• A characteristic association of shaded seeps of the southern Appalachian Mountains, usually with overhanging canopies though trees not rooted in the seep itself.
  • Often not large enough to be readily mappable, but a distinctive habitat for many plants, invertebrate and vertebrate animals.
  • This association often occurs in cove forests.
    
    
• Stands typically contain Diphylleia cymosa, Saxifraga micranthidifolia, and Laportea canadensis.
  • Other characteristic species include Cardamine clematitis, Chelone lyonii, Chelone glabra, Chrysosplenium americanum, Boykinia aconitifolia, Cicuta maculata, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Viola cucullata, Viola macloskeyi ssp. pallens, Lilium grayi, Oxypolis rigidior, Parnassia asarifolia, Tiarella cordifolia, Thalictrum clavatum, Trautvetteria caroliniensis, Stellaria corei, and Geum geniculatum.
    
    
• Occurrences associated with more acidic soil conditions often contain Juncus gymnocarpus.

• This community includes forested seeps in cove forests dominated by Aesculus flava, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, and Betula alleghaniensis.
  • The seeps are open herbaceous vegetation, but canopy trees hang over the seep and can have up to 70% coverage.
    
    
• Shrubs are absent to sparse.
  
  
• Herbs have 50-100% coverage.
  • Species with the highest coverages are Diphylleia cymosa, Saxifraga micranthidifolia, Actaea podocarpa, Laportea canadensis, Tiarella cordifolia, and Impatiens pallida.
  • Other common herbs include Ageratina altissima var. roanensis, Eurybia divaricata, Chrysosplenium americanum, Euonymus obovatus, and Monarda didyma.
    
    
• Bryophytes, other than Sphagnum, can have substantial cover on rocks.

• This community is found at moderate to high elevations of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, northern Georgia, and probably northwestern South Carolina.

• This community was sampled on both the Cades Cove quadrangle and Mount Le Conte quadrangle and observed in most other areas of the park with mesic slopes.
  
  
• On the Cades Cove quadrangle this community was sampled in the southern portion of the quadrangle on a high slope north of Rich Gap and in the eastern portion of the quadrangle along Pole Knob Branch.
  
  
• On the Mount Le Conte quadrangle, this community was sampled north of Cherokee Orchard, above Baskins Creek; and in the vicinity of Rainbow Falls, along Le Conte Creek.

• Global Conservation Status Rank: G3 (Last reviewed: 12 14 1998).
  
  
• This community occurs at moderate to high elevations of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, northern Georgia, and probably northwestern South Carolina.
  • It occurs as a small patch community, embedded in a variety of regional forest types.
  • While restricted in range and of small size, the community is relatively frequent within its range, many examples are protected, and threats are relatively few and minor.

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.

Fleming, G. P., P. P. Coulling, D. P. Walton, K. M. McCoy, and M. R. Parrish. 2001. The natural communities of Virginia: Classification of ecological community groups. First approximation. Natural Heritage Technical Report 01-1. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. Unpublished report. January 2001. 76 pp.

Kauffman, Gary. Personal communication. Botanist. USDA Forest Service, Nantahala National Forest, Highlands, 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.

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. 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.