21 October 2023.
Rabun County, Georgia, United States
Locality: Plants growing along Patterson Gap Road.
Coordinates: 34.9730, -83.4600
(Map it)
Elevation: 789m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants growing in part shade in a very dry and rocky, mostly deciduous habitat. The site is steeply sloped, underlain by rock, with rocky outcrops. Slope: 15 percent. Aspect: Variable. The underlying geology of this area is Biotite Gneiss, primarily of Precambrian-Paleozoic origin. (Source: USGS North Carolina Geologic Map Data.) The primary soil type in the collection area is classified as Tusquitee loam, 10 to 25 percent slopes. The Tusquitee series consists of very deep, well drained soils on gently sloping to very steep benches, foot slopes, toe slopes, and fans in coves in the Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B. These soils formed in colluvium derived from materials weathered from igneous and high-grade metamorphic crystalline rocks such as granite, mica gneiss, hornblende gneiss, and schist. 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 2m 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: Hydrangea arborescens; Liriodendron tulipifera; Kalmia latifolia; Rubus sp.; Magnolia fraseri; Oxydendrum arboreum; Rhododendron minus; Pinus strobus; Polystichum acrostichoides; Quercus rubra; Cornus florida; Hamamelis virginiana; Betula lenta; Viburnum acerifolium; Viola rotundifolia; Fagus grandifolia; Sassafras albidum; Aesculus flava; Amelanchier arborea.
Comment: Plants are common on the road bank on steep slopes hanging over the road.
Collector(s):