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A.224 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.224 Reference: EcoArt 2002 Description: This alliance is now extirpated but included subxeric forests dominated by mixtures of ~Castanea dentata$ and ~Quercus prinus$, formerly occurring in the Appalachian Mountains, the Cumberland Plateau, Knobs, and perhaps as far west as the Shawnee Hills of Kentucky. ~Castanea dentata$ was a major forest dominant in the eastern United States that has virtually been eliminated since 1900 by ~Cryphonectria parasitica (= Endothia parasitica)$ (Chestnut Blight), introduced on Asiatic chestnut. Forests in this alliance have been described as the most extensive forests of the middle and lower elevations (1225-1400 m, 4000-4500 feet) in the Great Smoky Mountains. Whittaker described both xeric and subxeric phases of this alliance. Forests on xeric ridges and upper slopes had a closed shrub stratum dominated by ~Kalmia latifolia$, with an open tree stratum of ~Castanea dentata$ and ~Quercus prinus$, and a sparse herbaceous stratum dominated by ~Galax urceolata$. More mesic forests in this alliance occurred on less exposed slope positions and had canopies dominated by ~Castanea dentata$ and ~Quercus prinus$ occurring with lesser amounts of ~Quercus rubra, Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, Nyssa sylvatica, Acer rubrum$, and ~Liriodendron tulipifera$, with open or heath-dominated understories. Although replacement forests vary with geography, in the southern Appalachians, I.B.2.N.a ~~Quercus prinus - (Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina)$ Forest Alliance (A.248)$$ and other forests dominated by ~Quercus rubra, Quercus prinus$, and ~Acer rubrum$ have been the major replacement types. There is some hope for the potential recovery of this community, or something resembling it, if a blight-resistant chestnut can be developed and introduced.  Accession Code: VB.CC.1738.A224 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
	status: accepted Community's Parent: I.B.2.N.a This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: CASTANEA DENTATA - QUERCUS PRINUS FOREST ALLIANCE   Code: A.224   Common: American Chestnut - Rock Chestnut Oak Forest Alliance (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Castanea dentata - Quercus prinus Forest Alliance