Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

USFS Ecoregions: M221Aa:CCP, M221Ab:CCP, M221Ac:CCC, M221Da:CCC, M221Dc:CCC, M221Dd:CCCFederal Lands: NPS (Blue Ridge Parkway?, Carl Sandburg Home, Great Smoky Mountains); USFS (Chattahoochee, Cherokee,Nantahala, Pisgah, Sumter)ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Allard 1990, Barden 1977, Golden 1974, Golden 1981, Hedlin et al. 1981, McLeod 1988, NatureServe Ecology -Southeastern U.S. unpubl. data, Nelson 1986, Newell and Peet 1995, Peet et al. unpubl. data 2002, Pyne 1994, Racine 1966, Schafale1998b, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Southeastern Ecology Working Group n.d., Turrill and Buckner 1995, Wharton 1978, Whittaker1956, Williams 1991, Williams and Johnson 1990, Williams and Johnson 1992, Williams et al. 1990a, Zobel 1969ROCK CHESTNUT OAK - WHITE OAK / SOURWOOD / MUSCADINE FORESTSOUTHERN PIEDMONT DRY OAK-(PINE) FORESTELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Quercus prinus - Quercus alba / Oxydendrum arboreum / Vitis rotundifolia ForestDatabase Code: CEGL006281Formation: Lowland or submontane cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.N.a)Alliance: Quercus prinus - (Quercus coccinea, Quercus velutina) Forest Alliance (A.248)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This forest, dominated by Quercus prinus, occurs mainly on resistant ridges (monadnocks) over felsic rock of thePiedmont from Virginia to Alabama, and sparingly in the low mountains of, at least, North Carolina. Soils that are well-drained,acidic and nutrient-poor contribute to low species richness. Quercus prinus is dominant or codominant in some occurrences withQuercus alba. Other canopy species include Quercus falcata, Carya alba, Quercus marilandica, Quercus coccinea, Nyssa sylvatica,Acer rubrum, Pinus echinata, and Quercus stellata. The subcanopy is dominated by Oxydendrum arboreum with Cornus florida. Theherb and shrub layers are sparse, with Vitis rotundifolia as a typical component.Environment: This forest occurs mainly on resistant ridges (monadnocks) over felsic rock of the Piedmont and sparingly in the lowmountains. It most often is found on resistant ridges (monadnocks) of quartzite, rhyolite, and pyrophyllite; soil series include Nason,Georgeville, Tatum, Uwharrie (Typic Hapludults), Davidson (Rhodic Paleudult), and Goldston (Ruptic-Ultic Dystrochrept) (Schafaleand Weakley 1990). These soils are well-drained, acidic, nutrient-poor, and rocky. Community occurrences are found in exposedlocations and, consequently, lightning strikes and high winds are common. Fires are probably more common than in most otherPiedmont forest types, but most would have little effect on the community because most of the species are fire tolerant and the shruband herb layers are sparse.Vegetation: In typical stands of this association, Quercus prinus is dominant (or codominant in some occurrences with Quercusalba). Other canopy species that may be present include Carya glabra, Quercus coccinea, Quercus marilandica, and Pinusvirginiana. Other subcanopy species include Acer rubrum and Nyssa sylvatica. Species that may be present in the sparse shrub layerinclude Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, Gaylussacia baccata, Gaylussacia frondosa, and Kalmia latifolia. The herb layercontains such species as Vitis rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Quercus prinus, Chimaphila maculata, Danthonia spicata,Desmodium nudiflorum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Tephrosia virginiana, Hieracium venosum, Coreopsis verticillata, and Pteridiumaquilinum. Canopy cover ranges from 60% to approaching 100% except following a natural disturbance. Quercus prinus contributes75% of the total tree cover. The subcanopy ranges from sparse to fairly dense, while the shrub and herb layers rarely have 25% cover,and frequently have