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CEGL004096 Sassafras albidum - Quercus spp. Ruderal Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sassafras - Oak species Ruderal Forest

Colloquial Name: Southern Blue Ridge Ruderal Sassafras Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community consists of deciduous forests dominated or codominated by Sassafras albidum. Most occurrences developed through catastrophic disturbance such as fire and/or partial clearcuts. These upland forests are found in patches along exposed slopes. Forests are primarily below 915 m (3000 feet) elevation and are usually associated with acidic slopes heavily disturbed by catastrophic fire. Forests occur primarily in the Southern Blue Ridge and Cumberland Mountains. This community includes pure, often even-aged stands of Sassafras albidum, as well as forests with Liriodendron tulipifera and Quercus spp. Throughout most of the range, Carya tomentosa and Castanea dentata are often subcanopy dominants. The herbaceous layer varies widely depending upon geology but is often sparse.

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: This community includes pure, often even-aged stands of Sassafras albidum, as well as forests with Liriodendron tulipifera and Quercus spp. Throughout most of the range, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba) and Castanea dentata are often subcanopy dominants. The herbaceous layer is often sparse and varies, depending upon the underlying geology.

Dynamics:  A short-lived community type, this forest develops after catastrophic fire on some dry slopes and may exist for 10-30 years before the Sassafras canopy is overtopped by other taller forest trees.

Environmental Description:  This community consists of deciduous forests dominated or codominated by Sassafras albidum. Most examples are heavily impacted by natural catastrophic fire and/or partial clearcuts. These upland forests are found in patches along exposed slopes. Examples are found primarily below 915 m (3000 feet) elevation and are usually associated with acidic slopes heavily disturbed by catastrophic fire. Forests occur primarily in the Southern Blue Ridge and Cumberland Mountains.

Geographic Range: This association is known from the Southern Blue Ridge and Cumberland Mountains of the southeastern U.S. It is known from Virginia and may also occur in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  KY?, NC?, TN?, VA?




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: GNA

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: No Data Available

Concept Author(s): R. White

Author of Description: R. White

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-01-06

  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • White, R. D., Jr. 2006. Vascular plant inventory and ecological community classification for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 246 pp.