Appalachian Shortleaf Pine Forest - Ecological Community of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

NatureServe Unique Identifier: CEGL007078: Pinus echinata / Vaccinium (pallidum, stamineum) - Kalmia latifolia Forest

Park Vegetation Plot Summary

Tree Canopy: Pinus echinata

Tree subcanopy: Diospyros virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum

Tall Shrubs and Saplings: Kalmia latifolia

Short Shrubs and Saplings: Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum

Herb (field): N/A

Nonvascular: N/A

GLOBAL COMMUNITY CONCEPT

These forests occur in the lower elevations (below 2,400 feet) of the southern Appalachian Mountains on ridges and upper slopes, typically with southern to western exposures.
This association includes forest vegetation with greater than 75% of the canopy cover of Pinus echinata.
- Deciduous species make-up less than 25% of the canopy coverage and may include Quercus falcata, Quercus coccinea, or in the southern part of this association's range, Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica.
This community often has a midstory tree stratum with Oxydendrum arboreum, Carya pallida, Cornus florida, or Diospyros virginiana.
It occurs over a shrub stratum dominated by ericaceous species, typically Vaccinium pallidum, Vaccinium stamineum, and Kalmia latifolia.
Characteristic herbaceous species include Silphium compositum, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Scleria oligantha, Piptochaetium avenaceum, and Tephrosia virginiana.
- A characteristic vine species is Smilax glauca.

PARK VEGETATION PLOT SUMMARY

Same as global description.

DISTRIBUTION

North America:

These forests occur in the lower elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains.

Click map to view distribution.
Potential	Occurs

Click map to view North American distribution.

In the Park:

This association was not observed or sampled.
- However, forests dominated by Pinus echinata are thought to occur within the park boundary, especially in the area around Calderwood quadrangle.
- It should be looked for on dry south-facing fire-prone slopes and will most likely be found near ocurrences of Appalachian Montane Oak - Hickory Forest (Low Elevation Xeric Type) (CEGL007691).

CONSERVATION STATUS

Global Status:

Global Conservation Status Rank: G4? (Last reviewed: 12 01 1997).

Park Status:

Picking, digging, or otherwise damaging plants is prohibited in the Park. Collection is allowed only by special permit for research or educational purposes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Field Work:

NatureServe

Supporting Institutions:

N/A

Forest Association Described By:

R. White

Web Page:

Charles Wilder.

Photographs:

NatureServe

Maps:

N/A

REFERENCES

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.

CAP [Central Appalachian Forest Working Group]. 1998. Central Appalachian Working group discussions. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA.

Evans, M. 1991. Kentucky ecological communities. Draft report to the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission. 19 pp.

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

Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.

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

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.

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