Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

strobus can have high coverage and even codominate on some sites. The shrub stratum is dominated by ericaceous species, typicallyKalmia latifolia and Leucothoe recurva in the tall-shrub stratum and Vaccinium pallidum as a low shrub. Other shrub species varywith location, but include Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium simulatum, Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium hirsutum, Vacciniumcorymbosum, Rhododendron maximum, Rhododendron minus, Gaylussacia ursina, Gaylussacia baccata, Buckleya distichophylla,Pyrularia pubera, and Fothergilla major. Species commonly found in the sparse herb stratum include Chimaphila maculata, Galaxurceolata, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Xerophyllum asphodeloides, Chamaelirium luteum, Comptonia peregrina,Leiophyllum buxifolium, Gaultheria procumbens, Iris verna, Dichanthelium spp., and Epigaea repens, although herbaceous speciescomposition will vary within the range of this community. Smilax glauca is a common vine. Without periodic fire, this communitywill gradually succeed into forests dominated by Quercus prinus and Quercus coccinea, except on the most extreme sites, where thisvegetation is self-perpetuating. It is thought that woodlands dominated by Pinus pungens are associated with more xeric conditionsthan woodlands dominated by Pinus pungens in combination with other tree species.Environment: This association is typically found on sharp ridges mostly above 2000 feet elevation in the Southern Blue Ridge. Thiswoodland occurs across a wide elevation range (1600-4000 feet) in the southern Appalachians, on exposed ridges and upper slopeswith southerly and westerly exposures, over thin, excessively drained, nutrient-poor soils, and can be associated with rockoutcroppings. It is thought that woodlands dominated by Pinus pungens are associated with more xeric conditions than woodlandsdominated by Pinus pungens in combination with other tree species (Zobel 1969, Barden 1977).Vegetation: These mostly evergreen woodlands are characteristically dominated by Pinus pungens and/or Pinus rigida, occurringover a dense ericaceous shrub stratum. Deciduous species that can be important, particularly in the subcanopy, include Quercusprinus, Quercus coccinea, Quercus stellata (in lower elevation occurrences), Nyssa sylvatica, Acer rubrum, and Oxydendrumarboreum. Pinus virginiana and Pinus strobus can have high coverage and even codominate on some sites. The shrub stratum isdominated by ericaceous species, typically Kalmia latifolia and Leucothoe recurva in the tall-shrub stratum and Vaccinium pallidumas a low shrub. Other shrub species vary with location, but include Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium simulatum, Vaccinium pallidum,Vaccinium hirsutum, Vaccinium corymbosum, Rhododendron maximum, Rhododendron minus, Gaylussacia ursina, Gaylussaciabaccata, Buckleya distichophylla, Pyrularia pubera, Castanea dentata, Castanea pumila, and Fothergilla major. Species commonlyfound in the sparse herb stratum include Chimaphila maculata, Galax urceolata, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Xerophyllumasphodeloides, Chamaelirium luteum, Comptonia peregrina, Leiophyllum buxifolium, Gaultheria procumbens, Iris verna,Melampyrum lineare, Dichanthelium spp., and Epigaea repens, although herbaceous species composition will vary within the rangeof this community. Smilax glauca is a common vine.Dynamics: Canopy coverage in stands of this association can often approach that of a forest, especially in areas where fire has beenexcluded and deciduous species have significant coverage. Without periodic fire, this community will gradually succeed into forestsdominated by Quercus prinus and Quercus coccinea, except on the most extreme sites, where this vegetation is self-perpetuating.However, recent regional pine beetle kills throughout large areas of the Southeast have accelerated the rate of succession in most ofthese stands. This acceleration of succession may lead to conversion of these forests to hardwoods in the long term (M. Jenkins pers.comm.).Similar Associations:• Pinus (pungens, rigida) / Quercus ilicifolia / Gaylussacia baccata Woodland (CEGL004996)Related Concepts:• IA7b. Xeric Pitch Pine/Table Mountain Pine Ridge Forest (Allard 1990) B• Ridge Pine Heath (Typic Subtype) (Schafale 1998b) ?• Table Mountain Pine type (Golden 1974) ?• Xeric Pine Forest (McLeod 1988) ?Classification Comments: Other communities with Pinus pungens occur in central Pennsylvania and in Virginia. These northerntypes are thought to have a different species composition and geology than the forests described here. Species associated with Pinuspungens in the northern part of its range that do not occur in this community include Quercus ilicifolia, Viburnum acerifolium, andVaccinium angustifolium. [See Pinus (pungens, rigida) / Quercus ilicifolia / Gaylussacia baccata Woodland (CEGL004996).]CONSERVATION RANKING & RARE SPECIESGRank: G3 (1998-4-30): This community is endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains where it is maintained by periodic fireor extreme site conditions. Recent studies show that acreage of this community has decreased due to fire suppression (Turrill andBuckner 1995) and that many remaining examples have substantial hardwood invasion. Lightning-set and high-intensity controlledburns are necessary to maintain and re-establish this community type. In addition, recent pine beetle outbreaks have killed off largeareas of this community type in the past five years (1998-2003) in the Southeast. Due to this, the global rank may soon need to beadjusted to G2.High-ranked species: Buckleya distichophylla (G2), Fothergilla major (G3), Vaccinium hirsutum (G3)ELEMENT DISTRIBUTIONRange: This community ranges throughout the Southern Blue Ridge, from southwestern Virginia, south through western NorthCarolina and eastern Tennessee, into northeastern Georgia and northwestern South Carolina.Subnations: GA, NC, SC, TN, VA?TNC Ecoregions: 51:C, 52:C, 59:?Vegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe59