Print Report
CEGL007876 Rhododendron carolinianum - Rhododendron catawbiense - Leiophyllum buxifolium Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Carolina Azalea - Catawba Rosebay - Sand-myrtle Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Heath Bald
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This high-elevation shrubland occurs in the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee, on steep ridges, rock outcroppings, and landslides at elevations over 1676 m (5500 feet), in the Spruce-Fir zone. It has 25-100% shrub cover and may occur as a dense shrubland, 2-4 m tall, or as a shorter, more open shrubland with areas of exposed rock, scattered mats of prostrate vegetation, and isolated clumps of herbaceous species. The most common shrubs are Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron catawbiense, and Leiophyllum buxifolium, locally dominant in patches and forming a mosaic. Shrubs are less than 1 m tall on the steepest, rockiest, most exposed sites, and taller on gentle, more protected sites with greater soil development. Other associated shrubs with minor coverage may include Abies fraseri, Aronia arbutifolia, Aronia melanocarpa, Diervilla sessilifolia, Ilex montana, Menziesia pilosa, Pieris floribunda, Prunus pensylvanica, Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium erythrocarpum, and Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides. Under tall, dense shrubs there is little herb cover, but in more open shrublands, on steep cliffs with seepage, herbaceous species may grow in dense patches on ledges and crevices. Herbaceous species such as Calamagrostis cainii, Carex misera, Geum radiatum, Saxifraga michauxii, Solidago glomerata, and Trichophorum cespitosum are associated with this community on the summits of Mount LeConte. Thick hummocks of lichens and mosses can occur on flatter sites, and scattered wind-sheared trees of Picea rubens or Abies fraseri are possible in some examples. High solar irradiation and desiccating winds, in combination with the shallow, nutrient-poor soils, are key environmental factors influencing this community. Locally, vegetation is influenced by seepage areas on steep cliffs and ledges. It is known from areas of exposed slate on the steep ridges of Mount LeConte.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The taxonomic distinctions between Rhododendron minus and Rhododendron carolinianum are currently uncertain. Some of what is treated here as Rhododendron carolinianum may prove to be Rhododendron minus. This association contains a portion of the former concept of ~Rhododendron carolinianum Shrubland (CEGL003816)$$, which occurs at lower elevations in areas of quartzite and meta-arkose geology.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association has 25-100% shrub cover and may occur as a dense shrubland, 2-4 m tall, or as a shorter, more open shrubland with areas of exposed rock, scattered mats of prostrate vegetation, and isolated clumps of herbaceous species. The most common shrubs are Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron catawbiense, and Leiophyllum buxifolium, locally dominant in patches and forming a mosaic. Shrubs are less than 1 m tall on the steepest, rockiest, most exposed sites, and taller on gentle, more protected sites with greater soil development. Other associated shrubs with minor coverage may include Abies fraseri, Aronia arbutifolia, Aronia melanocarpa, Diervilla sessilifolia, Ilex montana, Menziesia pilosa, Pieris floribunda, Prunus pensylvanica, Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium erythrocarpum, and Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides. Under tall, dense shrubs there is little herb cover, but in more open shrublands, on steep cliffs with seepage, herbaceous species may grow in dense patches on ledges and crevices. Herbaceous species such as Calamagrostis cainii, Carex misera, Geum radiatum, Saxifraga michauxii, Solidago glomerata, and Trichophorum cespitosum (= Scirpus cespitosus) are associated with this community on the summits of Mount LeConte. Thick hummocks of lichens and mosses can occur on flatter sites, and scattered wind-sheared trees of Picea rubens or Abies fraseri are possible in some examples.
Dynamics: High solar irradiation and desiccating winds, in combination with the shallow, nutrient-poor soils, are key environmental factors influencing this community. Locally, vegetation is influenced by seepage areas on steep cliffs and ledges. It is known from areas of exposed slate on the steep ridges of Mount LeConte (Ramseur 1958).
Environmental Description: This association occurs on steep ridges, rock outcroppings, and landslides at elevations over 1676 m (5500 feet), in the Spruce-Fir zone.
Geographic Range: This high-elevation shrubland occurs in the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee. It is known from areas of exposed slate on the steep ridges of Mount LeConte (Ramseur 1958).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686877
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M506 | 2.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.1.a Catawba Rosebay - Mountain Fetterbush - Mountain Alder Southern Appalachian Shrub Bald Group | G658 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A0744 Catawba Rosebay - Carolina Azalea - Mountain Laurel Shrub Bald Alliance | A0744 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL007876 Carolina Azalea - Catawba Rosebay - Sand-myrtle Shrubland | CEGL007876 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: This association contains a portion of the former concept of Rhododendron carolinianum Shrubland (CEGL003816), which occurs at lower elevations in areas of quartzite and meta-arkose geology.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Rhododendron carolinianum - Rhododendron catawbiense - Leiophyllum buxifolium Shrubland (Fleming and Patterson 2009a)
< IC4a. Heath Bald Shrubland (Allard 1990)
< IC4a. Heath Bald Shrubland (Allard 1990)
- 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.
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2009a. A vegetation classification for the Appalachian Trail: Virginia south to Georgia. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. In-house analysis, March 2009.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- 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.
- Ramseur, G. S. 1958. The vascular flora of high mountain communities of the Southern Appalachians. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 106 pp.
- Risk, P. L. 1993. High elevation heath communities in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- 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.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Whittaker, R. H. 1979a. Appalachian balds and other North American heathlands. Pages 427-439 in: R. L. Specht, editor. Ecosystems of the world. Series Publication 9A. Heathlands and related shrublands: Descriptive studies. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, New York.