• This evergreen, sclerophyllous dwarf-shrubland occurs at the highest elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains on steep, exposed slopes.
  • It is typically found at elevations over 1,770 m (5,800 feet) in northwestern North Carolina.
  • This dwarf-shrubland may occur as inclusions in other communities or as extensive mats.
  • The largest occurrences of this shrubland are 1-2 hectares.
  • An extreme environment with steep topography, high solar irradiation, desiccating winds in combination with shallow, nutrient-poor soils maintains this community as a topo-edaphic climax.
  • This community often occurs adjacent to or grades into high-elevation rock outcrop communities and other montane shrublands.
    
    
• It is dominated by Leiophyllum buxifolium growing in dense mats with a krummholz structure.
  
  
• Occurrences of this community may have significant areas of bare rock but are at least 25% vegetated with at least 75% of the total shrub cover comprised of Leiophyllum buxifolium.
  • Other shrub species that may occur include Rhododendron catawbiense and Vaccinium corymbosum.
    
    
• Openings in the shrub stratum may contain sparse herbaceous cover including Selaginella tortipila, Zigadenus leimanthoides and Deschampsia flexuosa.
  • Mosses and lichens are also typical in more open occurrences.

• This community occurs on rock outcrops in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
  • It is typically found at elevations over 1,770 m (5,800 feet) in northwestern North Carolina and northeastern Tennessee.
  • It may also occur at lower elevations in western North Carolina, northeastern Georgia, and northwestern South Carolina, in association with granitic domes and gneissic outcrops.

• Global Conservation Status Rank: G1 (Last reviewed: 1994/08/15).
  
  
• One of the most restricted heath bald types, in terms of distribution and acreage, it is known from Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina.
  • The total acreage of this community is limited (<100 hectares) since it occurs as scattered islands of shrubland in the highest elevations.
  • Since this community generally occurs in inaccessible, well-protected sites, it is not highly threatened.
  • Occurrences in areas of high recreation use may be threatened by trampling, while natural succession may threaten other sites.

Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.

Ambrose, J. 1990a. Georgia's natural communities--A preliminary list. Unpublished document. Georgia Natural Heritage Inventory. 5 pp.

Newell, C. L., and R. K. Peet. 1995. Vegetation of Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina. Unpublished report. to USDA Forest Service. University of North Carolina, Department of Biology, Chapel Hill. 211 pp.

Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. 2002. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Pyne, M. 1994. Tennessee natural communities. Unpublished document. Tennessee Department of Conservation, Ecology Service Division, Nashville. 7 pp.

Risk, P. L. 1993. High elevation heath communities in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Schafale, M. 1998b. Fourth approximation guide. High mountain communities. March 1998 draft. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.

Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.

Weakley, A. S., compiler. 1993. Natural Heritage Program list of the rare plant species of North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program. Raleigh. 79 pp.

Whittaker, R. H. 1956. Vegetation of the Great Smoky Mountains. Ecological Monographs 26:1-80.

Wiser, S. K. 1993. Vegetation of high-elevation rock outcrops of the southern Appalachians: Composition, environmental relationships, and biogeography of communities and rare species. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 271 pp.

Wiser, S. K., R. K. Peet, and P. S. White. 1996. High-elevation rock outcrop vegetation of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Journal of Vegetation Science 7:703-722.