis, Streptopus lanceolatus, and Trillium undulatum. This association as defined is presently known only from Kentucky and Virginia, where it is apparently restricted to the highest elevations of Black Mountain (from around 900-1275 m [3000-4185 feet], extending lower on north- and east-facing slopes, and slightly higher on west- and south-facing slopes) in the Cumberland Mountains of the extreme southeastern part Kentucky.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The floristically related ~Betula alleghaniensis - Fagus grandifolia / Viburnum lantanoides / Eurybia chlorolepis - Dryopteris intermedia Forest (CEGL007285)$$ is the "typic" northern hardwoods forest of the Southern Appalachians, to which this type (CEGL004417) is clearly related, but CEGL004417 is found at lower elevations and with different herbaceous components. It also lacks several abundant and diagnostic species of CEGL007285, e.g., Eurybia chlorolepis and Ageratina altissima var. roanensis.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy of this type has several codominants, including Acer saccharum, Aesculus flava, Betula alleghaniensis, Prunus serotina var. serotina, and Tilia americana var. heterophylla with lesser amounts of Carya sp., Fagus grandifolia, Magnolia acuminata, Magnolia fraseri, and Quercus rubra. This association has a very lush herb layer developed on deep soils over level bedded sandstone, shale, and coal, including many species typical for rich forests in the region, such as Caulophyllum thalictroides, Laportea canadensis, Maianthemum racemosum, and Trillium grandiflorum. Additional species characteristic of this type include Acer spicatum, Cornus alternifolia, Pyrularia pubera, Ilex montana, and Viburnum lantanoides (Jones 2005), as well as the herbs Angelica triquinata, Carex appalachica, Carex leptonervia, Carex roanensis, Eutrochium steelei (= Eupatorium steelei), Lilium superbum, Maianthemum canadense, Veratrum parviflorum, Platanthera psycodes, Solidago curtisii, Solidago puberula, Solidago roanensis, Streptopus lanceolatus (= Streptopus roseus), and Trillium undulatum (Evans et al. 2009). In Kentucky, Viburnum lantanoides and Acer spicatum are restricted to this forest type.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association as defined is presently known only from Kentucky and adjacent Virginia, where it is apparently restricted to the highest elevations of Black Mountain (from around 900-1275 m [3000-4185 feet], extending lower on north- and east-facing slopes, and slightly higher on west- and south-facing slopes) in the Cumberland Mountains of the extreme southeastern part Kentucky.
Geographic Range: This is a very narrowly distributed type as defined (above 900 m [3000 feet] on Black Mountain of Kentucky and adjacent Virginia).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: KY, TV, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685446
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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 | CEGL004417 Yellow Birch - Sugar Maple - Yellow Buckeye / Striped Maple / Painted Trillium Forest | CEGL004417 | 1.B.2.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Braun, E. L. 1936. Forests of the Illinoian till plain of southwestern Ohio. Ecological Monographs 6:90-149.
- Braun, E. L. 1950. Deciduous forests of eastern North America. Hafner Press, New York. 596 pp.
- Davis, W. H., and R. W. Barbour. 1978. Kentucky''s high country: A biological treasure. Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science 39:138-141.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Fleming, Gary P. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.
- Hines, Martina. Personal communication. Ecologist, Kentucky Natural Heritage Program, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort.
- Jones, R. L. 2005. Plant life of Kentucky: An illustrated guide to the vascular flora. University of Kentucky Press, Lexington. 856 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.