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Abies fraseri / (Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron carolinianum) Forest | Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
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Name: Abies fraseri / (Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron carolinianum) Forest
Reference: Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description: This community occurs as island-like stands in the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern Tennessee, and western North Carolina. It occurs on rocky spurs, steep ridges, and south-facing slopes above 1830 m (6000 feet) elevation, often adjacent to montane shrublands. This forest has a canopy strongly dominated by <i>Abies fraseri</i>, occurring over a shrub stratum dominated by evergreen species, typically <i>Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron carolinianum</i>, or <i>Rhododendron maximum</i>. <i>Abies fraseri</i> in the canopy are 17-23 cm in diameter and 10-11 m tall, giving these forests a stunted appearance. Other species that may occur with low coverage in the canopy or subcanopy are <i>Picea rubens, Sorbus americana, Betula alleghaniensis, Prunus pensylvanica</i>. Herbaceous cover is typically sparse. On steep, rocky, northerly slopes, coverage by mosses, liverworts, and lichens can approach 100%. Bryophyte species include <i>Hylocomium splendens, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Sphagnum</i> spp., and <i>Polytrichum ohioense</i>. This forest may grade into forests dominated by <i>Picea rubens</i> and <i>Abies fraseri</i>, montane grasslands, high-elevation shrublands, or high-elevation rock outcrop communities. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.36386.CEGL006308
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
     
  • status: accepted
  • This Community's Level: association
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Common: Fraser Fir Forest (Evergreen Shrub Type)
  Translated: Fraser Fir / (Catawba Rosebay, Carolina Azalea) Forest
  Scientific: Abies fraseri / (Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron carolinianum) Forest
  Code: CEGL006308
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687447 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo