Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Allard 1990, DeYoung 1979, Govus 1982, NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern U.S. unpubl. data, Patterson 1994, Peetet al. unpubl. data 2002, Pyne 1994, Schafale 1998b, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Southeastern Ecology Working Group n.d.SHORTLEAF PINE - (ROCK CHESTNUT OAK, SOUTHERN RED OAK) / SOURWOOD / HILLSIDE BLUEBERRY FORESTELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Pinus echinata - Quercus (prinus, falcata) / Oxydendrum arboreum / Vaccinium pallidum ForestDatabase Code: CEGL007493Formation: Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest (I.C.3.N.a)Alliance: Pinus echinata - Quercus (coccinea, prinus) Forest Alliance (A.395)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This association includes crests of low-elevation slopes and ridges on the fringes of the Southern Blue Ridge, extendinginto the southern Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau, where Pinus echinata and dry-site oaks characteristic of lower elevationscodominate in association with other Appalachian flora. This forest is known from the southern Blue Ridge Escarpment region ofNorth Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, particularly in the Blue Ridge/Piedmont transition, where it occurs on exposed, rockyridges and upper, convex slopes, at elevations at or below 2200 feet. It also extends into the southern Ridge and Valley andCumberland Plateau, but more information is needed to characterize the variation in that part of the range. Canopies are codominatedby Pinus echinata and combinations of dry-site oaks that may include Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus prinus, Quercusstellata, and Quercus velutina. On rocky sites, canopies may be slightly stunted. Mid-canopy trees can be scattered or form a welldevelopedsubcanopy. Common subcanopy trees can include Oxydendrum arboreum, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Cornus florida, Quercusmarilandica, Quercus stellata, and Carya pallida. The shrub stratum varies in composition and density but is typically dominated byVaccinium pallidum. Other shrubs may include Vaccinium stamineum, Gaylussacia ursina, Gaylussacia baccata, Rhododendroncalendulaceum, Rhododendron minus, Castanea pumila, and Kalmia latifolia. On some sites Symplocos tinctoria can be important.Vitis rotundifolia and Smilax glauca are common vines. The herb stratum is poorly developed with scattered species such asChimaphila maculata, Iris verna, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Goodyera pubescens, Hexastylis arifolia, Coreopsis major(= var. rigida), Tipularia discolor, Schizachyrium scoparium, Pityopsis graminifolia var. latifolia, Tephrosia virginiana, Silphiumcompositum, Dichanthelium spp., and Galax urceolata.Environment: This association includes crests of low-elevation slopes and ridges on the fringes of the Southern Blue Ridge,extending into the southern Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau, where Pinus echinata and dry-site oaks characteristic of lowerelevations codominate in association with other Appalachian flora. This forest is known from the southern Blue Ridge Escarpmentregion of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, particularly in the Blue Ridge/Piedmont transition, where it occurs onexposed, rocky ridges and upper, convex slopes, at elevations at or below 2200 feet. It also extends into the southern Ridge andValley and Cumberland Plateau, but more information is needed to characterize the variation in that part of the range.Vegetation: Canopies are codominated by Pinus echinata and combinations of dry-site oaks that may include Quercus falcata,Quercus coccinea, Quercus prinus, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. On rocky sites, canopies may be slightly stunted. Midcanopytrees can be scattered or form a well-developed subcanopy. Common subcanopy trees can include Oxydendrum arboreum,Ilex opaca var. opaca, Cornus florida, Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, and Carya pallida. The shrub stratum varies incomposition and density but is typically dominated by Vaccinium pallidum. Other shrubs may include Vaccinium stamineum,Gaylussacia ursina, Gaylussacia baccata, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Rhododendron minus, Castanea pumila, and Kalmialatifolia. On some sites Symplocos tinctoria can be important. Vitis rotundifolia and Smilax glauca are common vines. The herbstratum is poorly developed with scattered species such as Chimaphila maculata, Iris verna, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum,Goodyera pubescens, Hexastylis arifolia, Coreopsis major (= var. rigida), Tipularia discolor, Schizachyrium scoparium, Pityopsisgraminifolia var. latifolia, Tephrosia virginiana, Silphium compositum, Dichanthelium spp., and Galax urceolata.Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:• Pinus echinata - Quercus alba / Vaccinium pallidum / Hexastylis arifolia - Chimaphila maculata Forest (CEGL008427)• Pinus echinata - Quercus prinus / Rhododendron minus / Vaccinium pallidum Forest (CEGL007496)• Pinus echinata - Quercus stellata - Quercus prinus - Carya glabra / (Danthonia spicata, Piptochaetium avenaceum) Forest(CEGL007500) -- a more open, grassy variant.Related Concepts:• IA7a. Xeric Shortleaf Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990) B• Southern Mountain Pine-Oak Forest (Schafale 1998b) ?Classification Comments: These communities are distinguished by canopies codominated by Pinus echinata and combinations ofdry-site oaks that may include Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus prinus, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina. Thesecommunities are not well known. In North Carolina they are apparently largely confined to Cherokee County. Examples are alsoknown from the southern portion of the Chattooga River Basin watershed in South Carolina and Georgia. This forest is probably firedependentto some extent, and fire (prescribed or natural) will stimulate regeneration of Pinus echinata. Many occurrences of thisVegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe49