Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

USFS Ecoregions: 221Ha:CCC, 221Hc:CCC, 221He:CCC, 222D:??, M221Cc:CCC, M221Cd:CCC, M221Ce:CCC, M221Dc:CCC,M221Dd:CCCFederal Lands: NPS (Cumberland Gap, Great Smoky Mountains); USFS (Chattahoochee, Cherokee, Daniel Boone, Nantahala,Pisgah, Sumter)ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Allard 1990, Caplenor 1965, Evans 1991, Eyre 1980, Fleming and Coulling 2001, Golden 1974, Golden 1981, Lorimer1980, McLeod 1988, Newell et al. 1997, Oosting and Bourdeau 1955, Patterson 1994, Peet et al. unpubl. data 2002, Pyne 1994,Quarterman et al. 1972, Racine and Hardin 1975, Schafale 1998b, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Southeastern Ecology Working Groupn.d., Whittaker 1956EASTERN WHITE PINE - EASTERN HEMLOCK / GREAT RHODODENDRON - (MOUNTAIN DOGHOBBLE) FORESTELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis / Rhododendron maximum - (Leucothoe fontanesiana) ForestDatabase Code: CEGL007102Formation: Rounded-crowned temperate or subpolar needle-leaved evergreen forest (I.A.8.N.b)Alliance: Pinus strobus - Tsuga canadensis Forest Alliance (A.127)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This forest vegetation has a canopy dominated by Pinus strobus, sometimes codominating with Tsuga canadensis,occurring over a shrub stratum dominated by Rhododendron maximum. This is an evergreen forest, but deciduous trees may form aminor part of the canopy. Other minor canopy species may include Liriodendron tulipifera, Betula lenta, Magnolia fraseri (within itsrange), Acer rubrum, and Tilia americana var. heterophylla. Other shrub species may include Kalmia latifolia, Leucothoefontanesiana, Lindera benzoin, and Ilex opaca var. opaca. Herbaceous cover is typically sparse. This community occurs on creek andriver margins and on lower or protected slopes. This association occurs in the Southern Blue Ridge and may extend into adjacentecoregions, such as the Cumberlands of Kentucky. These Kentucky examples lack Leucothoe fontanesiana and have Magnoliamacrophylla rather than Magnolia fraseri. Large stems of Smilax rotundifolia may be present in stands of this vegetation.Environment: This community occurs on creek and river margins and on lower or protected slopes in the Southern Blue Ridge; itmay extend into adjacent ecoregions, such as the Cumberlands of Kentucky.Vegetation: This forest vegetation has a canopy dominated by Pinus strobus, sometimes codominating with Tsuga canadensis,occurring over a shrub stratum dominated by Rhododendron maximum. This is an evergreen forest, but deciduous trees may form aminor part of the canopy. Other minor canopy species may include Liriodendron tulipifera, Betula lenta, Magnolia fraseri (within itsrange), Acer rubrum, and Tilia americana var. heterophylla. Other shrub species may include Kalmia latifolia, Leucothoefontanesiana, Lindera benzoin, and Ilex opaca var. opaca. Herbaceous cover is typically sparse. Typical herbs include Thelypterisnoveboracensis, Chimaphila maculata, Mitchella repens, Polystichum acrostichoides, Medeola virginiana, and Tiarella cordifolia.Kentucky Cumberland examples lack Leucothoe fontanesiana and have Magnolia macrophylla rather than Magnolia fraseri. Largestems of Smilax rotundifolia may be present in stands of this vegetation.Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:• Tsuga canadensis / Rhododendron maximum - (Clethra acuminata, Leucothoe fontanesiana) Forest (CEGL007136) --dominated by Tsuga canadensis.Related Concepts:• Canada Hemlock Forest (White Pine Subtype) (Schafale 1998b) ?• Eastern Hemlock: 23 (Eyre 1980) B• IA5b. Southern Appalachian Hemlock Cove Forest (Allard 1990) B• White Pine - Hemlock: 22 (Eyre 1980) B• White pine-eastern hemlock/great laurel dry forest: southern type (CAP pers. comm. 1998) ?Classification Comments: Similar forests in the Cumberlands of Kentucky lack Leucothoe fontanesiana, and have Magnoliamacrophylla rather than Magnolia fraseri. This forest is common in the Chattooga River basin of South Carolina and Georgia.CONSERVATION RANKING & RARE SPECIESGRank: G4 (1997-12-1): No informationHigh-ranked species: No informationELEMENT DISTRIBUTIONRange: This community occurs in the Southern Blue Ridge, but extends into adjacent Cumberland Plateau or Ridge and Valley (?)ecoregions.Subnations: GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA?TNC Ecoregions: 50:C, 51:C, 59:CUSFS Ecoregions: 221Hc:CCC, 221He:CCC, 222Eo:CCC, M221Be:CPP, M221Dc:CCC, M221Dd:CCCVegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe35