Table of Contents
Region Covered ix
Acknowledgments xi
Part I Introduction 1
1 How to Use This Field Guide 5
2 The Mountains 8
3 The Piedmont 15
4 Understanding Natural Communities 19
Part II Photo Key 29
1 The Mountains 31
Spruce-Fir Forest 31
Grassy Bald 34
Heath Bald 36
High-Elevation Rock Outcrop 39
High-Elevation Red Oak Forest 42
Northern Hardwood Forest 46
Rich Cove Forest 50
Acidic Cove Forest 54
Spray Cliff 57
Rocky Streamside 59
Mountain Bog 62
Chestnut Oak Forest 66
Pine-Oak-Heath 69
Forest Edge 72
2 The Piedmont 77
River Bluff Forest 77
Alluvial Forest 80
Basic Mesic Forest 84
Oak-Hickory Forest 88
Xeric Hardpan Forest 92
Granite Outcrop 95
Roadside and Field 99
Part III Plant Community Profiles 103
1 The Mountains 105
High-Elevation Communities 105
Spruce-Fir Forest 105
Grassy Bald 110
Heath Bald 115
High-Elevation Rock Outcrop 119
High-Elevation Red Oak Forest 124
Northern Hardwood Forest 129
Low-Elevation Moist to Wet Communities 135
Rich Cove Forest 135
Acidic Cove Forest 141
Spray Cliff 147
Rocky Streamside 151
Mountain Bog 156
Low-Elevation Dry Communities 163
Chestnut Oak Forest 163
Pine-Oak-Heath 168
Forest Edge 173
2 The Piedmont 179
Moist to Wet Communities 179
River Bluff Forest 179
Alluvial Forest 184
Basic Mesic Forest 190
Dry Communities 195
Oak-Hickory Forest 195
Xeric Hardpan Forest 200
Granite Outcrop 205
Roadside and Field 211
Part IV Species Profiles 217
1 Trees 219
2 Shrubs and Woody Vines 269
3 Herbaceous Plants 325
Glossary of Botanical Terms 471
Selected Natural Areas 476
Suggested Reading 495
Websites 498
Index of Scientific Plant Names 499
Index of Common Plant Names 509