Login | Datasets | Logout
 

View Community Concepts - Detail

Betula alleghaniensis / Sorbus americana - Acer spicatum / Polypodium appalachianum Forest | Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulli...
  click to update datacart
Name: Betula alleghaniensis / Sorbus americana - Acer spicatum / Polypodium appalachianum Forest
Reference: Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulli...
Description: This community is known from high elevations of the Northern Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, and Allegheny Mountains in Virginia and West Virginia. It occupies steep, boulder-strewn slopes at elevations from 975 m (3200 feet) to over 1250 m (4100 feet). The type is most frequent and extensive on straight or concave, middle to upper slopes with northerly aspects, but is found occasionally on slopes with other aspects. Surface substrate is characterized by a surface cover of angular boulders weathered from granite, metabasalt (greenstone), quartzite, or sandstone. This vegetation type has a partly closed to very open canopy overwhelmingly dominated by <i>Betula alleghaniensis</i>. The canopy trees are usually stunted and gnarled, exhibiting the effects of frequent ice and wind damage. Tree density is typically less than that of the surrounding forests. <i>Sorbus americana</i> and <i>Prunus pensylvanica</i> are minor canopy associates. Small tree and shrub densities are variable; <i>Sorbus americana</i> and <i>Acer spicatum</i> often have high cover in these layers. <i>Menziesia pilosa, Sambucus racemosa (= Sambucus pubens), Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus</i>, and <i>Ribes cynosbati</i> are frequent shrubs. Herbaceous cover is often limited by the rocky substrate. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.37201.CEGL008504
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: Central Appalachian High-Elevation Boulderfield Forest
  Translated: Yellow Birch / American Mountain-ash - Mountain Maple / Appalachian Polypody Forest
  Scientific: Betula alleghaniensis / Sorbus americana - Acer spicatum / Polypodium appalachianum Forest
  Code: CEGL008504
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689218 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo