Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

muehlenbergii. In addition, Acer barbatum or Acer leucoderme may be present within their ranges. Prominent understory speciesinclude Aesculus sylvatica, Ostrya virginiana, and Asimina triloba. Herbs which appear to be abundant or characteristic includePolystichum acrostichoides, Asarum canadense, Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Sanguinaria canadensis, Tiarellacordifolia var. collina, Carex laxiflora var. laxiflora, Carex grisea, Desmodium pauciflorum, Uvularia sessilifolia, Maianthemumracemosum, Polygonatum biflorum, Tipularia discolor, Dicentra canadensis, Podophyllum peltatum, Cardamine concatenata,Erythronium americanum, and Erythronium umbilicatum ssp. umbilicatum.Environment: This association represents intermediate and basic mesic mixed hardwood forests of the Piedmont, ranging fromVirginia south to Georgia.Vegetation: Nelson (1986) cites as components of the Basic Forest of the Piedmont Quercus alba, Quercus shumardii, Quercusvelutina, other oaks, Carya alba, Carya glabra, Aesculus pavia, Liriodendron tulipifera, Fagus grandifolia, Acer rubrum, Acersaccharum (sic) (in fact Acer barbatum, Acer leucoderme). He also cites Nyssa sylvatica, Cornus florida, Euonymus americana,Symplocos tinctoria, Viburnum spp., Vaccinium spp., Rhododendron spp., Luzula spp., Juncus spp., Stellaria pubera, Podophyllumpeltatum, Anemone virginiana, Anemone quinquefolia var. quinquefolia, Anemone lancifolia, Trillium cuneatum, Trillium catesbaei,Trillium cernuum, Sanguinaria canadensis, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Cynoglossum virginianum, Uvularia perfoliata, Hybanthusconcolor, and Iris cristata.Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:• Fagus grandifolia - Quercus rubra / Cornus florida / Polystichum acrostichoides - Hexastylis virginica Forest (CEGL008465) --the more acidic Piedmont equivalent.Related Concepts:• 1.4. [Fagus grandifolia - Acer barbatum / Aesculus sylvatica Forest] (Fleming pers. comm.) ?Classification Comments: See Schafale and Weakley (1990) "Basic Mesic Forest, Piedmont Subtype," in part. More informationwill be provided by M. Schafale.CONSERVATION RANKING & RARE SPECIESGRank: G3G4 (2002-8-29): This association is naturally restricted to intermediate and basic, mesic environmental settings in thePiedmont. The degree of uncertainty in the rank reflects the need for further inventory of this community. Threats include timberharvest (in particular the removal of commercially valuable timber species), erosion, fragmentation, and the conversion of adjacentareas to planted pine stands. Some examples receive some protection on public lands (e.g., national forests, military lands, Corps ofEngineers property).High-ranked species: Trillium reliquum (G2)ELEMENT DISTRIBUTIONRange: This association is found in the Piedmont and localized areas of adjacent ecoregions of the southeastern United States.Subnations: GA, NC, SC, VATNC Ecoregions: 52:CUSFS Ecoregions: 231A:CC, 232B:CCFederal Lands: DOD (Falls Lake, Fort Benning, Jordan Lake, Kerr Reservoir); NPS (Ninety Six); USFS (Oconee?, Sumter?,Uwharrie)ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Fleming et al. 2001, Fleming pers. comm., NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern U.S. unpubl. data, Nelson 1986, Peet etal. unpubl. data 2002, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Schafale pers. comm., Southeastern Ecology Working Group n.d.AMERICAN BEECH - NORTHERN RED OAK / FLOWERING DOGWOOD / CHRISTMAS FERN - VIRGINIA HEARTLEAFFORESTELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Fagus grandifolia - Quercus rubra / Cornus florida / Polystichum acrostichoides - Hexastylis virginica ForestDatabase Code: CEGL008465Formation: Lowland or submontane cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.N.a)Alliance: Fagus grandifolia - Quercus rubra - Quercus alba Forest Alliance (A.229)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This association represents the more typical mesic mixed hardwood forest of the Piedmont. The canopy of stands of thisassociation is dominated by mesophytic trees such as Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, and inthe western Piedmont, Tsuga canadensis. Typical understory trees include Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, Acer rubrum, andIlex opaca. Shrub species may include Vaccinium stamineum, Viburnum rafinesquianum, Euonymus americana, and sometimesKalmia latifolia. The herb layer is often moderately dense and diverse, though it may be sparse under heavy shade. Herb species mayinclude Polystichum acrostichoides, Viola spp., Dichanthelium spp. (= Panicum spp.), Galium circaezans, Hexastylis arifolia,Hexastylis minor, Desmodium nudiflorum, Erythronium umbilicatum ssp. umbilicatum, Chamaelirium luteum, Epifagus virginiana,Vegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 200465Copyright © 2004 NatureServe