Blue Ridge Spray Cliffs
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Spray cliffs are wetlands that occur behind and next to waterfalls, on cliffs and rocks kept moist by the spray. This community is well developed in the mountains because the steep mountain slopes allow the water to tumble down through deep ravines creating spray that is captured between the ravine walls. These ever-moist areas keep temperatures more even than other places in the mountains. The plants in this natural community vary according to their location in relation to the spray and how often they are flooded: ledges, pools at the base of the falls; rocky slopes and caves behind the spray can all host different species.
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What's special: Waterfall habitats are beautiful, due to the sights, sounds, and feel of the flowing, crashing waters and their spray. In addition, some waterfall habitats harbor rare bryphytes that remain here, protected by the humid conditions, dating from times when the climate was both warmer and cooler, and provide habitat for amphibians. In the past, overhanging hemlocks added a soft, evergreen element, but the trees are declining due to the non-native woolly adelgid.
Related communities: Usually acidic cove forests will border waterfalls and will interfinger with this community. Many of the plants in spray cliffs are also found in Seepage Wetlands due to the seepage here.
Related communities: Usually acidic cove forests will border waterfalls and will interfinger with this community. Many of the plants in spray cliffs are also found in Seepage Wetlands due to the seepage here.
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Plants
Click on the plant names for images. Plant lists are in alphabetical order by scientific name. Trees Red maple Acer rubrum Black birch Betula lenta Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis Shrubs and Woody Vines Tag alder Alnus serrulata Mountain sweet pepper-bush Clethra acuminata Climbing hydrangea Decumaria barbara Witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana Smooth hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia Mountain doghobble Leucothoe fontanesiana Great laurel/lRosebay rhododendron Rhododendron maximum Yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima (sub-shrub) Ground layer Wildflowers Jack-in-the-pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Brook saxifrage Boykinia aconitifolia White turtlehead Chelone glabra Umbrella leaf Diphylleia cymosa Hollow-stem Joe-pye-weed Eutrochium fistulosum Galax Galax urceolata Small-flower alumroot Heuchera parviflora Rock alumroot Heuchera villosa Thyme-leaf bluet Houstonia serpyllifolia Cliff/Michaux's saxifrage Hydatica petiolaris Orange jewelweed Impatiens capensis Great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Virginia bugleweed Lycopus virginicus Early saxifrage Micranthes virginiensis Sundrops Oenothera fruticosa Cowbane Oxypolis rigidior Kidney-leaved grass-of-Parnassus Parnassus asarifolia Lady-rue Thalictrum clavatum Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia Tassel-rue Trautvetteria caroliniensis Sweet white violet Viola blanda Ferns and Fern Allies Northern maidenhair fern Adiantum pedatum (especially over mafic or calcareous rocks) Meadow spikemoss Lycopodiodes apodum New York fern Parathelypteris novaboracensis Rockcap fern Polypodium virginianum Mosses Delicate fern moss Thuidium delicatulum |
Representative Trees in order by scientific name
Representative shrubs in order by scientific name
Representative ground layer, in order by scientific nameFerns in order by scientific name |
