Sumter National Forest Final Report - NatureServe

dominated by deciduous heath species, typically Gaylussacia ursina or Vaccinium stamineum. Other species in the shrub/saplingstratum may include Vaccinium pallidum, Leucothoe recurva, Kalmia latifolia, Castanea dentata, or Acer rubrum var. rubrum. Onrocky sites, Deschampsia flexuosa may be common. This community occurs on exposed upper slopes and ridgetops at elevationsbelow 920 m (3000 feet) in the southern Appalachian Mountains.Environment: This community occurs on exposed upper slopes and ridgetops at elevations below 920 m (3000 feet) in the southernAppalachian Mountains. The presence of Pinus strobus in these forests may be a product of disturbance and subsequent firesuppression. It may have increased its abundance since about 1900.Vegetation: Stands of this forest association typically contain Pinus strobus (contributing 25-75% of the canopy coverage) andQuercus prinus and/or Quercus coccinea (occurring singly or in combination) as 25-75% of the canopy coverage. Open subcanopiesare composed of Oxydendrum arboreum, Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Cornus florida. The shrub stratum isdominated by deciduous heath species, typically Gaylussacia ursina or Vaccinium stamineum. Other species in the shrub/saplingstratum may include Vaccinium pallidum, Leucothoe recurva, Kalmia latifolia, Castanea dentata, or Acer rubrum var. rubrum. Onrocky sites, Deschampsia flexuosa may be common.Dynamics: No informationSimilar Associations:Related Concepts:• Pinus strobus - Quercus coccinea Forest (Patterson 1994) ?• Chestnut Oak Forest (White Pine Subtype) (Schafale 1998b) ?• Hardwood - White Pine Forest (Ambrose 1990a) B• IA6f. Dry White Pine Ridge Forest (Allard 1990) B• White Pine - Hardwoods, BR (Pyne 1994) B• White Pine, BR (Pyne 1994) BClassification Comments:CONSERVATION RANKING & RARE SPECIESGRank: G4 (2003-10-23): This community has a restricted range and is uncommon. It is not threatened or particularly vulnerable.Grank changed to G4 on the recommendation of Gary Kauffman, USDA Forest Service.High-ranked species: Monotropsis odorata (G3), Thermopsis fraxinifolia (G3?)ELEMENT DISTRIBUTIONRange: This community is known from the escarpment region of the Southern Blue Ridge and may extend into Virginia.Subnations: GA, NC, SC, TN, VA?TNC Ecoregions: 51:C, 52:CUSFS Ecoregions: 221Hb:CCC, 221He:CCC, 222Eo:CCC, M221Db:CCP, 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, Ambrose 1990a, Patterson 1994, Peet et al. unpubl. data 2002, Pyne 1994, Schafale 1998b, Schafale andWeakley 1990, Southeastern Ecology Working Group n.d.EASTERN WHITE PINE - WHITE OAK - (MOCKERNUT HICKORY) / BEAR HUCKLEBERRY FORESTELEMENT IDENTIFIERSNVC association: Pinus strobus - Quercus alba - (Carya alba) / Gaylussacia ursina ForestDatabase Code: CEGL007517Formation: Mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest (I.C.3.N.a)Alliance: Pinus strobus - Quercus (alba, rubra, velutina) Forest Alliance (A.401)ELEMENT CONCEPTSummary: This association covers mesic pine-oak-hickory in the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment and in the Piedmont transition,found below 2900 feet elevation, on protected ridges, mid to upper slopes, and in disturbed bottoms. Canopies are dominated byvariable mixtures of Pinus strobus, Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, Carya alba, and Acer rubrum. Other canopy species may includeLiriodendron tulipifera, Tsuga canadensis, Quercus rubra, Quercus falcata, Quercus prinus, and Magnolia fraseri. Subcanopy andsaplings include canopy species and Cornus florida, Halesia tetraptera, Oxydendrum arboreum, and Nyssa sylvatica. Shrub layers aremoderate to dense, with Gaylussacia ursina and Kalmia latifolia most commonly dominating. Other shrubs include Rhododendronminus, Rhododendron maximum, Symplocos tinctoria, Arundinaria gigantea, Castanea dentata, Sassafras albidum, Amelanchierarborea, Pyrularia pubera, and Hydrangea radiata. The herb stratum is sparse, although ferns (Thelypteris noveboracensis,Dennstaedtia punctilobula and Polystichum acrostichoides) may occasionally dominate. Common herbs include Chimaphilamaculata, Viola hastata, Goodyera pubescens, Maianthemum racemosum, Polygonatum biflorum, Monotropa uniflora, TrilliumVegetation of Sumter National Forest April 30 2004Copyright © 2004 NatureServe76