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== Plants survive == forces of nature

Imagine you're a plant, one of the hardy species adapted to live on Roan Mountain. You must stand here through long, bitter winters...pelted by ice... covered by snow...buffeted by strong winds. When ice finally melts, you burst into life for the short summer.

UAS National Forests »-+~) in North Carolina

Roan plants stand against tides of nature

Spreading Avens, the plant with 1 the round, spreading leaves, is found

only on high mountaintops of

the southern Blue Ridge. Wild strawberry, in the same family, grows beside it. The celerylike plant to your left is angelica. In midsummer, the flowers attract bees and wasps from near and far. Becoming drunk on the nectar, they may stumble around. Thriving on fs the Roan are -

WN plants nor- =a. NY Ve Sh Ns

XY

mally found in the North. oN SL —_———" Gooseberry, such as this bush in front of %

you, is one example. Gooseberry

The small strawberry-like plant growing on the mat is three- toothed cinquefoil. It is found in rocky places on the shores in Canada, alpine mountain tops in New England, the Appalachians, and southern Blue Ridge. Also located here are two other plants common

to the balds: mountain oatgrass and a grass- like plant called sedge.

The delicate blue flowers, called bluets or quakerladies, inhabit these mountains. During the harsh winter, no part of this plant re-

mains above ground. The plant with the lacy leaves is yarrow. This European plant is used

medicinally.

Rhododendrons are common to

the Appalachian mountains and

Asia, although they’re not found in

Canada. Often called heath balds, these areas contain few trees. Even when not in bloom, you can tell this is purple or Catawba rhododendron because the leaves have a white underside. All rhododendron leaves act like thermometers. As the temperature becomes colder, the leaves begin curling tightly. Haircap moss forms mats that are as soft as any mattress. These plants are often found in northern climates.

Catawba rhododendron

It’s a tough life for plants on the

Roan, as evidenced by the remains

of tree skeletons. Only the strongest

trees survive. Tree roots spread only a short distance before they hit rock, frost heaves push up roots, and strong winds blow over trees. A tree’s death clears habitat for species needing light, and new trees will grow in these spots.

managed. The shrubs become very

spindly and have few blooms when

they grow in deep shade or when they get old. In some areas, trees or rhododen- drons were cut. To the left are saxifrages, small plants with serrated leaves.

7 In the gardens, some areas are

A very special type of plant lives on this tree. The grey and green patches on the trunk are plants called lichens. A fungus and an algae live together symbiotically, meaning they help each other live. This special relationship may be why lichens were the first terrestrial plants. A variety of lichens are found around the world—from brilliant red tropical species to those in the far northern spruce fir forests. Due to their fasci- nating chemistry, lichens are used for air quality and pollution indicators and antibiotics for cancer research.

How do you tell the difference between spruce and fir? Feel them. Red spruce is in front of you. Fraser fir, also called balsam, 1s in back of you. You will know why peo- ple say “spiny spruce and friendly fir” when you compare the

sharp spruce needles Wwe with soft, rounded Ke ci

Red spruce

fir needles. Fraser fir

You are standing under a

Mountain-ash tree. The bright orange berries

produced in fall provide good wild- life food at high elevations.

Mountain- ash

ao” wowr~ es - eT =e

in wed

Before you is another mystery of the Roan balds. Many theories i ; explain why this area is bare. Its barrenness may be the result of people digging rhododendron, storms, salt licks for grazing stock, freeze and thaw of ice, or trampling. A small, unusual plant scattered along the edges is sandmyrtle. It is a carpet of tiny, waxy leaves.

air pollution is not yet under-

stood by science. The air, fog,

and rain now contain many different pollutants. Sometimes high mountain plants are bathed in fog as acidic as vinegar. Toxic levels of aluminum may be released from the soil because of acidity. Trees seem to grow slower and high-elevation forest cano- pies are not as lush. One theory says acidity weakens the trees, and they fall prey to dis- eases. High ozone levels may also play a part in decreased vigor. The Forest Service is investigating the reasons for this decline.

a The impact of acid deposition and

Anyone who has stood in Cana- dian forests will notice the same surroundings of the Roan forests. Although in North Carolina, the high elevation provides the same cold climate. During the last ice age, spruce-fir forests spread down to Georgia and Alabama. As the climate warmed, only these relic forests on the highest peaks were left in the Southeast.

The elderberry grows in North Carolina’s high mountains as well as in Canada. The scarlet berries provide food for wildlife.

This is a Forest Service rhodo- dendron maintenance project. Notice three different layers of rhododen- drons. In the foreground are shrubs cut back in 1977. The space in the middle con- tains shrubs cut in 1987. Shrubs in the back were not cut. Rhododendrons can live to be very old. Cutting the shrubs gives them a rejuvenated look and more flowers. The heart-shaped leaves near this sign belong to false lily of the valley, also called Canada mayflower.

You are standing at 6,200 feet. On a clear day, you can see many moun- tains from this point. The range to your right is the Black Mountain chain, containing Mount Mitchell—the highest peak in eastern North America. The grassy areas in front of you were crowded with blackberry bushes, until the Forest Service managed them.

For more information: Toecane Ranger District

P.O. Box 128

Burnsville, NC 28714

(704) 682-6146

(On U.S. 19-E bypass in Burnsville.)

The United States Depanment of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is a diverse organization comunilted to equal opportunity in employment and program delivery. USDA prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political affiliation and familial status. Persons believing they have been discriminated against should contact the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agnulture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 202-720-7327 (voice), or 202-720-1127 (TDD).

Forestry Report R8-FR 46 August 1994