Name:
Quercus montana - Quercus rubra / Rhododendron maximum / Galax urceolata Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This forest is known from protected, usually steep slopes in the Southern Blue Ridge and ranges into adjacent areas of the upper Piedmont to the east and the Allegheny and Cumberland Mountains and Southern Ridge and Valley to the west and north. In the southern portion of its range (Southern Blue Ridge), it usually occurs on north-facing slopes, while in the northern part of its range (the Allegheny and Cumberland Mountains in West Virginia), most sites have southerly to westerly aspects. This is typically a midslope to lower slope type, but it can be found on upper slopes in a more sheltered position. This forest is found at elevations between 760 and 1220 m (2500-4000 feet) in the Southern Blue Ridge and at somewhat lower elevations (200-760 m) in the Allegheny and Cumberland Mountains in West Virginia. Canopies in these forests are dominated by <i>Quercus montana</i>, usually with lesser amounts of <i>Quercus rubra</i> and/or <i>Acer rubrum</i>, and always occurring over a dense, very tall shrub stratum (2-6 m) of <i>Rhododendron maximum</i>. In some examples, this community may also be codominated or dominated by <i>Quercus velutina, Quercus alba</i>, or <i>Betula lenta</i>. Additional trees with lower constancy and cover in the canopy and subcanopy include <i>Tsuga canadensis, Oxydendrum arboreum, Fagus grandifolia</i>, and <i>Nyssa sylvatica</i>. On some sites, <i>Tsuga canadensis</i> may have dense understory regeneration. In some areas of the Southern Blue Ridge, <i>Rhododendron minus</i> may dominate the shrub layer. Other common shrubs can include <i>Gaylussacia ursina</i> (in the Southern Blue Ridge), <i>Kalmia latifolia, Smilax rotundifolia, Ilex opaca var. opaca</i>, and/or <i>Hamamelis virginiana</i>. Herbs are sparse. The ground cover is dominated by leaf litter, but <i>Galax urceolata</i> is found in most occurrences except at the northern limit of this type's range in West Virginia. Other herb species that can be typical include <i>Chimaphila maculata, Goodyera pubescens, Polystichum acrostichoides, Maianthemum racemosum, Solidago caesia, Mitchella repens, Eurybia divaricata, Dryopteris marginalis</i>, and <i>Dioscorea quaternata</i>. Some examples may have sparse (woodland-like) canopies and occur in association with rock outcroppings. Vascular plant species richness in seven 400-m2 West Virginia plots ranges from 12 to 49 taxa (mean = 30.1).
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:34933-{0CE33A69-90A5-4818-8AB9-9AACB46B5E26}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
137
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