Print Report

CEGL006277 Picea rubens - (Tsuga canadensis) / Rhododendron maximum Swamp Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Spruce - (Eastern Hemlock) / Great Laurel Swamp Forest

Colloquial Name: Swamp Forest - Bog (Spruce Type)

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This spruce-hemlock wetland forest of the central and southern Appalachian Mountains occurs on relatively flat terrain in poorly drained bottomlands of small streams at high elevations (above 1067 m [3500 feet] elevation in the Southern Blue Ridge to above 610 m [2000 feet] in the Central Appalachians). Small patches of this community also occur in the High Alleghany Plateau of Pennsylvania and New York. It historically occurred in Tennessee. Soils are seasonally to semipermanently saturated due to a high water table or seepage from adjacent slopes. The tree canopy is dominated by Picea rubens or mixtures of Picea rubens and Tsuga canadensis. Other tree species that may occur in the canopy or subcanopy include Tsuga canadensis, Betula alleghaniensis, Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Taxus canadensis, and Amelanchier arborea. This forest often has a dense shrub layer dominated by Rhododendron maximum, with other associates often including Kalmia latifolia, Ilex verticillata, Ilex collina, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Aronia melanocarpa, and Vaccinium spp. The herbaceous layer is sparse, with the majority of herbaceous species restricted to openings, and includes Carex trisperma, Carex folliculata, Glyceria melicaria, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, and Maianthemum canadense. Listera smallii, Oclemena acuminata, Huperzia lucidula, and Dryopteris campyloptera are characteristic herbs. The bryophyte layer is of variable cover but is dominated by Sphagnum. The absence of Abies balsamea and the importance of Rhododendron maximum differentiate this forest from ~Picea rubens - Abies balsamea / Gaultheria hispidula / Osmunda cinnamomea / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest (CEGL006312)$$.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community is rare in the Southern Blue Ridge, and remaining examples are in poor condition throughout its range. It is known from the Blue Ridge of North Carolina (Alarka Laurel, Long Hope Valley), and was historic in Tennessee.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This community generally occurs as an open canopy woodland dominated by Picea rubens, with an open to dense shrub layer, interspersed with small, open Sphagnum-herb-dominated depressions. Other tree species that may occur in the canopy or subcanopy include Tsuga canadensis, Betula alleghaniensis, Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Pinus strobus, and Amelanchier arborea. A dense shrub layer, dominated by Kalmia latifolia and Rhododendron maximum or Rhododendron catawbiense, is usually present. Other characteristic shrubs include Ilex verticillata, Ilex collina, Taxus canadensis, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Aronia melanocarpa, and Vaccinium spp. The herbaceous layer is sparse and patchy and generally restricted to openings with plenty of light. Characteristic herbs include Carex trisperma, Carex folliculata, Glyceria melicaria, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Listera smallii, Maianthemum canadense, and Houstonia serpyllifolia. Sphagnum patches may occur scattered beneath the canopy as well as in small depressions. Other nonvascular plants include Bazzania trilobata and Leucobryum glaucum. This community is habitat for species endemic to the Southern Blue Ridge or that have the bulk of their worldwide distribution there, including Rhododendron catawbiense, Ilex collina, Listera smallii, and Houstonia serpyllifolia.

Dynamics:  The factors responsible for creating and maintaining this community are not well known, although beaver activity may play a role. The frequency and role of flooding is not known. This community may represent late successional stage of primary succession from once extensive, open bog areas and will remain in a forest condition unless the canopy is removed by tree blowdown or logging.
Environmental Description:  This community occurs in poorly drained bottomlands of small streams at high elevations: 1300-1400 m (4200-4500 feet) in North Carolina, 770-1150 m (2500-3800 feet) in West Virginia. It also occurs in isolated upland depressions on ridgetops in the High Alleghany Plateau of Pennsylvania and New York. Flooding is rare and soils are seasonally to semipermanently saturated due to a high water table or seepage from adjacent slopes.
Geographic Range: This red spruce wetland forest occurs in small patches in the southern and central Appalachian Mountains north to the High Alleghany Plateau.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MD, NC, NY, PA, TN?, VA, WV


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?

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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F026 1.B.3
Division 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D011 1.B.3.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup M503 1.B.3.Na.2
Group 1.B.3.Na.2.f Red Maple - Blackgum - Green Ash Swamp Forest Group G902 1.B.3.Na.2.f
Alliance A3417 Red Spruce Central Appalachian Swamp Forest Alliance A3417 1.B.3.Na.2.f
Association CEGL006277 Red Spruce - (Eastern Hemlock) / Great Laurel Swamp Forest CEGL006277 1.B.3.Na.2.f
Concept Lineage: Includes CEGL003636, Picea rubens / Ilex collina/ Carex trisperma Woodland per Southern Blue Ridge and Central Appalachians working groups

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea rubens - Tsuga canadensis / Rhododendron maximum / Sphagnum spp. - Bazzania trilobata Forested Swamp (Byers et al. 2007)
? Tsuga canadensis - Picea rubens Forest (Walton et al. 1997)
< High Elevation Saturated Forest (Wichmann 2009)
< IIE1a. Southern Appalachian Bog Complex (Allard 1990)
? Oligotrophic Forest (Rawinski 1992)
? Red Spruce-Northern Hardwoods (17) (USFS 1988)
< Red Spruce: 32 (Eyre 1980)
? Red spruce-hemlock/great laurel swamp (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
= Spruce forest community (Robinette 1966)
= Swamp Forest-Bog Complex (Spruce Subtype) (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
Concept Author(s): E.A. Byers et al. (2007)

Author of Description: M.G. Anderson, K.D. Patterson and E. Largay

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-27-14
  • Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
  • Anderson, L. E. 1990a. A checklist of Sphagnum in North America north of Mexico. The Bryologist 93:500-501.
  • Anderson, L. E., H. A. Crum, and W. R. Buck. 1990. List of mosses of North America north of Mexico. The Bryologist 93:448-499.
  • Byers, E. A., J. P. Vanderhorst, and B. P. Streets. 2007. Classification and conservation assessment of high elevation wetland communities in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Elkins.
  • CAP [Central Appalachian Forest Working Group]. 1998. Central Appalachian Working group discussions. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
  • Eichelberger, B. 2011b. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Red Spruce Palustrine Forest Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=16031] (accessed: February 01, 2012)
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
  • Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
  • 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/]
  • Francl, K. E., W. M. Ford, and S. B. Castleberry. 2004. Characterization of high elevation Central Appalachian wetlands. Research Paper NE-725. USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, Newtown Square, PA. 26 pp.
  • Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
  • Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
  • Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
  • Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, M. Furedi, B. A. Eichelberger, A. Feldmann, G. Edinger, E. Eastman, and L. A. Sneddon. 2008. Vegetation classification and mapping at Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/133. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 370 pp.
  • Rawinski, T. J. 1992. A classification of Virginia''s indigenous biotic communities: Vegetated terrestrial, palustrine, and estuarine community classes. Unpublished document. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report No. 92-21. Richmond, VA. 25 pp.
  • Rawinski, T. J., G. P. Fleming, and F. V. Judge. 1994. Forest vegetation of the Ramsey''s Draft and Little Laurel Run Research Natural Areas, Virginia: Baseline ecological monitoring and classification. Natural Heritage Technical Report 94-14. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 45 pp. plus appendices.
  • Richardson, C. J., and J. W. Gibbons. 1993. Pocosins, Carolina bays, and mountain bogs. Pages 257-310 in: W. H. Martin, S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. Biodiversity of the southeastern United States: Lowland terrestrial communities. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.
  • Robinette, S. L. 1966. Major plant communities of Cranesville Swamp, West Virginia. Arboretum Newsletter 16(1): 1-7.
  • 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.
  • Stotler, R., and B. Crandall-Stotler. 1977. A checklist of liverworts and hornworts of North America. The Bryologist 80:405-428.
  • USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1988. Silvicultural examination and prescription field book. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.
  • WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.
  • Walton, D., N. Putnam, and P. Trianosky. 1997. A classification of the terrestrial plant communities of West Virginia. Second draft. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins, WV.
  • Weakley, A. S., and M. P. Schafale. 1994. Non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Blue Ridge: Diversity in a threatened ecosystem. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 77:359-383.
  • Wichmann, B. 2009. Vegetation of geographically isolated montane non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Masters thesis, North Carolina State, Raleigh. [http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-05152009-120239/unrestricted/etd.pdf]
  • Zimmerman, E. A., T. Davis, M. A. Furedi, B. Eichelberger, J. McPherson, S. Seymour, G. Podniesinski, N. Dewar, and J. Wagner, editors. 2012. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Communities.aspx]