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Pine Mountain Settlement School Property
Pine Mountain, Harlan County, Kentucky
Pine Mountain is the northeast to southwest- trending surface
expression of a major thrust faultwith a steep, northwest facing scarp slope
and amoregentle southeast facing dip slope. It is near 100 miles (161 km) in
length in Kentucky and extends south into Tennessee with only few significant gaps. Elevations
range to over 3000 feet(910 m). Most rocks are of Pennsylvanian and Mississippian ages.
Because of its length and continuous elevation, Pine Mountain represents a
potentially important migration corridor for many species. While the dip slope
is dominated by sandstones, the scarp slope has significant outcrops of
limestone, and these have given rise to caves and characteristic floras. 250 occurrences
of 94 rare species of flora and fauna are native to Pine Mountain (Ky. State
Nature Preserves System).
Source Walks: 8-2-06 and 8-3-06
Ia) Flood Plain
and terrace, wet to moist, of a small
(3'- 8' wide) stream that drains a
portion of the nearby, adjoining Bickford State Nature Preserve:
Black Willow (Salix
nigra ) - frequent on banks of stream
Silky Willow (Salix
sericea) - frequent on stream bank
Swamp Rose (Rosa
palustris ) - infrequent in wet meadow
(in flower)
Black Chokeberry (Aronia
melanocarpa) - inferquent in marsh /
meadow
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus
occidentalis ) - occasional on creek bank and in water (in flower)
Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda
cinnamomea ) - locally several in wet meadow
Royal Fern (Osmunda
regalis) - locally several in mash /
wet meadow (sporulating)
a spikerush (Eleocharis
obtusa) - in mud of creek bank and
marsh
Wapato or Indian Potato
(Sagittaria latifolia)
- locally several in water and mud
Common Water Plantain
(Alisma subcordatum)
- several plants in mud of creek bank and marsh
(in flower)
Cattail ( Typha latifolia )- occasional in mud and
water along creek
Rhynchospora capitellata (a beak rush) - frequent in wet meadow
Scirpus polyphyllus- common in moist to wet meadows and
stream banks
Scirpus cyperinus- frequent in wet meadow and mud of
creek bank
Carex vulpioidea- occasional in wet meadow
Carex baileyi- occasional in wet meadow
Carex scoparia- occasional in wet meadow
Carex lurida- frequent in wet meadow
Carex stipata- occasional in wet meadow
Panicum anceps var anceps- in moist meadow
Panicum rigidulum- in wet meadow
Paspalum laeve- occasional in moist meadow
Leersia oryzoides- in wet soil and water along creek
and in marsh / meadow
Wild Sweet William (Phlox
maculata )- frequent on creek bank
(in flower)
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia
cardinalis )- occasional along creek
(in flower)
Hedge bindweed (Calystegia
sepium) - climbing over other plants along creek (in flower)
Seedbox (Ludwigia
alternifolia )- occasional in mud and wet meadow
Groundnut ( Apios americana) - frequent along
creek (in flower)
Larger Buttonweed (Diodia
virginiana )- in moist meadow (in
flower)
Arrow- leaf Tearthumb
(Polygonum sagittatum )- frequent in wet meadow
Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens
capensis) - a few plants along creek
(in flower)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias
syriaca )- frequent in moist meadow and on creek bank (in flower the
butterflies Spicebush Swallowtail( Papilio troilus) and Silver Spotted
Skipper (Hesperia comma ) in attendance)
Rough Goldenrod (Solidago patula )- several plants in
wet to muddy marsh / meadow
Wrinkled- leaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa )- frequent
in wet to mesic meadow
a beggar tick (Bidens sp) - on creek bank in wet soil
and mud
Ib) Beaver habitat (runs, small dams, consumed
vegetation) and various other habitats:
Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis )- occasional along
stream and in meadow
White Pine (Pinus strobus )- scattered in areas near
Human dwellings
Allegheny Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) - locally
common
Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) - frequent in
open moist areas
Winter Grape (Vitis vulpina )- occasional along creek
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)- frequent in mesic forest along creek
Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans )- frequent throughout
Common Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) - occasional
along creek
Saw Brier (Smilax glauca) - occasional along creek
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis )- in open moist
to wet areas
Cyperus strigosus- occasional in wet meadow and mud of
creek bank
Carex spp (shed perigynia)
Andropogon virginianus- occasional in moist meadow
Paspalum pubiflorum- infrequent in moist open meadow
Elymus virginicus- frequent along creek
Panicum dichotomum var microcarpon- common in
meadow / marsh
Panicum clandestinum- common in moist meadow along
creek
Glyceria striata- frequent in moist meadow, mud and
creek bank
Glyceria melicaria- locally several plants in wet soil
and marshy areas
Cinna arundinacea- infrequent along creek
Phalaris arundinacea- frequent in wet areas along
creek
Leersia oryzoides- common in mud along creek and in
marsh
Agrostis perennans- in moist open areas and in open
forest
Juncus effusus- frequent in moist to wet meadow
Juncus marginatus- frequent in wet meadow
Juncus subcaudatus- infrequent in wet meadow and marsh
Juncus tenuis var dudleyi- in wet meadow
Horse nettle ( Solanum carolinense) - frequent in
moist meadow and along creek (in flower)
a dodder (Cuscuta sp) - locally numerous on various
plants
Cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior) - occasional on creek
bank and in wet meadow and marsh
White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia )- occasional in
moist meadow
Clayton's Bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) - occasional in moist
to wet meadow
false Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) - frequent in
moist to wet open ground
Pallid Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) - common in
moist open to shaded areas (in flower)
Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana) - frequent along
stream and in meadow
Upright Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta) - frequent along
creek and in meadow
Water Smartweed (Polygonum amphibium var emersum)- infrequent in wet meadow and marsh
a knotweed (Polygonum sp) - immature plant in shallow
creek water
Ridged Yellow Flax (Linum striatum) - infrequent in
wet low ground
Northern Bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus) - locally
several in wet depressions in open woods
Hog Peanut ( Amphicarpa bracteata) - common in meadow
Tall Agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala )- occasional in
open moist ground
Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) - frequent in mud and
wet soil along creek
Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) - occasional in mud and
wet soil
Tall Meadowrue (Thalictrum pubescens) - frequent in
low open moist ground
Large Leaf Phlox ( Phlox amplifolia) - frequent in
open meadow along creek
Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) - frequent in
meadows and woods borders
Late Goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) - frequent in open moist
to wet meadow and along creek
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) - frequent in
open moist ground
Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea )- frequent in moist
meadow and along stream
Common Joe- pye (Eupatorium fistulosum) - frequent in
meadow and along creek
Panicled Aster (Aster simplex )- occasional in open
moist to wet areas
Crooked- stem Aster (Aster prenanthoides) - frequent
in moist to wet open ground
Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) - in moist soil
along creek
Tall Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) - frequent in
low moist ground along creek
II) Pine Mountain Settlement School: traverse through
various disturbed areas (old fields, edges of woods, along paths and roads) :
Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)
Black Oak (Quercus velutina )0seedlings along woods
road
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) - frequent
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum )- frequent
Red Mulberry (Morus rubra )- frequent at edge of
woods
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida )- in open and in
border of woods
Redbud (Cercis canadensis )- in open and in border of
woods
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra )- occasional in meadow
and edge of woods
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) - in open and edge of
woods
Shining Sumac (Rhus copallina)
Hazelnut (Corylus americana)
Smooth Gooseberry (Ribies rotundifolium)
Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin) - in moist soil in open
meadow and woods border
Buffalonut ( Pyrularia pubera) - a few plants in a
forest fragment
Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis )- scattered
throughout
Hairy Woodrush ( Luzula acuminata )- infrequent at
edge of mixed woods
White Clintonia (Clintonia umbellulata) - in and at
border of mesic mixed forest (Hemlock, Northern Red Oak, Basswood)
Wirestem Muhly (Muhlenbergia frondosa )- frequent
along paths and roads
Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix )- frequent in open
mixed woods
Roundseed Panic Grass (Panicum sphaerocarpon )- occasional
in fields and meadows
Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata )
Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadensis )
Panicled- leaf Tick- trefoil (Desmodium paniculatum )- frequent
along paths, roads and in meadows
Common Plantain (Plantago rugelii )- frequent ruderal
(in flower)
Venus Looking Glass (Triodanis perfoliata)- occasional ruderal (in flower)
Creeping Five- leaf (Potentilla
simplex) - common
Native Self- heal (Prunella vulgaris var lanceolata)- frequent
Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) - in wet ground
Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) - frequent
a tick- trefoil (Desmodium sp) - not in flower
a gentian (Gentiana sp) - not in flower
a lady's tress (Spiranthes sp) - not in flower
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus )- frequent ruderal (
in flower)
Whitetop (Erigeron strigosus) - occasional ruderal
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia) - common ruderal
Pale Indian Plantain (Cacalia atriplicifolia )- occasional
to frequent, edge of woods, fields
a beggar tick (Bidens sp) - occasional ruderal in
meadow
Late- flowering Thoroughwort
(Eupatorium serotinum ) infrequent in meadow
III) Bickford SNP, traverse through Old Growth, northwest
slope of Pine Mountain:
Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera )- dominant
Yellow Buckeye ( Aesculus octandra) - co- dominant
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) - co- dominant
Black Birch (Betula lenta) - co- dominant
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) - co- dominant
White Ash (Fraxinus americana )- co- dominant
Canada Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis )- co- dominant
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra )- co- dominant
White Oak ( Quercus alba) - co- dominant
Red Maple (Acer rubrum )- infrequent
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) - occasional
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata )- occasional
Bitternut Hickory ( Carya cordiformis) - occasional
Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra )- frequent
American Basswood (Tilia americana var americana )- abundance?
Cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata) - frequent
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) - frequent
Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra )- infrequent
Fraser Magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) - frequent
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboeum) - occasional
Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) - occasional
Muscletree (Carpinus caroliniana )- occasional
Alternate- leaf Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)- occasional
Common Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea )- frequent
as a small tree or shrub
American Holly ( Ilex opaca) - frequent to scattered
as a small tree
American Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus )- abundance?
Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) - frequent
Buffalonut (Pyrularia pubera) - infrequent
Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin )- frequent (in fruit)
Maple- leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium )- frequent
Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis )- occasional
Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra acuminata) - occasional
Great Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum )- common
along streams and some lower slopes
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) - frequent
a dewberry (Rubus enslenii )- on soil over boulders
in open forest
Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans )- locally several plants
Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis )- occasional
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)- frequent
Hispid Greenbrier (Smilax hispida )- infrequent
Common Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) - occasional
Southern Lady Fern (Athyrium filix- femina )- occasional
Intermediate Shield Fern (Dryopteris intermedia )- frequent
Christmas Fern (Polstichum acrostichoides) - frequent
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum) - infrequent
Broad Beech Fern (Thelypteris hexagonoptera )- frequent
locally
Silvery Athyrium ( Athyrium thelypteroides )- frequent
locallyron) - occasional
New York Fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) - common
Indian Turnip (Arisaema triphyllum )- frequent
Carex debilis- occasional
Carex digitalis- occasional
Carex platyphylla- locally frequent
Carex laxiflora- frequent to scattered
Plume Lily (Smilacina racemosa) - occasional
Wake Robin ( Trillium erectum )- occasional
Large- flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum )- frequent
to occasional
Common Many Knees (Polygonatum biflorum )- occasional
(Uvularia perfoliata) - infrequent
Indian Cucumberroot (Medeola virginianum) - frequent
Hairy Disporum (Disporum lanuginosum )- infrequent
Four- leaved Yam (Dioscorea quaternata) - occasional
Crested Dwarf Iris (Iris cristata) - locally several;
colonial
Bearded Shorthusk ( Brachyelytrum erectum)- occasional
Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens )- frequent
Spotted Wintergreen ( Chimaphila maculata )- frequent
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia )- frequent
Hairy Heuchera ( Heuchera villosa) - occasional on
ledges of boulders (in flower)
White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) - infrequent (in fruit)
Pipevine (Aristlochia macrophylla )- frequent
Great Chickweed (Stellaria pubera )- frequent
Ginseng (Panax quinquefolia) - two plants seen
Basil Balm (Monarda clinopodia )- occasional
Hooked Crowfoot ( Ranunculus recurvatus) - occasional
Hispid Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) - infrequent
Knotweed (Polygonum virginianum )- frequent
False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica )- frequent in open
wet area
Clearweed (Pilea pumila )- frequent in moist to wet
area
Black Snakeroot (Sanicula canaensis) - frequent
Woodland Meadow Parsnip (Thaspium trifoliatum )- occasional
Hairy Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza claytoni) - occasional
Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)- infrequent
Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis )- common
Canada Violet (Viola canadensis) - frequent
Downy yellow Violet (Viola pubescens )- occasional
Round- leaf Violet (Viola rotundifolia) - occasional
Sweet White Violet (Viola blanda )- common
Blue Wood Violet (Viola sororia) - occasional
Halberd- leaf Violet (Viola hastata )- occasional
Striped Violet (Viola striata )- infrequent at border
with meadow
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) - occasional to
frequent
Naked- flowered Tick- trefoil ( Desmodium nudiflorum)- occasional
White Avens (Geum canadense )- occasional
Sweet- sceneted Bedstraw (Galium triflorum )- frequent
Horse Balm ( Collinsonia canadensis) - frequent
Blue Cohosh ( Caulophyllum thalictroides )- frequent
Maryland Sanicle (Sanicula marilandica )- occasional
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) - frequent
American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa )- infrequent
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) - frequent locally
(in fruit)
Harbinger of Spring (Erigenia bulbosa )- infrequent
Wild Stonecrop ( Sedum ternatum) - frequent on
boulders
Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis) - occasional to
frequent
Wild Ginger ( Asarum canadense) - locally frequent
Early Meadowrue (Thalictrum dioicum) - infrequent
Wood Anemone ( Anemone quinquefolia) - frequent
Sharp- lobe Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) - occasional
Wild Sage (Salvia lyrata )- inferquent beside path
Cancerroot (Conopholis americana) - occasional
Indian Pipe ( Monotropa uniflora )- occasional
Beech Drops (Epifagus virginiana) - occasional to frequent
Lopseed (Phryma leptostachia )- infrequent
May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) - frequent
Coltsfoot (Hexastylis virginica) - frequent
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) - frequent
Rue Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides )- frequent
A Prenanthes (Prenanthes sp) - frequent
Curtis Goldenrod (Solidago curtisii) - frequent
Broad- leaf Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)- occasional to frequent
White Snakeroot (Eupatotium rugosum) - frequent
Blue Wood Aster (Aster cordifolius )- infrequent at
meadow border
Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus) - frequent along
trail and in openings
White Wood Aster (Aster divaricatus )- frequent
Crooked- stem Aster (Aster prenanthoides) - frequent
in wet areas
Robin's Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus )- locally
several
A part way along the traverse through the Old Growth at
about mid- slope a disturbed section of forest was encountered.
The following taxa were noted:
White Grass (Leersia virginica) - frequent in path
and in old road
Variable Panic Grass (Panicum commutatum) - frequent
in path and in old road
Bushy Panic Grass (Panicum dichotomum )- frquent in
path, in old road and in woods
Mountain Oatgrass (Danthonia compressa )
Creeping Five- leaf (Potentilla simplex )- occasional
along old road
Hairy- jointed Meadow Parsnip (Thaspium barbinode )- occasional
along old road
Soft Agrimony (Agrimonia pubescens) - occasional
along old road
Native Self- heal (Prunella vulgaris var lanceolata
)- occasional along path
IV) An additional traverse through Second Growth yielded
the following:
Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra )- frequent
Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa )- scattered
White Oak (Quercus alba) - frequent
Black Oak (Quercus velutina) - scattered
Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea )- frequent to
scattered
Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus) - frequent
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia )- frequent
Pitch Pine ( Pinus rigida) - frequent
Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) - frequent
Red Maple (Acer rubrum )- frequent
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum )- frequent
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) - some in flower
Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) - occasional
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida )- occasional to
frequent
Red Bud (Cercis canadensis) - occasional to frequent
a blackberry (Rubus enslenii )- occasional
Allegheny Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis )- frequent
Teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens) - occasional
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia )- frequent
Upland Low Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum )- scattered
Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) - occasional
Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis )- occasional
Mountain Oatgrass (Danthonia compressa )- frequent in
openings and along trail
Starved Panic Grass (Panicum depauperatum) - in full
sun on bank
White- haired Panic Grass (Panicum villosissimum )- occasional
Coastal Panic Grass (Panicum lanuginosum)- infrequent
Bosc's Panic Grass (Panicum boscii )- infrequent
Variable Panic Grass ( Panicum commutatum )- infrequent
Trailing Bushclover (Lespedeza procumbens)- occasional
Violet Lespedeza (Lespedeza violacea) - occasional
Hairy Bushclover (Lespedeza hirta) - occasional
Panicled Tick- trefoil (Desmodium paniculatum)- occasional
a tick- trefoil (Desmodium sp) -
Yellow Pimpernel (Taenidia integerrima )- occasional
Southern Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum pycnanthemioides )
several locally on road bank
a bluet (Hedyotis nuttalliana) - occasional
Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata )- occasional
Cut- leaf Goldenrod (Solidago arguta )- occasional
Silverrod (Solidago bicolor) - infrequent in openings
Old Field Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis )- frequent
in openings
Small- headed Sunflower (Helianthus microcephalus )- occasional
Wood Tickseed (Coreopsis major) - frequent
American Feverfew (Parthenium integrifolium )- abundance?
Panicled Hawkweed (Hieracium paniculatum )- occasional
Rattlesnakeweed (Hieracium venosum )- occasional
Hairy Hawkweed (
Hieracium gronovii )- infrequent
According to the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission (see
their Website), other features of the
Bickford SNP are six rare plant species,
including Red- twig Doghobble (Leucothoe recurvaand) and American
Golden Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium americanum), a diverse invertebrate
fauna, including two rare beetles and two species new to science, and the important Sawmill Hollow Cave, which is
developed in limestone.
References
Braun, E. Lucy (1935) The vegetation of Pine Mountain,
Kentucky. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 16, 517- 565.
Braun, E. Lucy (1950) Deciduous Forests of Eastern
North America. The Free Press, New York.
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