The Natural Communities of Virginia
Classification of Ecological Community Groups
SECOND APPROXIMATION (Version 2.2)
Rich Cove and Slope Forests
Mixed hardwood forests of this group occupy fertile, mesic, mountain-slope habitats at elevations ranging from about 300 m (1,000 ft)
commonly to 1,100 m (3,600 ft), and occasionally higher. Distributed locally throughout western Virginia, these forests are strongly
associated with moist, sheltered, landforms (i.e., coves, ravines, and concave lower slopes). Soils may be weathered from various
substrates but are generally moderately acidic to moderately alkaline, with high base saturation. In these habitats, soil fertility
appears to be strongly correlated with high base cation levels (particularly calcium, magnesium, and manganese) rather than with high
pH, and higher-elevation sites often have soils with surprisingly low pH. Characteristic trees include sugar maple (
Acer saccharum var. saccharum), basswoods (
Tilia americana var. americana and var.
heterophylla), white ash (
Fraxinus americana), tulip-poplar
(
Liriodendron tulipifera), and yellow buckeye (
Aesculus flava; chiefly south of the James River). Herbaceous growth is lush with
spring ephemerals and leafy, shade-tolerant forbs such as blue cohosh (
Caulophyllum thalictroides), yellow jewelweed
(
Impatiens pallida), large-flowered trillium (
Trillium grandiflorum), wood-nettle (
Laportea canadensis), black bugbane (
Cimicifuga racemosa),
sweet cicely (
Osmorhiza claytonii), Virginia waterleaf (
Hydrophyllum virginianum), large-flowered bellwort (
Uvularia grandiflora),
wakerobin (
Trillium erectum), yellow violets (
Viola pubescens var. pubescens and var.
leiocarpon), white baneberry (
Actaea pachypoda), two-leaved miterwort (
Mitella diphylla), common goatsbeard (
Aruncus dioicus var. dioicus), yellow mandarin (
Prosartes lanuginosa, =
Disporum lanuginosum), showy skullcap
(
Scutellaria serrata), eastern blue-eyed-mary (
Collinsia verna), Guyandotte beauty (
Synandra hispidula) and many others. Compositional variation related to substrate and elevation is complex and will require intensive future study.
The principal threats to rich cove forests are logging and invasion by shade-tolerant, non-native weeds, especially garlic-mustard
(
Alliaria petiolata).
Rich Cove and Slope Forests are distinguished from the similar Basic Mesic Forests by their more limited, montane distribution; occurrence
at higher elevations; and floristic composition that features a number of primarily Appalachian, higher-elevation species.
References: Coulling and Rawinski (1999), Fleming (1999), Fleming and Coulling (2001), Fleming and Moorhead (1996), Fleming and Moorhead
(2000), Johnson and Ware (1982), Olson and Hupp (1986), Rawinski et al. (1994), Rawinski et al. (1996), Rheinhardt and Ware (1984).
Click on the images below to open a larger image in a separate window.
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Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) dominates the mid-spring aspect of a rich cove forest
on the northern Blue Ridge. Hightop, Greene County (Shenandoah National Park).
Photo © Gary P. Fleming
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Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) and yellow jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) in a rich cove forest near Natural Bridge Station,
Rockbridge County.
Photo: Gary P. Fleming.
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Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) and golden ragwort (Packera aurea, = Senecio
aureus) under sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in a luxuriant Cumberland Mountains cove forest. Staunton Creek Gorge,
Scott County (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests). Photo: Gary P. Fleming.
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REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY TYPES:
More than 50 plots representing this group have been sampled in Virginia. Additional data
collection is needed to fill geographic holes, firm up classification of the existing units, and determine whether additional
community types are present in the state. Traditionally, Rich Cove and Slope Forests have been considered complex and difficult
to interpret, and those in Virginia are no exception. Click on any highlighted CEGL code below to view the global USNVC description provided by
NatureServe Explorer.
- Acer saccharum Tilia americana / Caulophyllum thalictroides Laportea canadensis Osmorhiza claytonii Forest
Central Appalachian Rich Cove Forest (Sugar Maple Basswood Type)
USNVC: =
CEGL006237, in part
Global/State Ranks:
G4?/S4
- Liriodendron tulipifera Quercus rubra Magnolia acuminata / Cornus florida Forest
Central Appalachian Rich Cove Forest (Tulip-Poplar Northern Red Oak Cucumber Tree Type)
USNVC: =
CEGL008510
Global/State Ranks:
G5?/S5
- Liriodendron tulipifera Tilia americana Fraxinus americana / Lindera benzoin / Cimicifuga racemosa ( Trillium grandiflorum ) Forest
Southern Appalachian Rich Cove Forest (Typic Type)
USNVC:
=CEGL007710
State/Global Ranks:
G4/S3
