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CEGL007285 Betula alleghaniensis - Fagus grandifolia / Viburnum lantanoides / Eurybia chlorolepis - Dryopteris intermedia Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Yellow Birch - American Beech / Hobblebush / Appalachian Heartleaf Aster - Intermediate Woodfern Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest (Typic Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a broadly defined association meant to cover typical "northern hardwood forests" over 1220 m (4000 feet) elevation of the Southern Blue Ridge and the highest adjacent ridges of the Virginia Ridge and Valley. This deciduous forest association occurs on exposed landforms such as open, north-facing slopes. The canopy is dominated by various mixtures of Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia, and sometimes Aesculus flava. In the northern part of the range, Acer saccharum can codominate in the canopy. Other canopy trees may be present but are of minor importance (e.g., Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra, Halesia tetraptera var. monticola). Common subcanopy trees include Acer pensylvanicum, Acer spicatum, Amelanchier laevis, and Acer saccharum. A shrub stratum may be absent to moderately dense. Viburnum lantanoides is a typical shrub. Other possible shrub species include, but are not limited to, Hydrangea arborescens, Ilex montana, Rubus canadensis, and Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa. Herbaceous cover can be dominated by sedges or ferns or be composed of a mixture of sedges, ferns, and other forbs. Typical herbaceous species include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Eurybia chlorolepis, Arisaema triphyllum, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Carex pensylvanica, Dryopteris intermedia, Solidago curtisii, Stellaria pubera, Stellaria corei, and Streptopus lanceolatus var. roseus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Over most of this community''s range, the canopy is dominated by various mixtures of Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia and, less commonly, Aesculus flava. In Virginia stands of this type (primarily from the Mount Rogers - Whitetop massif), Acer saccharum is generally a codominant canopy tree in mixed stands with Fagus grandifolia and Betula alleghaniensis and with Aesculus flava less important. Other canopy trees, including Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra, and Halesia tetraptera var. monticola, may be present but are of minor importance. Common subcanopy trees include Acer pensylvanicum, Acer spicatum, Amelanchier laevis, and Acer saccharum. The shrub stratum may vary from nearly undeveloped to moderately dense. Viburnum lantanoides is a typical shrub, except in the northern portion of the range, where it varies from infrequent to locally dominant. Other potential shrub components include, but are not limited to, Hydrangea arborescens, Ilex montana, Rubus canadensis, and Sambucus racemosa (= Sambucus pubens). Herbaceous cover is variably dominated by sedges, ferns and forbs. Typical herbaceous species include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Eurybia chlorolepis (= Aster chlorolepis), Arisaema triphyllum, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides (= Athyrium asplenioides), Carex pensylvanica, Carex lucorum var. austrolucorum, Dryopteris intermedia, Solidago lancifolia, Stellaria pubera, Stellaria corei, Streptopus lanceolatus var. roseus (= Streptopus roseus), and Viola blanda var. blanda.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This deciduous forest association occurs at high elevations (typically over 1220 m [4000 feet]) in the Southern Appalachians, on exposed landforms such as open, north-facing slopes. Virginia examples of the type occur at elevations from 1100-1585 m (3600-5200 feet). Mean elevation of 28 plot-sampled Virginia stands is 1340 m (4400 feet). Habitats include a wide range of slope positions and aspects. Surface cover of bedrock and boulders is typically less than 25%, but occasionally higher. Soil samples collected from plot-sampling sites are consistently extremely acidic (mean pH = 3.8) with low base status.
Geographic Range: The type is nearly endemic to high elevations of the Southern Blue Ridge in eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and southwestern Virginia. In the Virginia Blue Ridge, it is prevalent in the Mount Rogers - Whitetop Mountain area and at high elevations of the Iron Mountains. Local outliers also occur at the highest elevations of Clinch Mountain in the adjacent Ridge and Valley province.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, TN, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687715
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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 | CEGL007285 Yellow Birch - American Beech / Hobblebush / Appalachian Heartleaf Aster - Intermediate Woodfern Forest | CEGL007285 | 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: > Acer saccharum - Aesculus flava - Betula alleghaniensis / Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides - Ageratina altissima var. roanensis Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001) [VA Srank = S3]
> Fagus grandifolia - Betula alleghaniensis - Acer saccharum / Viburnum lantanoides / Carex lucorum var. austrolucorum - Viola rotundifolia Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001) [VA Srank = S2]
< IA4e. Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwoods Forest (Allard 1990)
? Northern Hardwoods Community: Beech - Maple Subtype (Rheinhardt and Ware 1984)
< Sugar Maple - Beech - Yellow Birch: 25 (Eyre 1980)
> Fagus grandifolia - Betula alleghaniensis - Acer saccharum / Viburnum lantanoides / Carex lucorum var. austrolucorum - Viola rotundifolia Forest (Fleming and Coulling 2001) [VA Srank = S2]
< IA4e. Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwoods Forest (Allard 1990)
? Northern Hardwoods Community: Beech - Maple Subtype (Rheinhardt and Ware 1984)
< Sugar Maple - Beech - Yellow Birch: 25 (Eyre 1980)
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- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.