Central Appalachian Montane Oak - Hickory Forest (Acidic Type) – CEGL008516

A stunted forest of chestnut oak (Quercus montana) and red hickory (Carya ovalis), with patches of Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pennsylvanica) underneath.  The consistently open understory of acidic montane oak-hickory forests may be due to repeated historical fires, historical grazing, edaphic stresses, or some combination of these factors.  Brushy Mountain above Carvins Cove Reservoir, Roanoke County.