Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

ELEMENT DISTRIBUTIONRange: This community is found at moderate to high elevations of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina,eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, northern Georgia, and probably northwestern South Carolina.Subnations: GA, NC, SC?, TN, VATNC Ecoregions: 51:C, 59:CUSFS Ecoregions: M221Dc:CCC, M221Dd:CCCFederal Lands: NPS (Great Smoky Mountains); USFS (Chattahoochee, Cherokee, Jefferson, Nantahala, Pisgah, Sumter?)ELEMENT SOURCESReferences: Allard 1990, Fleming et al. 2001, Kauffman pers. comm., Nelson 1986, Peet et al. unpubl. data 2002, Schafale 1998b,Schafale and Weakley 1990, Southeastern Ecology Working Group n.d.SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL APPALACHIAN MAFIC GLADE AND BARRENSROCK SPIKE-MOSS - LITTLE BLUESTEM - APPALACHIAN LIVE-FOREVER - NODDING ONION HERBACEOUSVEGETATIONELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Selaginella rupestris - Schizachyrium scoparium - Hylotelephium telephioides - Allium cernuum HerbaceousVegetationDatabase Code: CEGL004991Formation: Low temperate or subpolar perennial forb vegetation (V.B.2.N.b)Alliance: Selaginella (tortipila, rupestris) Herbaceous Alliance (A.1985)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This community includes vegetation of North Carolina's upper Piedmont and Blue Ridge, on gently to moderatelysloping, low-elevation outcrops, with irregular or undulating surfaces but few crevices, and containing plants characteristic of higherpH conditions. This community occurs as small patches (approx. 5-50 acres) at elevations below 1220 m (4000 feet). Vegetationconsists of shallow mats dominated by Selaginella rupestris and deeper grassy mats, interspersed with areas of smooth rock or rockwith few crevices or fractures. This community has few deep-rooted forbs, shrubs, or trees. The flora is diverse and characterized bythe presence of plants indicative of higher pH soils, such as Hylotelephium telephioides (= Sedum telephioides), Dodecatheonmeadia, Sedum glaucophyllum, Cheilanthes lanosa, Arabis laevigata var. laevigata, and Penstemon canescens. Graminoids in thiscommunity include Danthonia sericea, Andropogon virginicus, Carex biltmoreana, Andropogon gerardii, and Sorghastrum nutans.Woody species may be scattered, rooted in crevices or in marginal zones between exposed rock and adjacent forests. Typical woodyplants include Philadelphus inodorus, Philadelphus hirsutus, Chionanthus virginicus, Quercus prinus, Juniperus virginiana, Fraxinusamericana, and Physocarpus opulifolius.Environment: No informationVegetation: Vegetation consists of shallow mats dominated by Selaginella rupestris and deeper grassy mats, interspersed with areasof smooth rock or rock with few crevices or fractures. This community has few deep-rooted forbs, shrubs, or trees. The flora isdiverse and characterized by the presence of plants indicative of higher pH soils, such as Hylotelephium telephioides (= Sedumtelephioides), Dodecatheon meadia, Sedum glaucophyllum, Cheilanthes lanosa, Arabis laevigata var. laevigata, and Penstemoncanescens. Graminoids in this community include Danthonia sericea, Andropogon virginicus, Carex biltmoreana, Andropogongerardii, and Sorghastrum nutans. Typical woody plants include Philadelphus inodorus, Philadelphus hirsutus, Chionanthusvirginicus, Quercus prinus, Juniperus virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Physocarpus opulifolius.Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:Related Concepts:• Low Elevation Basic Glade (Brushy Mountain Subtype) (Schafale 1998b) ?• Low Elevation Basic Glade (Montane Subtype) (Schafale 1998b) ?Classification Comments: A subtype of this association, known from the Brushy Mountains of North Carolina, is distinguished by asuite of distinctive plant species, including Croton willdenowii (= Crotonopsis elliptica), Allium cuthbertii, Cheilanthes tomentosa,Coreopsis pubescens, Hypericum denticulatum (actually an unnamed taxon), Senna marilandica (= Cassia marilandica), and Diodiateres (M. Schafale pers. comm.). This community often grades into woodlands dominated by Juniperus virginiana and deciduoustrees (Quercus prinus, Carya spp., Fraxinus spp.) [see Carya (glabra, alba) - Fraxinus americana - Juniperus virginiana var.virginiana Woodland (CEGL003752)].CONSERVATION RANKING & RARE SPECIESGRank: G2 (2001-1-31): This community type is limited to exposures of granitic rocks in the upper Piedmont of North Carolina,and possibly South Carolina and Virginia. Fewer than 20 occurrences are known, and most are of 50 acres or less. This community isVegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe73