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CEGL007299 Quercus rubra / (Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron maximum) / Galax urceolata Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Red Oak / (Mountain Laurel, Catawba Rosebay, Great Laurel) / Beetleweed Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian High-Elevation Red Oak Forest (Evergreen Shrub Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community occurs on most of the major mountain ranges of the Southern Appalachians at elevations of 1070-1646 m (3500-5400 feet) on ridges and mid to upper slopes, commonly with southern and southeastern exposures. Outliers occur in the southern part of the Central Appalachians, on the highest ridges of the Ridge and Valley and Blue Ridge in southwest Virginia. This montane community includes forest vegetation with Quercus rubra making up at least 75% of the tree canopy and with greater than 20% shrub cover, which may be continuous to patchy. More than 50% of the total shrub cover is evergreen, although deciduous shrubs may be present. Typical shrub dominants include Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron catawbiense, and Rhododendron maximum. The herbaceous stratum is not diverse and is typically very sparse with scattered forbs and woody seedlings, including Galax urceolata, Solidago curtisii, Epigaea repens, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Conopholis americana, Thelypteris noveboracensis, Clintonia umbellulata, Eurybia divaricata, and Dioscorea villosa. On exposed sites this community commonly contains acidic rock outcrop communities and montane shrublands as inclusions, and may grade into forests dominated by Tsuga caroliniana, Pinus rigida, Pinus pungens, and Quercus montana. At higher elevations, this forest often occurs adjacent to, or grades into, forests dominated by Picea rubens, Abies fraseri, or northern hardwood species (Aesculus flava, Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community includes forest vegetation with Quercus rubra making up at least 75% of the tree canopy and with greater than 20% shrub cover. More than 50% of the total shrub cover is evergreen, although deciduous shrubs may be present. Typical evergreen shrub species in this community include Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron catawbiense, and Rhododendron maximum. The most constant species (>60%) in 13 plots classified as this association from North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, in order of descending constancy, are Quercus rubra, Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron maximum, Acer rubrum, Ilex montana, Galax urceolata, Castanea dentata, Tsuga canadensis, Rhododendron calendulaceum, and Prunus serotina var. serotina (Fleming and Patterson 2009a).
Two varieties of Quercus rubra occur within the range of this community, Quercus rubra var. ambigua and Quercus rubra var. rubra (Kartesz 1999). Although the two varieties are known to occur together (Rohrer 1983), Quercus rubra var. ambigua occurs mostly at elevations greater than 1000 m (3300 feet), while Quercus rubra var. rubra occurs at elevations less than 1000 m (3300 feet) (Weakley 1997). The two varieties are based upon morphological differences in the leaves and acorns (Fernald 1950, Coker and Totten 1945); however, studies of foliar flavonoid composition in different Quercus rubra populations suggest that varietal distinction may not be warranted (McDougal and Parks 1984). Even though most studies of Quercus rubra-dominated vegetation do not distinguish Quercus rubra at the varietal level, it is likely, given the elevation range of this community, that the dominant species in this forest is Quercus rubra var. ambigua.
Similar Quercus rubra-dominated forests occur in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Forests with less than 75% Quercus rubra in the canopy are classified in other forest alliances. In Georgia this type occurs on the north side of Rabun Bald, where it grades into ~Quercus rubra / Rhododendron catawbiense - Rhododendron arborescens Woodland (CEGL004503)$$ in more extreme areas.
Two varieties of Quercus rubra occur within the range of this community, Quercus rubra var. ambigua and Quercus rubra var. rubra (Kartesz 1999). Although the two varieties are known to occur together (Rohrer 1983), Quercus rubra var. ambigua occurs mostly at elevations greater than 1000 m (3300 feet), while Quercus rubra var. rubra occurs at elevations less than 1000 m (3300 feet) (Weakley 1997). The two varieties are based upon morphological differences in the leaves and acorns (Fernald 1950, Coker and Totten 1945); however, studies of foliar flavonoid composition in different Quercus rubra populations suggest that varietal distinction may not be warranted (McDougal and Parks 1984). Even though most studies of Quercus rubra-dominated vegetation do not distinguish Quercus rubra at the varietal level, it is likely, given the elevation range of this community, that the dominant species in this forest is Quercus rubra var. ambigua.
Similar Quercus rubra-dominated forests occur in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Forests with less than 75% Quercus rubra in the canopy are classified in other forest alliances. In Georgia this type occurs on the north side of Rabun Bald, where it grades into ~Quercus rubra / Rhododendron catawbiense - Rhododendron arborescens Woodland (CEGL004503)$$ in more extreme areas.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this montane community of the Southern Appalachians are dominated by Quercus rubra which makes up at least 75% of the tree canopy. Stands typically have greater than 20% shrub cover, which may be continuous to patchy. More than 50% of the total shrub cover is evergreen, although deciduous shrubs may be present. Typical shrub dominants include Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron catawbiense, and Rhododendron maximum. The herbaceous stratum is not diverse and is typically very sparse with scattered forbs and woody seedlings, including Galax urceolata, Solidago curtisii (= Solidago caesia var. curtisii), Epigaea repens, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Conopholis americana, Thelypteris noveboracensis, Clintonia umbellulata, Eurybia divaricata (= Aster divaricatus), and Dioscorea villosa. Many species in this community are endemic to the Southern Blue Ridge or have the bulk of their worldwide range in that region. Some of these endemic species include Abies fraseri, Aesculus flava, Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Euphorbia purpurea, Eubotrys recurva (= Leucothoe recurva), Prenanthes roanensis, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron vaseyi, Silene ovata, and Solidago curtisii.
Dynamics: The canopy is probably rarely removed completely by natural disturbance; however, small canopy gaps are caused by individual tree death. Occurrences of this community on exposed slopes and south- and west-facing ridges are subject to lightning-caused fires and damage by ice and wind. Damage by icestorms is probably the most common form of natural disturbance. Quercus rubra reproduction and survival are optimal in canopy gaps with little regeneration under the forest canopy, hence these forests will eventually succeed to forests with mixed canopy composition of Quercus rubra, Betula alleghaniensis, Acer rubrum, and Fagus grandifolia. Many Quercus rubra-dominated stands of today were, prior to the chestnut blight in the 1930s, dominated or codominated by Castanea dentata with scattered Quercus rubra and Acer rubrum in the canopy (Golden 1974). The fungus Endothia parasitica eliminated Castanea dentata in the upper canopy, subsequently releasing the subcanopy Quercus rubra, which eventually resulted in a nearly pure upper canopy of large Quercus rubra.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on most of the major mountain ranges of the Southern Appalachians at elevations of 1070-1646 m (3500-5400 feet) on ridges and mid- to upper-slope positions, commonly with south and southeast exposures. Outliers occur in the southern part of the Central Appalachians, on the highest ridges of the Ridge and Valley and Blue Ridge in southwest Virginia. DeLapp (1978) found that this community type occurs on most slope aspects but was most commonly found on southeast and south exposures. Of the 13 plot samples from the Appalachian Trail classification project, 60% were on crests and interfluves; the remaining samples had variable slope exposures (Fleming and Patterson 2009a). This community occurs over well-drained soils underlain by Precambrian gneisses, schists and granites. These soils are classified as Typic, Umbric, or Lithic Dystrochrepts, and Typic Haplumbrepts (Golden 1974). Soils supporting this forest with a mainly evergreen shrub understory are slightly more acidic than Quercus rubra-dominated forests with deciduous shrub understories (DeLapp 1978).
Geographic Range: This community occurs on most of the major mountain ranges of the Southern Appalachians in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia. This community could possibly range into South Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, NC, SC?, TN, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686528
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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 | A3116 Northern Red Oak - White Oak Montane Forest Alliance | A3116 | 1.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL007299 Northern Red Oak / (Mountain Laurel, Catawba Rosebay, Great Laurel) / Beetleweed Forest | CEGL007299 | 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: ? Kalmia latifolia Phase (DeLapp 1978)
= Quercus rubra / Rhododendron catawbiense Forest (Fleming and Patterson 2009a)
= Quercus rubra / Rhododendron maximum Forest (Patterson 1994)
? Rhododendron catawbiense Phase (DeLapp 1978)
? Rhododendron maximum Phase (DeLapp 1978)
? High elevation red oak /mt. laurel-great laurel forest (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
< IA4g. High Elevation Northern Red Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
? Northern Red Oak (55) (USFS 1988)
< Northern Red Oak: 55 (Eyre 1980)
< Red Oak - Chestnut Forest (Whittaker 1956)
= Quercus rubra / Rhododendron catawbiense Forest (Fleming and Patterson 2009a)
= Quercus rubra / Rhododendron maximum Forest (Patterson 1994)
? Rhododendron catawbiense Phase (DeLapp 1978)
? Rhododendron maximum Phase (DeLapp 1978)
? High elevation red oak /mt. laurel-great laurel forest (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
< IA4g. High Elevation Northern Red Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
? Northern Red Oak (55) (USFS 1988)
< Northern Red Oak: 55 (Eyre 1980)
< Red Oak - Chestnut Forest (Whittaker 1956)
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