Similar community occurs on alluvial terrace along river which is seldom flooded. Along river are scoured boulder bars with shrublands (GARI.111) and a narrow zone of scoured forest.;Lower south facing gorge slope. South aspect may be affected by shade from the opposite gorge slope. Community is a forest dominated by large red oak over a dense tall shrub layer of Rhododendron maximum. Very low herb cover and diversity. There is abundant wood and a deep litter layer. Hemlock is mostly in subcanopy over-topped by large oaks. Laurel hell.
Representativeness
Nice example of matrix forest of the Gauley/Meadow Gorge, plot samples mostly deciduous canopy with scattered hemlock. Just downslope is grove of larger hemlock.