Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Quercus rubra is constant and dominant but sometimes only weakly dominant. Fraxinus americana and Acer saccharum are generally abundant and have high constancy. Some Carya species (most often Carya glabra or Carya ovata) are generally abundant. Quercus alba, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus), and Prunus serotina are fairly frequent and sometimes abundant. Other mesophytic trees such as Betula lenta, Betula alleghaniensis, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, and Aesculus flava are sometimes present. The subcanopy is generally dominated by the same species, although Ostrya virginiana, Acer pensylvanicum, and other small trees are often present. The shrub layer is open, with species composition variable. The herb layer is lush and diverse compared to other communities in similar topographic settings. It includes a mix of forbs typical of rich mesic sites as well as more widespread species of high elevations. Actaea racemosa, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Prosartes lanuginosa, and Collinsonia canadensis are the most constant base-loving species, and Maianthemum racemosum, Solidago curtisii, Arisaema triphyllum, Silene stellata, Eurybia chlorolepis, and Symphyotrichum cordifolium are other common herbs. Other species with lower constancy include Convallaria majuscula (= Convallaria montana), Impatiens pallida, Solidago flexicaulis, Asclepias exaltata, Uvularia perfoliata, Tradescantia subaspera, Aquilegia canadensis, Streptopus lanceolatus var. roseus (= Streptopus roseus), Osmunda claytoniana, and Botrychium virginianum.

Dynamics:  Canopies naturally exist as uneven-aged old-growth forests, with tree regeneration occurring in small to moderate-sized canopy gaps created by wind, ice damage, lightning, or fire. As with other Southern Blue Ridge high-elevation red oak forests, this association frequently shows a lack of oak regeneration and a dense understory of more mesophytic species that capture canopy gaps. Fire is believed to be important for maintaining oak dominance by reducing this understory and favoring oak advanced regeneration, but the natural frequency of fire is not well-known. Castanea dentata was once present in at least some examples, perhaps most. Examples have been altered by its removal as a canopy species. Most examples have also been affected by logging, but logging was often selective. Forest grazing was widespread and may have affected all examples.