Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

ELEMENT DISTRIBUTIONRange: This community occurs in the Southern Blue Ridge and peripherally in the upper Piedmont, ranging from southwesternVirginia, south and west to northwestern Georgia.Subnations: GA, NC, SC, TN, VA, WVTNC Ecoregions: 50:P, 51:C, 52:C, 59:CUSFS Ecoregions: 231Aa:CCC, M221Aa:CCC, M221Ab:CCC, M221Ca:CPP, M221Cb:CPP, M221Cc:CPP, M221Ce:CPP,M221Da:CC?, M221Db:CCC, M221Dc:CCC, M221Dd:CCC, M231Ad:CCCFederal Lands: NPS (Blue Ridge Parkway?, Carl Sandburg Home, Great Smoky Mountains); USFS (Chattahoochee, Cherokee,Jefferson, Nantahala, Pisgah, Sumter)ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Allard 1990, Eyre 1980, Fleming and Coulling 2001, Fleming et al. 2001, Gettman 1974, NatureServe Ecology -Southeastern U.S. unpubl. data, Newell and Peet 1995, Patterson 1994, Patterson et al. 1994, Peet et al. unpubl. data 2002, Schafale1998b, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Southeastern Ecology Working Group n.d.UMBRELLA-LEAF - BRANCH-LETTUCE - WOOD NETTLE HERBACEOUS VEGETATIONELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Diphylleia cymosa - Saxifraga micranthidifolia - Laportea canadensis Herbaceous VegetationDatabase Code: CEGL004296Formation: Saturated temperate perennial forb vegetation (V.B.2.N.f)Alliance: Diphylleia cymosa - Saxifraga micranthidifolia Saturated Herbaceous Alliance (A.1688)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: A characteristic association of shaded seeps of the southern Appalachian Mountains, usually with overhanging canopiesthough trees not rooted in the seep itself. Often not large enough to be readily mappable, but a distinctive habitat for many plants,invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Stands typically contain Diphylleia cymosa, Saxifraga micranthidifolia, and Laporteacanadensis. Other characteristic species include Cardamine clematitis, Chelone lyonii, Chelone glabra, Chrysosplenium americanum,Boykinia aconitifolia, Cicuta maculata, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Viola cucullata, Viola macloskeyi ssp. pallens, Lilium grayi, Oxypolisrigidior, Parnassia asarifolia, Tiarella cordifolia, Thalictrum clavatum, Trautvetteria caroliniensis, Stellaria corei, and Geumgeniculatum. Occurrences associated with more acidic soil conditions often contain Juncus gymnocarpus. This association oftenoccurs in cove forests.Environment: This association often occurs in cove forests. It is a characteristic association of shaded seeps of the southernAppalachian Mountains, usually with overhanging canopies though trees not rooted in the seep itself. Often not large enough to bereadily mappable, but a distinctive habitat for many plants, invertebrate and vertebrate animals.Vegetation: Stands typically contain Diphylleia cymosa, Saxifraga micranthidifolia, and Laportea canadensis. Other characteristicspecies include Cardamine clematitis, Chelone lyonii, Chelone glabra, Chrysosplenium americanum, Boykinia aconitifolia, Cicutamaculata, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Viola cucullata, Viola macloskeyi ssp. pallens, Lilium grayi, Oxypolis rigidior, Parnassiaasarifolia, Tiarella cordifolia, Thalictrum clavatum, Trautvetteria caroliniensis, Stellaria corei, and Geum geniculatum. Occurrencesassociated with more acidic soil conditions often contain Juncus gymnocarpus (G. Kauffman pers. comm.).Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:• Impatiens (capensis, pallida) - Monarda didyma - Rudbeckia laciniata var. humilis Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL004293)Related Concepts:• IID3a. Herbaceous High Elevation Seepage Slope (Allard 1990) B• Rich Montane Seep (Cove Subtype) (Schafale 1998b) ?Classification Comments: The nominal species Diphylleia cymosa, is a conspicuous component of this association, but may also befound in seeps of varying canopy closure at middle and high elevations. The associated nominal species, Saxifraga micranthidifoliaand Laportea canadensis, are indicative of shaded seeps (G. Kauffman pers. comm.). Another high-elevation herbaceous seepassociation known from the southern Appalachians, Impatiens (capensis, pallida) - Monarda didyma - Rudbeckia laciniata var.humilis Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL004293), often occurs on boulder fields or in northern hardwood forests, at higher elevationsthan the association defined here.CONSERVATION RANKING & RARE SPECIESGRank: G3 (1998-12-14): This community occurs at moderate to high elevations of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of westernNorth Carolina, eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, northern Georgia, and probably northwestern South Carolina. It occurs as asmall patch community, embedded in a variety of regional forest types. While restricted in range and of small size, the community isrelatively frequent within its range, many examples are protected, and threats are relatively few and minor.High-ranked species: Aconitum reclinatum (G3), Cardamine clematitis (G2G3), Geum geniculatum (G2), Lilium grayi (G3)Vegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe72