Oak-heath forest

An oak-heath forest is a plant community association and type of forest ecology. It is a deciduous forest type of well-drained, acidic soils, characterized by oaks (Quercus) and plants of the heath family, Ericaceae.^[1] It is commonly found in the high elevations of the eastern United States. Such forest areas typically have a dense fibrous root layer at the surface of the soil, and in many areas predominate on south-facing or southwest-facing slopes. Many of the existing oak-heath forests once featured American chestnut as an important canopy species.^[2]

Oaks

Oaks (Quercus) characteristic of an oak-heath associations include white oak, Quercus alba; black oak, Quercus velutina; scarlet oak, Quercus coccinea; chestnut oak, Quercus prinus, and red oak, Quercus rubra.^[2][3]

Heaths

Heath plants common to this ecology include mountain-laurel, Kalmia latifolia, various blueberries, genus Vaccinium, huckleberries, genus Gaylussacia, sourwood (or sorrel-tree), Oxydendron arboreum, and azaleas and rhododendrons, genus Rhododendron. These are all usually shrubs, except for Oxydendron, which is usually a small tree. There are also heaths that are sub-shrubs, usually trailing on the ground, including teaberry, Gaultheria procumbens and trailing arbutus, Epigaea repens.^[2][3]

References