• This dry-mesic late-successional Appalachian forest occurs on slopes with southerly aspects and well-drained upland soils.
  
  
• The canopy is dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Carya ovata, and Carya alba.
  • Other Quercus species are common in the canopy (Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, Quercus coccinea, Quercus muehlenbergii, and Quercus velutina).
  • Other canopy species can include Pinus virginiana, Pinus echinata, Juniperus virginiana, Quercus prinus, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Fraxinus americana.
    
    
• A mixture of calciphilic and acidophilic trees are present in the subcanopy, including Juniperus virginiana, Cercis canadensis, Acer leucoderme, Nyssa sylvatica, Cornus florida, Acer rubrum, and Oxydendrum arboreum. Acer saccharum, Acer nigrum, or Acer leucoderme are sometimes present in the canopy and are often common in the lower strata (subcanopy, tall-shrub, and low-shrub).
  
  
• Species in the shrub strata include Cornus florida, Juniperus virginiana, Ulmus alata, Cercis canadensis, Vaccinium stamineum, Vaccinium arboreum, Viburnum rufidulum, Frangula caroliniana, and Ostrya virginiana.
  
  
• The herbaceous layer can be moderately dense to somewhat sparse.
  • Possible herbaceous species are Polystichum acrostichoides, Hexastylis arifolia var. ruthii, Dioscorea quaternata, Galium circaezans, Maianthemum racemosum, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Zizia aptera, Chamaelirium luteum, Desmodium nudiflorum, Desmodium rotundifolium, and other Desmodium spp..

• The canopy of this community is usually dominated by Quercus alba, but with a wide variety of codominants including Quercus stellata, Quercus falcata, Quercus velutina, Carya spp.. Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, and even Liriodendron tulipifera.
  
  
• The subcanopy is dominated by Cercis canadensis but also contains Nyssa sylvatica, Cornus florida, Acer nigrum, Ostrya virginiana, Juniperus virginiana, and Acer saccharum.
  
  
• The herbaceous layer is moderate to dense and very diverse, especially considering the slightly dry nature of the community.
  • Solidago sphacelata seems to be a consistent indicator within examples of this community in the Smokies, but other species include Zizia aptera, Bromus pubescens, Symphyotrichum undulatum, Doellingeria umbellata, Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, Packera obovata, and others.

• This association is at least a moderately widespread type, probably present throughout the Ridge and Valley from Alabama to Tennessee and possibly to Virginia, as well as adjacent Southern Blue Ridge.
  • A comprehensive review of related types has not been completed.

• Due to its restriction to calcium-rich soils only found in a few places within park boundaries, this community is most likely limited to the Kinzel Springs quadrangle of the Smokies.
  • Occurrences exist near the White Oak Sinks area.

• Global Conservation Status Rank: G4 (Last reviewed: 01 14 2000).
  
  
• This is not an inherently rare forest type.
  • It is at least moderately widespread, and it is presumed to be relatively common throughout its range, although its full range is not known.
  • It occurs on a variety of aspects and elevations, and it is not restricted to any highly specific geologic substrates.
  • It is poorly documented through EOs, and not much data are available on the specific condition of examples of this type.
  • Some stands have been impacted by removal of more valuable timber species and loss of herbaceous species diversity from the disturbance effects of logging.
  • The Grank was formerly G3G5. Changing this to G4 helps to clarify its status and indicates that it is not a rare type.

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.

Andreu, M. G., and M. L. Tukman. 1995. Forest communities of the Tellico Lake Area, East Tennessee. M.F. project report, Duke University, School of the Environment. Durham, NC. 66 pp. plus appendices.

Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.

Fleming, Gary P. Personal communication. Ecologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA.

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

Oberholster, C. 1993. Preliminary list of natural communities of Alabama. Unpublished document. Alabama Department Conservation and Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Section, Montgomery, AL. 6 pp.

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

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