Southern Appalachian High-Elevation Rocky Summit (High Peak Type) - Ecological Community of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

NatureServe Unique Identifier: CEGL004277: Saxifraga michauxii - Carex misera - Oclemena acuminata - Solidago glomerata Herbaceous Vegetation

Park Vegetation Plot Summary

Tree Canopy: Abies fraseri, Picea rubens

Tree subcanopy: N/A

Tall Shrubs and Saplings: N/A

Herbs (field): N/A

Nonvascular: N/A

GLOBAL COMMUNITY CONCEPT

This association covers high-elevation (greater than 1,980 m) vegetated rock outcrops of highly fractured felsic to mafic bedrock.
- The vegetative cover is sparse with grasses, forbs and shrubs rooted in rock fissures.
- This community occurs in a matrix of Picea rubens - Abies fraseri forest.
Typical species in stands of this type are Carex misera, Abies fraseri, Menziesia pilosa, Heuchera villosa, Rhododendron catawbiense, Saxifraga michauxii, Sorbus americana, Oclemena acuminata, and Solidago glomerata.
- Other characteristic species are ~~Minuartia glabra~~ and Polypodium appalachianum.

PARK VEGETATION PLOT SUMMARY

Same as global.

DISTRIBUTION

North America:
Occurs on high summits of the southern Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee.

In the Park:
This community was not documented in this project. However, historical records indicate that this community is/was found on Mount Buckley. It most likely occurs in other high-elevation areas of the park.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Global Status:

Global Conservation Status Rank: G1 (Last reviewed: 01 15 1995).
This community is naturally rare, representing a tiny fraction of the high-mountain landscape.
- It is known from scattered, small acreage occurrences.
- Heavy recreational use in these fragile communities has damaged, and continues to threaten, many examples.
- Additionally, atmospheric deposition of air pollutants may have an adverse effect on these high-elevation communities.

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.

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.

Wiser, S. K. 1993. Vegetation of high-elevation rock outcrops of the southern Appalachians: Composition, environmental relationships, and biogeography of communities and rare species. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 271 pp.

Wiser, S. K., R. K. Peet, and P. S. White. 1996. High-elevation rock outcrop vegetation of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Journal of Vegetation Science 7:703-722.

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