Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chestnut Oak / Catawba Rosebay - Mountain Laurel Forest

Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian Chestnut Oak / Catawba Rosebay Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is documented from the northern Virginia Blue Ridge, scattered locations in the Ridge and Valley province of west-central and southwestern Virginia, and in the gorges of the New and Gauley rivers of southern West Virginia. In addition, there are a few local outliers on sheltered, north-facing bluffs along the James River in the western Piedmont. In the main part of this association''s range, stands are associated with strongly convex, upper slopes and spur crests at elevations from 325 m to over 975 m (1050-3200 feet). North or northwest aspects are common, but the type has been documented from other aspects as well, generally with high solar exposure. The vegetation is a species-poor, open to closed-canopy forest of stunted (often <20 m tall, sometimes <10 m tall), gnarled trees over a dense, evergreen tall-shrub layer. Quercus montana is the usual canopy dominant, with occasional associates of Betula lenta, Tsuga canadensis, Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, Quercus alba, Nyssa sylvatica, Acer rubrum, Pinus virginiana, and/or Pinus strobus. The shrub layer is dominated by Rhododendron catawbiense, Kalmia latifolia, and/or Rhododendron maximum (the latter primarily in West Virginia occurrences). Additional shrubs which are present at low cover include Hamamelis virginiana, Ilex montana, and Amelanchier arborea. Deciduous ericads such as Gaylussacia baccata and Vaccinium pallidum may be present but rarely contribute more than 10% cover. Herbs and subshrubs are exceedingly sparse in the densely shaded, forest-floor environment; most likely to be encountered are the evergreen species Gaultheria procumbens, Epigaea repens, Galax urceolata, Goodyera pubescens, Mitchella repens, and Chimaphila maculata, sometimes present at low cover.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The geographic distribution of this community and the extent to which it recurs throughout the Northern Blue Ridge and Ridge and Valley are somewhat uncertain and need further investigation. Although documented by plot data only on the Blue Ridge of Virginia and at New River Gorge and the Gauley River in West Virginia, similar vegetation is reported to be frequent on xeric, rocky upper slopes and summits throughout the west-central and southwestern Virginia Ridge and Valley region (T.F. Wieboldt pers. comm.). These putative Ridge and Valley occurrences sometimes contain mixtures of Rhododendron catawbiense and Rhododendron maximum, as do the Gauley River occurrences. For the most part, however, this community appears to reach optimal development in geographic areas (i.e., the Northern Blue Ridge) and drier habitats where Rhododendron maximum is spotty or absent. Tsuga canadensis is prominent in this association at New River Gorge and the Gauley River, another contrast to Virginia stands. One stand in West Virginia along the WV/VA border on Allegheny Mountain is more similar to typical Virginia stands, lacking both Tsuga canadensis and Rhododendron maximum. This association (CEGL008524) is not likely to be found in the Southern Blue Ridge, where Rhododendron catawbiense is more restricted to high elevations and exposed habitats, above the elevational limits of Quercus montana (Newell 1997, A.S. Weakley pers. comm.). Although stands of this type can be rather difficult to plot-sample, the collection of additional quantitative data from well-developed occurrences would be desirable. This community type is similar to and sometimes co-occurs with ~Tsuga caroliniana / Kalmia latifolia - Rhododendron catawbiense Forest (CEGL007139)$$ on the Northern Blue Ridge. The degree to which periodic fires have influenced the structure and composition of this community type needs investigation.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available