Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Allard 1990, Ambrose 1990a, Nelson 1986, Peet et al. unpubl. data 2002, Schafale 1998b, Schafale and Weakley 1990,Simon pers. comm., Southeastern Ecology Working Group n.d.ROCK CHESTNUT OAK - (NORTHERN RED OAK) - HICKORY SPECIES / SOURWOOD - FLOWERING DOGWOODFORESTELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Quercus prinus - (Quercus rubra) - Carya spp. / Oxydendrum arboreum - Cornus florida ForestDatabase Code: CEGL007267Formation: Lowland or submontane cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.N.a)Alliance: Quercus prinus - Quercus rubra Forest Alliance (A.250)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This community is known from low to intermediate elevations of the Southern Blue Ridge escarpment and Piedmonttransition areas. It occurs on relatively exposed landforms below 3000 feet elevation (1200-2900 feet), on moderately steep to steep,convex, middle to upper slopes and ridges, with mostly northern to southwestern aspects. Canopies are dominated by Quercus prinus,with Acer rubrum often codominating. Other species that can have significant canopy coverage include Carya glabra, Liriodendrontulipifera, and Quercus rubra. The subcanopy is commonly dominated by Cornus florida. Additional canopy and subcanopy speciescan include Quercus velutina, Carya alba, Halesia tetraptera var. monticola, Nyssa sylvatica, Robinia pseudoacacia, Magnoliafraseri, and Oxydendrum arboreum. The shrub stratum is sparse with no clear dominant. Some typical shrub species includeGaylussacia ursina, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangea radiata, Kalmia latifolia, Magnolia fraseri, Sassafras albidum, and,Vaccinium pallidum. Common vines are Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax glauca, Vitis aestivalis, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina. Herbcover is sparse, but diversity and species composition vary among occurrences. Some of the more typical species include Eurybiadivaricata (= Aster divaricatus), Chimaphila maculata, Desmodium nudiflorum, Dichanthelium spp. (e.g., Dichanthelium boscii,Dichanthelium commutatum, Dichanthelium dichotomum), Dioscorea quaternata, Galium latifolium, Houstonia purpurea,Lysimachia quadrifolia, Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Prenanthes spp., Thalictrumthalictroides, Thelypteris noveboracensis, Uvularia perfoliata, Uvularia puberula, Uvularia sessilifolia, and Viola spp. (e.g., Violablanda, Viola hastata, Viola X palmata, Viola tripartita). Some occurrences may have areas of exposed rock.Environment: This community is known from low to intermediate elevations of the Southern Blue Ridge escarpment and Piedmonttransition areas. It occurs on relatively exposed landforms below 3000 feet elevation (1200-2900 feet), on moderately steep to steep,convex, middle to upper slopes and ridges, with mostly northern to southwestern aspects.Vegetation: The canopies of stands of this type are dominated by Quercus prinus, with Acer rubrum often codominating. Otherspecies that can have significant canopy coverage include Carya glabra, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Quercus rubra. The subcanopyis commonly dominated by Cornus florida. Additional canopy and subcanopy species can include Quercus velutina, Carya alba,Halesia tetraptera var. monticola, Nyssa sylvatica, Robinia pseudoacacia, Magnolia fraseri, and Oxydendrum arboreum. The shrubstratum is sparse with no clear dominant. Some typical shrub species include Gaylussacia ursina, Hydrangea arborescens,Hydrangea radiata, Kalmia latifolia, Magnolia fraseri, Sassafras albidum, and, Vaccinium pallidum. Common vines are Smilaxrotundifolia, Smilax glauca, Vitis aestivalis, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina. Herb cover is sparse, but diversity and speciescomposition vary among occurrences. Some of the more typical species include Eurybia divaricata (= Aster divaricatus), Chimaphilamaculata, Desmodium nudiflorum, Dichanthelium spp. (e.g., Dichanthelium boscii, Dichanthelium commutatum, Dichantheliumdichotomum), Dioscorea quaternata, Galium latifolium, Houstonia purpurea, Lysimachia quadrifolia, Maianthemum racemosum ssp.racemosum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Prenanthes spp., Thalictrum thalictroides, Thelypteris noveboracensis, Uvularia perfoliata,Uvularia puberula, Uvularia sessilifolia, and Viola spp. (e.g., Viola blanda, Viola hastata, Viola X palmata, Viola tripartita).Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:• Quercus prinus - Quercus rubra / Hamamelis virginiana Forest (CEGL006057)Related Concepts:• Chestnut Oak Forest (Herb Subtype) (Schafale 1998b) ?• IA6h. Montane Oak - Hickory Forest (Allard 1990) B• Oak - Chestnut - Hickory Forest (Ambrose 1990a) BClassification Comments: This forest lacks the dense ericaceous shrub layer typical of other Quercus prinus-dominated forests inthe Blue Ridge escarpment region and commonly has diverse herbaceous composition. It is distinguished from similar forests in theRidge and Valley by lacking Acer saccharum and from Piedmont forests by the lack of Quercus falcata and Quercus stellata, and bythe presence of species more typical of the southern Appalachians (Magnolia fraseri, Halesia tetraptera, and Castanea dentata). Thisassociation was originally defined from the Chattooga Basin Project (S. Simon pers. comm.) and later refined with information fromthe Great Smoky Mountains. The North Carolina Piedmont examples of this association are only montane transition areas, such as theSauratown Mountains and Hanging Rock. It may become more widespread in the Piedmont of Virginia.Vegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe79