The vascular flora of Grassy Mountain, Murray County, Georgia

Abstract

Grassy Mountain is a 1,125m summit in northern Georgia, located at the southwestern terminus of the Blue Ridge Province of the Appalachian Mountains. The vascular flora of Grassy Mountain was surveyed and collected during the growing seasons of 2000 and 2001 over an area of approximately 5,270 hectares. Voucher specimens documented the presence of 554 taxa, representing 548 species and 6 varieties, 327 genera and 116 families. Exotic species comprised 11% of the flora documented in this study. No endangered or threatened plant species were encountered, however 20 taxa were found that are listed as sensitive, locally rare, or of special concern by the U.S. Forest Service or Georgia Natural Heritage Program. Grassy Mountain harbors an intact example of a southern Appalachian cove forest containing a boulderfield, which is botanically and ecologically significant for its species richness, pristine quality, and location at the southwestern extent of these habitats.