Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

Classification Comments: This vegetation is most notably found in the Cahaba River, Alabama, and the Catawba River of SouthCarolina, but also in the Piedmont of Georgia and other locations in South Carolina. There probably are less than 200 acres in totalextent. We treat Hymenocallis coronaria as distinct from Hymenocallis caroliniana; Kartesz (1994) regards as a synonym ofHymenocallis caroliniana.CONSERVATION RANKING & RARE SPECIESGRank: G1 (1998-1-11): This community occurs in rocky shoals on various rivers in the Piedmont and other submontaneprovinces. Many of these rivers have been altered by dams, which have negatively affected the hydrology required for maintenance ofthis association.High-ranked species: Hymenocallis coronaria (G2Q)ELEMENT DISTRIBUTIONRange: This association is known from river shoals in the Piedmont of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, and from the southernRidge and Valley of Alabama.Subnations: AL, GA, SCTNC Ecoregions: 50:C, 52:CUSFS Ecoregions: 231A:CC, 231Dc:CCCFederal Lands: USFS (Sumter); USFWS (Cahaba River)ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Allard 1990, NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern U.S. unpubl. data, Nelson 1986, Southeastern Ecology WorkingGroup n.d.SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL APPALACHIAN BOG AND FENSMOOTH ALDER - SWAMP AZALEA - GREAT RHODODENDRON / NAKED-FRUIT RUSH - CUTHBERT'S TURTLEHEADSHRUBLANDELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Alnus serrulata - Rhododendron viscosum - Rhododendron maximum / Juncus gymnocarpus - Chelone cuthbertiiShrublandDatabase Code: CEGL003916Formation: Saturated mixed evergreen - cold-deciduous shrubland (III.C.2.N.e)Alliance: Alnus serrulata - Salix sericea - Rhododendron (catawbiense, maximum) Saturated Shrubland Alliance (A.1880)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This montane wetland occurs as a mosaic or zoned pattern of shrub thickets and herb-dominated areas, much of itunderlain by Sphagnum mats. All or nearly all examples are flat and occur in the higher portions of the floodplains of creeks or smallrivers, receive minimal seepage, and are rarely or never flooded. Trees such as Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus strobus,Tsuga canadensis, and Pinus rigida may be scattered throughout or may dominate in patches or on the edges. Shrubs may includeAlnus serrulata, Rosa palustris, Salix sericea, Photinia pyrifolia (= Aronia arbutifolia), Photinia melanocarpa (= Aroniamelanocarpa), Rhododendron maximum, Rhododendron viscosum, Kalmia latifolia, Kalmia carolina, Hypericum densiflorum, Lyonialigustrina, Ilex verticillata, Spiraea tomentosa, Spiraea alba, and Menziesia pilosa. The herb layer may include Carex leptalea, Carexfolliculata, Carex gynandra, Carex atlantica, Rhynchospora capitellata, Scirpus expansus, Scirpus cyperinus, Scirpus atrovirens,Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Solidago patula var. patula, Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus), Thelypterispalustris var. pubescens, Juncus effusus, Juncus subcaudatus, Lysimachia terrestris, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Eriophorumvirginicum, Oxypolis rigidior, Sagittaria latifolia (= var. pubescens), and Orontium aquaticum. Sphagnum species include Sphagnumpalustre, Sphagnum affine (= Sphagnum imbricatum), Sphagnum bartlettianum, and Sphagnum recurvum. Other importantbryophytes include Polytrichum commune, Rhizomnium appalachianum, and Aulacomnium palustre. This community occurs atmoderate elevations from about 750-950 m (2400-3200 feet), in the northern part of the Southern Blue Ridge, primarily in Alleghenyand Ashe counties, North Carolina, and probably in adjacent Virginia. It also occurs south of the Asheville Basin in southwesternNorth Carolina and probably in adjacent South Carolina and Georgia at elevations of 900-1200 m (3000-4000 feet).Environment: This community occurs at moderate elevations from about 750-950 m (2400-3200 feet), in the northern part of theSouthern Blue Ridge, primarily in Allegheny and Ashe counties, North Carolina, and probably in adjacent Virginia. This communityalso occurs south of the Asheville Basin in southwestern North Carolina and probably adjacent South Carolina and Georgia atelevations of about 900-1200 m (3000-4000 feet). All or nearly all examples are nearly flat and occur in the higher (rarely or neverflooded) portions of the floodplains of creeks or small rivers, and receive minimal seepage.Vegetation: The vegetation generally consists of a mosaic or zoned pattern of shrub thickets and herb-dominated areas, much of itunderlain by Sphagnum mats. Trees such as Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus strobus, Tsuga canadensis, and Pinus rigidamay be scattered throughout or may dominate in patches or on the edges. Shrubs may include Alnus serrulata, Rosa palustris, SalixVegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe101