• This association includes forests on high but sheltered slopes in the Southern Blue Ridge, with canopies dominated by species typically known as northern hardwoods (Aesculus flava, Fagus grandifolia, Betula alleghaniensis, Acer saccharum), but with a rich herbaceous flora dominated by forbs and more typical of lower elevation 'cove' forests.
  • This forest occurs on deep, rocky soils on the upper slopes of coves, and on other protected landforms, at elevations of 1,070-1,525 m (3,500-5,000 feet), and can be associated with mafic substrates.
  • The canopy of these forests always has a component of Betula alleghaniensis and/or Fagus grandifolia, occurring with Acer saccharum, over a lush and diverse herbaceous stratum.
    
    
• In the Great Smoky Mountains, Halesia tetraptera var. monticola is an important canopy component.
  • Other canopy species can include Tilia americana var. heterophylla and Quercus rubra.
    
    
• The shrub stratum is typically open, but small trees such as Acer spicatum, Acer pensylvanicum, and Amelanchier laevis are common.
  
  
• Herbaceous cover can be lush, quite diverse, and is typically dominated and characterized by large forbs such as Caulophyllum thalictroides, Actaea racemosa, Collinsonia canadensis, Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Laportea canadensis, Campanulastrum americanum, and Tiarella cordifolia.

• The canopy of these forests always have a component of Betula alleghaniensis and Fagus grandifolia, codominating with Acer saccharum, Aesculus flava, and Halesia tetraptera var. monticola.
  • Occasionally Quercus rubra, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, and Fraxinus americana may have coverage in the canopy, but this situation is not typical.
    
    
• The subcanopy, if present, contains species from the canopy as well as Prunus pensylvanica and Prunus serotina.
  
  
• The shrub stratum is typically open with scattered shrubs, but shrubs can dominate in patches.
  • Typical tall shrubs/saplings include Fagus grandifolia, Acer saccharum, Ilex montana, and Hydrangea arborescens.
    • Others include Acer pensylvanicum, Acer spicatum, Aesculus flava, Cornus alternifolia, Rubus allegheniensis, and Viburnum lantanoides.
  • Typical short shrubs/saplings include Rubus canadensis and Hydrangea arborescens.
    • Others include Acer pensylvanicum, Acer saccharum, Acer spicatum, Aesculus flava, Cornus alternifolia, Fagus grandifolia, and Rubus allegheniensis,
      
      
• The herbaceous stratum is lush and diverse.
  • Species with the highest coverage and constancy include Ageratina altissima var. altissima, Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Eurybia divaricata, Actaea podocarpa, Actaea racemosa, Deparia acrostichoides, Dryopteris intermedia, Laportea canadensis, Solidago curtisii, Tiarella cordifolia, and Viola blanda.
  • Other species with greater than 50% constancy include Arisaema triphyllum ssp. triphyllum, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Carex spp. (e.g., Carex aestivalis, Carex debilis, Carex laxiflora, Carex pensylvanica, Carex plantaginea), Prosartes lanuginosa, Eupatorium spp. (e.g., Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus, Eupatorium purpureum, Eupatorium steelei), Galium spp. (e.g., Galium lanceolatum, Galium latifolium, Galium triflorum), Impatiens spp., Polygonatum pubescens, Polystichum acrostichoides, Stellaria corei, Stellaria pubera, and Viola canadensis.

• This community is a regional endemic, found only in the high-mountain areas of the Southern Blue Ridge, south through western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and northeastern Georgia.

• This community was sampled on the Mount Le Conte quadrangle and Cades Cove quadrangle but is widespread throughout the intermediate elevations of the park.
  
  
• On the Cades Cove quadrangle, historic and recent samples of this community ranged from 3,580 to 4,610 feet elevation.
  • Samples from the southern portion of the Cades Cove quadrangle came from upper coves north of Gregory Bald; slopes below Rich Gap; and the western slopes of Forge Knob.
  • In the central and eastern portion of the Cades Cove quadrangle this community was sampled from the protected high slopes on the west side of Mud Gap; a cove north of Ekaneetlee Gap; high slopes in the vicinity of Devil's Tater Patch; McCampbell Gap, McCampbell Knob, an upper cove north of McCampbell Gap; northwest slopes below McCampbell Knob; and a cove in the upper reaches of Pole Knob Branch.
    
    
• This community was sampled in the southwest portion of the Mount Le Conte quadrangle on the low slopes above Alum Cave Creek (4,050 feet) and Walker Camp Prong (3,990 feet); on the low slopes above Road Prong in the vicinity of Beech Flats (3,650 feet); and in a upper cove below Chimney Tops (4,620 feet).

• Global Conservation Status Rank: G3 (Last reviewed: 10 27 2003).
  
  
• This community is naturally uncommon due to specific habitat requirements and a restricted geographic range.
  • It only occurs at moderate to high elevations, on protected landforms, in the Southern Blue Ridge.
  • Most documented occurrences are of moderate to high quality, although destructive silvicultural practices could threaten remaining occurrences.
  • The European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is predicted to spread within the range of this community by 2005 and poses a threat to this community.
  • There are potential difficulties in assigning plots or occurrences to this association (Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest [Rich Type] (CEGL004973)) versus Southern Appalachian Cove Forest (Rich Montane Type) (CEGL007695).
  • The current (2003) understanding of the differences would dictate leaving the rank at G3.

Major, C. S., C. Bailey, J. Donaldson, R. McCoy, C. Nordman, M. Williams, and D. Withers. 1999. An ecological inventory of selected sites in the Cherokee National Forest. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage. Cost Share Agreement #99-CCS-0804-001. Nashville, TN.

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.

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.

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