Montane Low-Elevation Seep - Ecological Community of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

NatureServe Unique Identifier: CEGL003909: Alnus serrulata - Lindera benzoin / Scutellaria lateriflora - Thelypteris noveboracensis Shrubland

Park Vegetation Plot Summary

Tree Canopy: N/A

Tree subcanopy: N/A

Tall Shrubs and Saplings: Alnus serrulata, Lyonia ligustrina, Kalmia latifolia, Lindera benzoin, ~~Vaccinium fuscatum~~

Herbs (field): N/A

Nonvascular: N/A

Click photo to enlarge.
Photo provided by NatureServe.

GLOBAL COMMUNITY CONCEPT

This low-elevation seep is known from low elevations in the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina, but is likely more widespread.
- The type may need substantial revision as more information is collected.
- This community occurs in stream headwaters and on the edges of small stream floodplains, where groundwater seepage emerges and provides a relatively constant flow and saturated conditions.
- A small streamlet (less than 1 m wide) flows through the community, and saturated and upland conditions form a mosaic through the remainder of the community.
- Physiognomy is variable, and may include herbaceous-dominated patches, shrubby areas, and areas with an open canopy of trees.
The open to scattered canopy includes species such as Betula lenta, Magnolia tripetala, Acer rubrum var. trilobum, and Nyssa sylvatica.
The shrub stratum is open to dense, and is dominated by Alnus serrulata, Alnus serrulata, Lyonia ligustrina, Kalmia latifolia, Lindera benzoin, and ~~Vaccinium fuscatum~~.
Typical herbaceous species include Scutellaria lateriflora, Thelypteris noveboracensis, Mimulus ringens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Ludwigia palustris, Apios americana, Oxypolis rigidior, Leersia virginica, Galium obtusum, Viola cucullata, Lycopus virginicus, Vernonia noveboracensis, Boehmeria cylindrica, Solidago altissima, Impatiens capensis, Scirpus georgianus, Hypericum mutilum, Rhexia virginica, Ludwigia alternifolia, Solidago patula var. patula, Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata, Carex gynandra, and Juncus gymnocarpus.

PARK VEGETATION PLOT SUMMARY

Same as global.

DISTRIBUTION

North America:
This low-elevation seep is found in the Southern Appalachians at low elevations. It has been documented from North Carolina, and is likely to occur in adjacent states (South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia).

In the Park:
This association was sampled along the Gold Mine Loop Trail, in the area north of Lake Fontana.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Global Status:

Global Conservation Status Rank: G2? (Last reviewed: 11 01 2002).

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:

A.S. WEAKLEY

Web Page:

Charles Wilder.

Photographs:

NatureServe

Maps:

N/A

REFERENCES

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

Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.