Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Golden 1979, NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern U.S. unpubl. data, Peet et al. unpubl. data 2002, SoutheasternEcology Working Group n.d.SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL APPALACHIAN COVE FORESTAPPALACHIAN BASSWOOD - WHITE ASH - (SLIPPERY ELM) / BLOODROOT - (EASTERN COLUMBINE, WALKINGFERN) FORESTELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Tilia americana var. heterophylla - Fraxinus americana - (Ulmus rubra) / Sanguinaria canadensis - (Aquilegiacanadensis, Asplenium rhizophyllum) ForestDatabase Code: CEGL007711Formation: Lowland or submontane cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.N.a)Alliance: Liriodendron tulipifera - Tilia americana var. heterophylla - Aesculus flava - Acer saccharum Forest Alliance (A.235)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: Forests of steep, protected coves and slopes at the lower elevations (below 610 m [2000 feet]) of the southernAppalachians and upper Piedmont, containing a significant component of species associated with high-base status substrates. Theseforests share species in common with other southern Appalachian cove forests, but are distinguished by occurring at relatively lowelevations ((305-760 m [1000-2500 feet])) and by the presence of strongly calciphilic species such as Asplenium rhizophyllum,Aquilegia canadensis, Cystopteris protrusa, Diplazium pycnocarpon, Trillium simile, Trillium discolor, and Collinsonia verticillata.Common canopy species include Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Liriodendron tulipifera, Fraxinus americana, Quercus rubra, andAesculus flava. Other species in the canopy and subcanopy include Ulmus rubra, Juglans nigra, Betula lenta, Carya cordiformis,Halesia tetraptera, and Cornus florida. Acer saccharum is generally not a constant component in these forests. The shrub stratum canbe diverse, but the coverage is often quite sparse. Typical shrubs include Hydrangea arborescens, Lindera benzoin, Calycanthusfloridus, Philadelphus hirsutus, Philadelphus inodorus, and Rhododendron maximum. The herbaceous stratum is dense, lush, anddiverse. Some of the more characteristic species include Sanguinaria canadensis, Cystopteris protrusa, Viola canadensis,Caulophyllum thalictroides, Hydrophyllum canadense, Trillium cuneatum, Asplenium rhizophyllum, Dicentra cucullaria,Tradescantia subaspera, Asarum canadense, Carex plantaginea, Hybanthus concolor, Trillium simile, Aquilegia canadensis, Carexaustrocaroliniana, Deparia acrostichoides (= Athyrium thelypterioides), Diplazium pycnocarpon (= Athyrium pycnocarpon),Trillium rugelii, and Trillium luteum.Environment: This association covers forests of steep, protected coves and slopes at the lower elevations (below 610 m [2000 feet])of the southern Appalachians and upper Piedmont. These forests share species in common with other southern Appalachian coveforests, but are distinguished by occurring at relatively low elevations ((305-760 m [1000-2500 feet])).Vegetation: Common canopy species in stands of this type include Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Liriodendron tulipifera,Fraxinus americana, Quercus rubra, and Aesculus flava. Other species in the canopy and subcanopy include Ulmus rubra, Juglansnigra, Betula lenta, Carya cordiformis, Halesia tetraptera, and Cornus florida. Acer saccharum is generally not a constantcomponent in these forests. The shrub stratum can be diverse, but the coverage is often quite sparse. Typical shrubs includeHydrangea arborescens, Lindera benzoin, Calycanthus floridus, Philadelphus hirsutus, Philadelphus inodorus, and Rhododendronmaximum. The herbaceous stratum is dense, lush, and diverse. Some of the more characteristic species include Sanguinariacanadensis, Cystopteris protrusa, Viola canadensis, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Hydrophyllum canadense, Trillium cuneatum,Asplenium rhizophyllum, Dicentra cucullaria, Tradescantia subaspera, Asarum canadense, Carex plantaginea, Hybanthus concolor,Trillium simile, Aquilegia canadensis, Carex austrocaroliniana, Deparia acrostichoides (= Athyrium thelypterioides), Diplaziumpycnocarpon (= Athyrium pycnocarpon), Trillium rugelii, and Trillium luteum. These forests are distinguished by the presence ofstrongly calciphilic species such as Asplenium rhizophyllum, Aquilegia canadensis, Cystopteris protrusa, Diplazium pycnocarpon,Trillium simile, Trillium discolor, and Collinsonia verticillata.Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:Related Concepts:• Rich Cove Forest (Foothills Rich Subtype) (Schafale 1998b) ?Classification Comments: These forests are distinguished by occurring at relatively low elevations ((305-760 m [1000-2500 feet]))and by the presence of strongly calciphilic species such as Asplenium rhizophyllum, Aquilegia canadensis, Cystopteris protrusa,Diplazium pycnocarpon, Trillium simile, Trillium discolor, and Collinsonia verticillata. Deciduous cove forests are perhaps the mostcomplex group of communities to classify in the Southern Blue Ridge, due to a combination of wide environmental range, highspecies richness, and high biogeographic variability. The recognition of associations based on fertility and elevation is provisional andwill likely need further refinement.Vegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe68