Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Laurel - Catawba Rosebay - (Black Huckleberry, Mountain Fetterbush, Highbush Blueberry) Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Mountain Laurel Bald

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community occurs in the mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, on ridges and steep, rocky slopes at intermediate elevations (1220-1524 m [4000-5000 feet]). It also occurs in very small patches at elevations higher than 1035 m (3400 feet) in the Cumberland Mountains along the Virginia-Kentucky border. It is a mostly evergreen shrubland, although deciduous shrubs may be present and even locally dominant. Shrubs form a dense, sometimes impenetrable thicket, 1-4 m tall. The most typical shrub dominants are Kalmia latifolia and Rhododendron catawbiense, although Gaylussacia baccata, Leiophyllum buxifolium, Pieris floribunda, Rhododendron carolinianum, Rhododendron maximum, and Vaccinium corymbosum are dominant or have high coverage in some occurrences. Other shrubs include Aronia melanocarpa, Clethra acuminata, Ilex montana, Vaccinium stamineum, Eubotrys recurva, and Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides. Small openings in the shrub canopy are dominated by lichens, bare rock or herbs, with some occurrences having up to 60% exposed rock. Herb cover beneath the shrub canopy is absent or very sparse (<5%) and may include Galax urceolata, Gaultheria procumbens, Goodyera pubescens, Melampyrum lineare, Mitchella repens, and Pteridium aquilinum. Smilax rotundifolia is a common vine. Small, scattered trees are possible (Acer rubrum, Amelanchier laevis, Betula alleghaniensis, Ilex montana, Magnolia fraseri, Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, Picea rubens, Prunus pensylvanica, Quercus rubra, and Sorbus americana) and may be more typical of shrublands resulting from intense fires on less exposed sites. Windfall, landslides, and small, localized, lightning-caused fires are important in the establishment and maintenance of these shrublands. This community can result from secondary succession after fire or logging or can occur as a topo-edaphic climax on steep or exposed sites.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These shrublands possibly have a broader distribution and typically occur at lower elevations than other montane shrublands in ~Rhododendron catawbiense - Rhododendron carolinianum - Kalmia latifolia Shrub Bald Alliance (A0744)$$. In the Southern Blue Ridge, this shrubland generally occurs at elevations over 1220 m (4000 feet) and grades into forests dominated by Quercus coccinea, Pinus rigida, Pinus pungens, and/or Quercus rubra. High-elevation occurrences may be compositionally similar to another heath bald community, ~Rhododendron carolinianum - Rhododendron catawbiense - Leiophyllum buxifolium Shrubland (CEGL007876)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available