• This association covers alluvial forests of Southern Blue Ridge and nearby portions of the inner Piedmont.
  • This type is associated with narrow, rocky floodplains and islands in medium-sized rivers, typically at elevations below 3,000 feet.
  • It is more frequent below 2,000 feet.
  • Examples are known from the Nantahala Gorge, Slickrock Creek, the South Toe River, and the Black and Craggy Mountains.
    
    
• Canopy composition of stands is variable but typical dominants are Platanus occidentalis, Liriodendron tulipifera, Fraxinus americana, Betula alleghaniensis, and Betula lenta.
  • Platanus is characteristic, but not necessarily dominant in stands of this association.
    
    
• Other canopy/subcanopy trees can include Carpinus caroliniana, Betula nigra, Acer rubrum, Pinus virginiana, Pinus strobus, and Tsuga canadensis.
  • In contrast to montane alluvial forests on the margins of the Southern Blue Ridge or on larger rivers, Liquidambar styraciflua is rare to absent in this type.
    
    
• The shrub stratum can be dense, often with local dominance by Leucothoe fontanesiana or Rhododendron maximum.
  • Other characteristic shrubs include Alnus serrulata, Xanthorhiza simplicissima, Corylus americana, Cornus amomum, Hamamelis virginiana, Euonymus americanus, and Hydrangea arborescens.
    
    
• Vines can be prominent including Aristolochia macrophylla, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, and Vitis aestivalis.
  
  
• Herbaceous species composition varies from site to site, and herbaceous strata can be quite patchy on the rocky substrate.
  • Characteristic species known from these forests include Amphicarpaea bracteata, Actaea racemosa, Polystichum acrostichoides, Eurybia divaricata, Anemone quinquefolia, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Claytonia virginica, Erythronium americanum, Medeola virginiana, Packera aurea, Stellaria pubera, Tiarella cordifolia, and Viola blanda.
  • Carex species may be common (e.g., Carex appalachica, Carex austrocaroliniana, Carex blanda, Carex digitalis, Carex plantaginea, Carex swanii, Carex torta).

• Stands within the Smokies typically contain Platanus occidentalis, but not usually as the dominant.
  • Often, dominance is shared between Liriodendron tulipifera, Betula lenta, Betula alleghaniensis, Platanus occidentalis, and Tsuga canadensis.
    
    
• The tall shrubs/saplings stratum is usually dominated by either a monoculture of Rhododendron maximum or Leucothoe fontanesiana or a combination of various medium and short shrubs/saplings including the ones just mentioned and Xanthorhiza simplicissima and even sometimes Kalmia latifolia.
  
  
• The herb layer is only developed in patches of no shrubs.

• This community is found in the Southern Blue Ridge of western North Carolina, northern South Carolina, and eastern Tennessee.
  • It likely extends into Georgia.

• This community was not sampled from the Cades Cove quadrangle or Mount Le Conte quadrangle but is likely in the park.

• Global Conservation Status Rank: G2? (Last reviewed: 02 23 1999).
  
  
• This community is naturally uncommon in the Southern Blue Ridge.
  • Well-developed examples are rare due to clearing for agriculture and development.
  • This community is threatened by road building and other disturbances causing hydrologic alteration.

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.

McLeod, D. E. 1988. Vegetation patterns, floristics, and environmental relationships in the Black and Craggy mountains of North Carolina. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 222 pp.,

NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.

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.

Newell, C. L., R. K. Peet, and J. C. Harrod. 1997. Vegetation of Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, North Carolina. Unpublished report to USDA Forest Service. University of North Carolina, Curriculum in Ecology & Department of Biology, Chapel Hill, NC. 282 pp. plus maps.

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.

Pittillo, J. D., and G. A. Smathers. 1979. Phytogeography of the Balsam Mountains and Pisgah Ridge, southern Appalachian Mountains. Pages 206-245 in: H. Lieth and E. Landolt, editors. Proceedings of the 16th International phytogeographic excursion. Veroff. Geobot. Inst., Stiftung Rubel, Zurich.

Schafale, M. 1998a. Fourth approximation guide. Mountain wetlands. February 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.

Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.