Central and southern Appalachian montane oak forest
The Central and southern Appalachian montane oak forest is a forest system found in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. These forests occur on exposed sites such as ridgecrests and south- to west-facing slopes, typically from about elevation, but sometimes extending to . Soils are thin, weathered, nutrient-poor, low in organic matter, and acidic. Trees are often stunted and wind-flagged. Flora The Central and southern Appalachian montane oak forest commonly includes: the Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and white oak (Quercus alba), and sprouts of American chestnut (Castanea dentata). Common shrubs include: Winterberry (Ilex montana), flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum), catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), and great rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). See also Appalachian temperate rainforest Southern Appalachian spruce–fir forest References Forests of the United States Plant communities of West Virginia Plant communities of Virginia Plant communities of Kentucky Plant communities of Tennessee Plant communities of North Carolina Plant communities of South Carolina Plant communities of Georgia (U.S. state) Natural history of the Great Smoky Mountains Appalachian forests