An inventory of the significant natural areas of Watauga County, North Carolina - Page 131 |
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127
Watauga County Natural Areas Inventory
DUN VEGAN MOUNTAIN
Site Significance: Regional Size: 275 acres
Quadrangle: Valle Crucis Ownership: Private
SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site supports a good example of the rare High Elevation
Rocky Summit community as well as good examples of the more common Rich Cove Forest and
High Elevation Red Oak Forest communities. Significance is derived from the cluster of rare
plant species includes the Federally Threatened Heller's blazing star ( Liatris helleri), Federally
Endangered Roan Mountain bluet ( Houstonia montana), and four Significantly Rare plant
species: golden tundra- moss ( Rhytidium rugosum), the foliose lichen Cetraria arenaria, northern
shorthusk ( Brachyeletrum septentrionale), and Roan rattlesnakeroot ( Prenanthes roanensis).
LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site lies in a landscape that retains substantial
unfragmented areas, but which is increasingly interspersed by scattered clearings, especially
along highway corridors and around growing towns. The 5000+ acre Grandfather Mountain site
lies within one air mile of the site, just across NC Highway 105. Hanging Rock Mountain lies
within one air mile to the north.
SITE DESCRIPTION: Dun Vegan, called Peak Mountain on the Valle Crucis topographic map,
consists of a high elevation ridgetop which ascends southwest to a prominent rocky peak. It lies
between developed areas along NC Highway 105 and a ski resort. The southwestern summit
contains an impressive set of rock outcrops that are a good example of the rare High Elevation
Rocky Summit community type. The craggy outcrops support silverling ( Paronychia
argyrocoma), Michaux's saxifrage ( Saxifraga michauxii), sedges ( Carex spp.), crag- jangle
( Heuchera villosa), and rare Roan Mountain bluet ( Houstonia montana), Heller's blazing star
( Liatris helleri), golden tundra- moss ( Rhytidium rugosum), and the lichen Cetraria arenaria. The
lichen Lasallia papulosa is also common on open, exposed bare rock. Shaded rock faces support
rock tripe lichen ( Umbilicaria mammulata). Woody vegetation between outcrop areas consists of
a mixture of small trees and shrubs such as Catawba rhododendron ( Rhododendron catawbiense),
mountain highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium simulatum), black huckleberry ( Gaylussacia baccata),
bearberry ( Vaccinium erythrocarpum), minniebush ( Menziesia pilosa), mountain sweet-pepperbush
( Clethra acuminata), mountain laurel ( Kalmia latifolia), mountain- ash ( Sorbus
americana), yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis), and witch- hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana). The
rock outcrop areas support a cluster of rare plant species which include the Federally Threatened
Heller's blazing star ( Liatris helleri), the Federally Endangered Roan Mountain bluet ( Houstonia
montana), and the Significantly Rare golden tundra moss ( Rhytidium rugosum) and the foliose
lichen Cetraria arenaria. Goldenrods resembling the Federally Threatened Blue Ridge goldenrod
( Solidago spithamaea) were found, but identification is uncertain. Other rare species that have
previously been documented from the site include the Significantly Rare northern shorthusk
( Brachyeletrum septentrionale) and Roan rattlesnakeroot ( Prenanthes roanensis).
The northeastern half of the summit ridge supports good examples of High Elevation Red Oak
Object Description
Description
| Title | An inventory of the significant natural areas of Watauga County, North Carolina - Page 131 |
| Full Text | 127 Watauga County Natural Areas Inventory DUN VEGAN MOUNTAIN Site Significance: Regional Size: 275 acres Quadrangle: Valle Crucis Ownership: Private SIGNIFICANT FEATURES: The site supports a good example of the rare High Elevation Rocky Summit community as well as good examples of the more common Rich Cove Forest and High Elevation Red Oak Forest communities. Significance is derived from the cluster of rare plant species includes the Federally Threatened Heller's blazing star ( Liatris helleri), Federally Endangered Roan Mountain bluet ( Houstonia montana), and four Significantly Rare plant species: golden tundra- moss ( Rhytidium rugosum), the foliose lichen Cetraria arenaria, northern shorthusk ( Brachyeletrum septentrionale), and Roan rattlesnakeroot ( Prenanthes roanensis). LANDSCAPE RELATIONSHIPS: The site lies in a landscape that retains substantial unfragmented areas, but which is increasingly interspersed by scattered clearings, especially along highway corridors and around growing towns. The 5000+ acre Grandfather Mountain site lies within one air mile of the site, just across NC Highway 105. Hanging Rock Mountain lies within one air mile to the north. SITE DESCRIPTION: Dun Vegan, called Peak Mountain on the Valle Crucis topographic map, consists of a high elevation ridgetop which ascends southwest to a prominent rocky peak. It lies between developed areas along NC Highway 105 and a ski resort. The southwestern summit contains an impressive set of rock outcrops that are a good example of the rare High Elevation Rocky Summit community type. The craggy outcrops support silverling ( Paronychia argyrocoma), Michaux's saxifrage ( Saxifraga michauxii), sedges ( Carex spp.), crag- jangle ( Heuchera villosa), and rare Roan Mountain bluet ( Houstonia montana), Heller's blazing star ( Liatris helleri), golden tundra- moss ( Rhytidium rugosum), and the lichen Cetraria arenaria. The lichen Lasallia papulosa is also common on open, exposed bare rock. Shaded rock faces support rock tripe lichen ( Umbilicaria mammulata). Woody vegetation between outcrop areas consists of a mixture of small trees and shrubs such as Catawba rhododendron ( Rhododendron catawbiense), mountain highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium simulatum), black huckleberry ( Gaylussacia baccata), bearberry ( Vaccinium erythrocarpum), minniebush ( Menziesia pilosa), mountain sweet-pepperbush ( Clethra acuminata), mountain laurel ( Kalmia latifolia), mountain- ash ( Sorbus americana), yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis), and witch- hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana). The rock outcrop areas support a cluster of rare plant species which include the Federally Threatened Heller's blazing star ( Liatris helleri), the Federally Endangered Roan Mountain bluet ( Houstonia montana), and the Significantly Rare golden tundra moss ( Rhytidium rugosum) and the foliose lichen Cetraria arenaria. Goldenrods resembling the Federally Threatened Blue Ridge goldenrod ( Solidago spithamaea) were found, but identification is uncertain. Other rare species that have previously been documented from the site include the Significantly Rare northern shorthusk ( Brachyeletrum septentrionale) and Roan rattlesnakeroot ( Prenanthes roanensis). The northeastern half of the summit ridge supports good examples of High Elevation Red Oak |
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