Name:
Picea rubens - Abies fraseri - Betula alleghaniensis Forest Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
These are upland spruce-fir forests and woodlands, or spruce-fir-hardwood forests of eastern North America. They are found within the range of <i>Picea rubens</i>, at progressively higher elevations from the Central to the Southern Appalachians. They occur in cool, mostly mesic settings on ridgetops and steep slopes with thin soils. Substrate geology also varies, although soils are generally acidic. At their southern extent, these forests occur only at the highest elevations (above 1370 m [4500 feet]). <i>Picea rubens</i> is generally present, and often dominant, but the canopy may be dominated by <i>Abies fraseri</i>. Typical canopy associates include <i>Betula alleghaniensis</i> and <i>Tsuga canadensis</i>. The density and composition of shrub and herbaceous strata vary with association and geographic location. Characteristic shrubs include <i>Acer spicatum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron maximum, Vaccinium erythrocarpum</i>, and <i>Viburnum lantanoides</i>. Characteristic herbs rangewide include <i>Clintonia borealis, Dryopteris campyloptera, Mitchella repens, Oxalis montana</i>, and <i>Trillium undulatum</i>. The bryophyte layer is generally very well-developed, characterized by <i>Bazzania trilobata, Dicranum</i> spp., <i>Pleurozium schreberi</i>, and many others. Mosses, liverworts, and lichens grow densely on fallen logs, tree trunks, and the forest floor, giving these forests a distinctive carpeted appearance.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40286-{03D10426-6943-4E9F-BDFB-3FAB930D2655}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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