• This association occurs in the broad elevational transition zone between spruce - fir and northern hardwoods in the Southern Blue Ridge (approx. 4,600-5,100 feet).
  • This association occurs on steep slopes and protected ridges, over shallow, stony soils.
    
    
• The canopy is comprised of Picea rubens codominating with the deciduous species Betula alleghaniensis, Fagus grandifolia, and Aesculus flava, occurring singly or in combination.
  • At higher elevations, Abies fraseri may be a minor canopy component.
    
    
• The shrub stratum is open to absent. Viburnum lantanoides is a common shrub, and Acer pensylvanicum and Amelanchier laevis often occur as small trees.
  
  
• The herbaceous stratum is lush and diverse.
  • Typical herbs include Oclemena acuminata, Carex pensylvanica, Dryopteris campyloptera, Dryopteris intermedia, Maianthemum canadense, Oxalis montana, Solidago glomerata, and Rugelia nudicaulis (in the Great Smoky Mountains).

• The forest canopy and subcanopy is codominated by large Picea rubens and Betula alleghaniensis.
  
  
• In some occurrences, Picea rubens can overtop Betula alleghaniensis.
• Other subcanopy trees include Abies fraseri, Aesculus flava, and Prunus pensylvanica.
  
  
• Shrub cover can be sparse to moderate (20-90%) but is always dominated by deciduous species.
• The tall- and short-shrub strata share many species.
  • The most constant shrubs are Abies fraseri, Acer spicatum, Vaccinium erythrocarpum, Viburnum lantanoides, Sorbus americana, and Rubus canadensis.
  • Other shrubs include Acer pensylvanicum, Ilex montana, Lonicera canadensis, Ribes cynosbati, Ribes glandulosum, Hydrangea arborescens, Rubus allegheniensis, Betula alleghaniensis, Sambucus racemosa var. pubens), Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Cornus alternifolia, Menziesia pilosa, Rhododendron maximum, and Rhododendron catawbiense.
    
• Herbaceous cover is moderate to dense (30-100%) and is dominated by ferns and other forbs.
  • Herbaceous dominance may vary from site to site, but the most constant herb species are Dryopteris campyloptera, Oxalis montana, Solidago glomerata, Clintonia borealis, and Rugelia nudicaulis.
  • Other herbaceous species include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Asplenium montanum, Oclemena acuminata, Eurybia chlorolepis, Athyrium filix-femina, Chelone lyonii, Actaea podocarpa, Cinna latifolia, Circaea alpina, Dryopteris intermedia, Huperzia lucidula, Impatiens pallida, Melanthium parviflorum, Monotropa uniflora, Polypodium appalachianum, Tiarella cordifolia, and Trillium undulatum.

• This community is restricted to the southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina and Tennessee.
  • It may occur at high elevations (above 4,000 feet) in Virginia and Georgia.

• This community was sampled on the Mount Le Conte quadrangle and around Newfound Gap and was not found on the Cades Cove quadrangle.
  • It was sampled in the vicinity of Mount Kephart, on the broad, steep slopes on the northern and southern flanks of Mount Le Conte, and in the vicinity of Balsam point, at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 5,880 feet. It should be sought in other high-elevation (>4,500 feet) areas of the park.

• Global Conservation Status Rank: G2 (Last reviewed: 01 04 2000).
  
  
• The community is geographically and environmentally restricted to the highest elevations of the Southern Blue Ridge.
  • Very few occurrences are known to exist.

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.

Golden, M. S. 1974. Forest vegetation and site relationships in the central portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 275 pp.

Golden, M. S. 1981. An integrated multivariate analysis of forest communities of the central Great Smoky Mountains. The American Midland Naturalist 106:37-53.

Livingston, D., and C. Mitchell. 1976. Site classification and mapping in the Mt. LeConte growth district, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Unpublished report. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Library.

McLeod, D. E. Personal communication. Ecologist. Mars Hill College (retired), Celo, NC.

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

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. 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.