21 October 2023.
Rabun County, Georgia, United States
Locality: Plants growing along Patterson Gap Road.
Coordinates: 34.9700, -83.4772
(Map it)
Elevation: 1005m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants growing in part shade to sun in an upland, very dry and rocky, mostly deciduous habitat. The site is steeply sloped, underlain by rock, with rocky outcrops. Slope: 15 to 65 percent. Aspect: Variable. The underlying geology of this area is Quartzite/Mica Schist, primarily of Precambrian-Paleozoic origin. (Source: USGS North Carolina Geologic Map Data.) The primary soil type in the collection area is classified as Ashe Series that is stony and very steep. The Ashe series consists of moderately deep, somewhat excessively drained soils on gently sloping to very steep ridges and side slopes of the Blue Ridge. They formed in residuum that is affected by soil creep in the upper part, and weathered from felsic or mafic igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks such as granite, hornblende gneiss, granodiorite, biotite gneiss, and high-grade metagraywacke. Slope ranges from 2 to 95 percent. The surface layer to 5cm deep is comprised of moderately decomposed organic matter and leaves, twigs, and roots. Layers to 70cm deep range from very dark grayish brown to brown sandy loam with weak medium and coarse granular structure that is friable. A few fine flakes of mica can be found and these soils are very strongly acid. (Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey.)
Number of plants sampled: 10
Associated species: Liriodendron tulipifera; Carex sp.; Rubus sp.; Carya sp.; Nyssa sylvatica; Pinus virginiana; Quercus montana; Smilax sp.; Acer pensylvanicum.
Comment: Plants are occasional and mostly found along the ridge tops.
Collector(s):