• This community occurs on most of the major mountain ranges of the southern Appalachians at elevations of 1,070-1,525 m (3,500-5,000 feet) on broad ridges and mid to upper slope positions, commonly with southeastern and southern exposures.
  • At higher elevations this forest often occurs adjacent to or grades into forests dominated by Picea rubens, Abies fraseri, or northern hardwood species (Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia, Aesculus flava).
  • In some areas, this community is found adjacent to montane shrublands and grasslands.
  • At low elevations, on dry sites, this community may grade into forests dominated by mixed Quercus species.
    
    
• This community includes forest vegetation with Quercus rubra making up at least 75% of the tree canopy and with greater than 20% shrub cover, which may be continuous to patchy.
  
  
• More than 50% of the total shrub cover is deciduous, although evergreen shrubs may be present.
  • Typical shrub dominants include Rhododendron calendulaceum, Vaccinium simulatum, Vaccinium erythrocarpum, Ilex montana, Gaylussacia ursina, Rubus canadensis, Corylus cornuta, and Lyonia ligustrina.
    
    
• The herbaceous stratum is diverse and is predominantly a mix of sedges, ferns, and tall herbs (Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Eurybia divaricata, Oclemena acuminata, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Clintonia umbellulata, Collinsonia canadensis, Conopholis americana, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Dioscorea villosa, Laportea canadensis, Lysimachia quadrifolia, Medeola virginiana, Monarda fistulosa, Potentilla canadensis, Prenanthes roanensis, Silene stellata, Solidago curtisii, Thelypteris noveboracensis).
  • Herbaceous dominance varies within and between occurrences.

• The canopy of this forest is strongly dominated by Quercus rubra, often gnarled and stunted, particularly on sites affected by wind and ice.
  • Other minor canopy trees include Quercus alba and Acer rubrum.
    
    
• The subcanopy can be absent or have moderate coverage and commonly includes Acer rubrum and Amelanchier laevis.
  
  
• The shrub strata are moderate to dense and dominated by deciduous species, commonly including the tall shrubs/saplings Ilex montana, Rhododendron calendulaceum, Castanea dentata, Rubus canadensis, and Vaccinium corymbosum.
  • The short shrub/sapling include Vaccinium erythrocarpum, Rubus canadensis, and Vaccinium corymbosum.
    
    
• The well-developed herbaceous stratum is quite diverse and can approach 100% coverage. Fern species (Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Thelypteris noveboracensis) are often dominant, but many other species can occur.
  • Other herbs found in this forest include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Agrostis perennans, Agrostis stolonifera, Eurybia divaricata, Eurybia macrophylla, Carex pensylvanica, Clintonia umbellulata, Collinsonia canadensis, Dichanthelium spp., Dioscorea quaternata, Eupatorium maculatum, Galium latifolium, Gentianella quinquefolia ssp. quinquefolia, Hieracium paniculatum, Houstonia purpurea, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Lysimachia quadrifolia, Maianthemum racemosum, Medeola virginiana, Monarda, clinopodia, Prenanthes spp., Silene stellata, Smilax herbacea, Solidago curtisii, and Stenanthium gramineum.

• This community occurs on most of the major mountain ranges of the southern Appalachians in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.
  • It may possibly range into Kentucky's Cumberland Mountains and into Virginia and West Virginia.

• This community was sampled on the Cades Cove quadrangle and Bunches Bald quadrangle.
  
  
• On the Cades Cove quadrangle, recent and historic samples representing this community come from elevations ranging from just over 4,000 feet to 5,000 feet, in the southern portion of the quadrangle.
  • This community was sampled from the summits and convex high slopes Gregory Ridge; the southwest slopes below Gregory Bald; the southeastern high slopes below Moore Spring Camp; the western summit of Pond Knob; and the convex west slopes of Mollies Ridge.
    
    
• On the Bunches Bald quadrangle, this community was sampled along Balsam Mountain Road from 3,500 to 5,000 feet in elevation.

• Global Conservation Status Rank: G4 (Last reviewed: 12 31 1997).
  
  
• This community is uncommon but not rare.
  • It is secure within its range.

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