• This community includes xeric ridgetop forests in the Southern Blue Ridge, ranging south and east into the upper Piedmont, north into the Central Appalachians, and possibly west into the Ridge and Valley.
  • It occurs over shallow, rocky soils, primarily on south- to west-facing slopes and ridgetops.
  • It is distinguished by its overall floristic composition, with a high abundance of acid-loving ericaceous species, which are indicative of this community's extremely infertile, acid soils.
    
    
• The community description includes forests with canopies strongly dominated by Quercus prinus and/or Quercus coccinea, with lesser amounts of Quercus velutina, Quercus rubra, Quercus falcata, Oxydendrum arboreum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Acer rubrum var. rubrum, occurring over a typically dense shrub stratum dominated by Ericaceous species.
  
  
• The shrub layer may vary between evergreen and deciduous dominance.
  • Typical shrub species include Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron maximum, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium pallidum, Gaylussacia ursina, Gaylussacia baccata, and Leucothoe recurva.
  • Castanea dentata may occur abundantly as root sprouts.
    
    
• The herb layer is typically sparse and includes subshrubs such as Epigaea repens and Gaultheria procumbens.
  • Other common species include Chamaelirium luteum, Chimaphila maculata, Galax urceolata, Magnolia fraseri, Sassafras albidum, Symplocos tinctoria, Smilax rotundifolia, and Smilax glauca.

• The canopy of this forest is dominated by Quercus prinus, Quercus coccinea, and Acer rubrum, occurring either singly or in various combinations.
  • Other species found in the canopy and subcanopy include Carya glabra, Cornus florida, Nyssa sylvatica, Oxydendrum arboreum, Pinus rigida, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina, Quercus falcata, and Robinia pseudoacacia.
    
    
• The dense shrub layer is dominated by the evergreen shrub Kalmia latifolia and/or the deciduous shrub Gaylussacia ursina.
  • Other common shrubs include Rhododendron maximum, Castanea dentata, Vaccinium hirsutum, Vaccinium pallidum, and Vaccinium stamineum.
    
    
• Stands with a heavy deciduous shrub layer tend to have greater herb density and diversity, but typically herbs are sparse.
  • Common herbs include Chimaphila maculata, Epigaea repens, Galax urceolata, and Goodyera pubescens.
  • The vines Smilax rotundifolia and Smilax glauca are common and abundant.

• The center of distribution for this community is the Southern Blue Ridge of southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, northeastern Georgia and northwestern South Carolina.
  • It ranges south and east into the upper Piedmont and north into the Central Appalachians, and could possibly extend west into the Ridge and Valley and the Cumberlands of Kentucky.

• This community was found on both the Mount Le Conte quadrangle and Cades Cove quadrangle and is widely distributed elsewhere in the Park.
  
  
• On the Cades Cove quadrangle, recent and historic samples representing this community come from elevations ranging from 2,240 to 3,940 feet, from all areas of the quadrangle.
  • In the northern portion, this community was sampled on the southern slopes of Arbutus Ridge (2,240 and 2,280 feet); the eastern slopes (3,440 feet) and lower northwestern slopes (2,840 feet) of Leadbetter Ridge; and north of Leadbetter Ridge on the north slopes above Anthony Creek.
  • In the central portion of the quadrangle, on the low east and west slopes above Forge Creek, west of Mollies Butt (2,657 and 2,840 feet); the lower and middle west slopes of Doe Ridge (3,000 and 3,336 feet); northwest slopes below Powell Ridge, the southern upper slopes and ridges in the vicinity of Mollies Ridge and lower slopes west of Mollies Butt (3,200 and 2,940 feet); on middle slopes at the northern edge of Gregory's Ridge (2,700 feet); and on the middle, southern slopes of Big Grill Ridge (3,640 feet).
  • In the southeastern part of Cades Cove quadrangle, this community was sampled from the southwest sideridge of Nuna Ridge (3,880 feet) and from the southeast slope of Paw Paw Ridge (2,620 feet).
    
    
• On the Mount Le Conte quadrangle, this community was sampled at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 3,250 feet.
  • In the northern portion of the quadrangle, this community was sampled from low ridges and slopes north and east of Grapeyard Ridge (1,800 to 2,100 feet).
  • In the western part of the quadrangle, it was sampled on the low west-facing slopes above Cherokee Orchard (2,560 to 2,720 feet) and the west slopes below Scratch Britches (3,250 feet).
  • In the east, this community was sampled on east-facing, low slopes above the Little Pigeon River (1,880 feet).

• Global Conservation Status Rank: G5 (Last reviewed: 12 31 1997).

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