Southern Appalachian Distriet. 489 
black spruce trees descend the mountain side and mingle with Betula luten and B. F 
americana, which becomes dwarfed at the edge of the coniferous belt, is nn er birches 
in this tension belt (Betula-Fagus sr es) 
Aesculus flava, which occurs at the upper edge of the tension belt, ascends the mountain 
into Carver's Gap, where it forms an almost pure stand of gnarled trees (Aesculus Facies), 
The Balsam Mountains are more heavily timbered than other cross 
ranges. On both northern and southern slopes there are deep, cool hollows, 
or coves with fertile soil producing vigorous growth. The woods consist of 
hardwood trees associated with hemlock and spruce. On the northern slopes 
such trees as 72lia americana, Aesculus flava, Liriodendron dominate while the 
proportion of oaks and Castanea dentata is smaller. Tsuga canadensis is 
‚associated with these in the deep hollows, while Picea nigra crowns the sum- 
mits of the northern slopes. On the southern slopes oaks and chestnut form 
the larger proportion of the timber and there are less of the lighter woods 
and hemlock and almost no spruce '). 
The summit of Big Frog Mountain is covered by Casianea, Quercus 
rubra, Betula lutea, Sorbus americana, Prunus pennsylvanica and virginiana; 
as shrubs occur Ribes, Vaccinium, Rhododendron arborescens, Stuartia, Ilex, 
Salix humilis, Rubus odoratus and on the ground Gaultheria procumbens. 
The forests of the Great Smoky Mountains are chiefly of hardwoods 
with a large amount of coniferous growth on the higher summits and in the 
deep, cool hollows. On the drier slopes, and especially on the south slopes, 
oaks and chestnut form the predominant growth with some Pinus rigida and 
Pinus mitis on the ridges. The forest in the hollows consists of 72lia hetero- 
phylla and Aesculus flava, associated with species of oak and chestnut. 
3. Forests and Subalpine Formations of the Southern End 
ofthe Appalachians. 
The Cumberland Mountains stretch from Tennessee to northern 
Alabama. The flora corresponds in general with that of the higher moun- 
tains of the adjoining states which enter Alabama at an altitude not exceeding 
2000 feet. In the Lookout mountain territory the large preponderancy of deci- 
duous leaved trees, the almost entire absence of magnolias and coniferous 
trees in general, particularly of pines of a decided southern range is note- 
worthy °). 
Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga may be taken as the type. The summit and slopes 
was originally covered with a forest consisting of Quercus Prinus, Q. rubra, Q. alba, Q. obtusi- 
loba, Q. nigra, Betula lutea, Gleditschia triacanthos, Robinia pseudacacia, Carya mierocarpa (= Hico- 
ria odorata), Pinus taeda, P. mitis, P. inops (= P. virginiana) reaches its best development on 
1) See Message from the President of the United States transmitting a Report of the Secre- 
tary of Agriculture in relation to forests, rivers, and mountains of the southern Appalachian 
ngton, 1902. 
GATTINGER, Augustin: The Flora of Tekstiten 1901: 14—19. 
