Botanical Survey of Rock Creek Research Natural Area, Kentucky
United States Department of Botanical Survey of Rock Creek Agriculture Forest Service Research Natural Area, Kentucky Northeastern Research Station General Technical Report NE-272 Ralph L. Thompson Ronald L. Jones J. Richard Abbott W. Neal Denton Abstract A 10-year survey of vascular plants was made of Rock Creek Research Natural Area, a 77-ha deep, narrow gorge of old-growth Hemlock-Mixed Mesophytic Forest located in Laurel County, Kentucky, on the Daniel Boone National Forest. The study documented 350 specific and infraspecific taxa in 223 genera and 93 families. Thirteen are nonindigenous naturalized species. Vascular plants include 6 Lycopodiophyta, 25 Polypodiopyta, 5 Pinophyta, and 314 Magnoliophyta; 255 are annual, biennial, and perennial herbs and 95 are woody vines, shrubs, and trees. Seventeen rare and special interest species have been recorded, including 4 that are listed by the state. The floristic survey provides a baseline reference for relative abundance, species richness, plant associations, habitats, and generalized life- forms within the Rock Creek Research Natural Area. The Authors RALPH L. THOMPSON, professor of biology at Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, and director of the college herbarium, received B.S. and M.A. degrees in biology from Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, and a Ph.D. degree in botany from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. RONALD L. JONES, professor of biological sciences at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, and curator of the university herbarium, received a B.A. degree in biology from David Lipscomb College, Nashville, Tennessee, and a Ph.D. degree in general biology from Vanderbilt University, Nashville. J. RICHARD ABBOTT, former lecturer in biology at Berea College and currently a consultant for floristic and revegetation projects, received a B.A.
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