So, I’ve been in need of hitting up middle TN glades for a hot min now
The geological strata got me so stoked. The barren regions lay within several critical regions caused by expansive upheaval and separation events that have lead to development in glade systems in the Cumberland plat area; but also, and here is the real rad area, the central basin of TN(a zone surrounded by the Western Highland rim and Eastern rim. This central basin has a fossiliferous(porous) upper lime (Main Carter’s), followed by a nice limestone shalebed(Lower Carter’s), and finally has an exposed section of Lebanon Limestone which readily breaks due to porosity as well. The secondary exposure event that caused these barren communities to properly form are also part of the same events that formed the Nashville dome.
The only place I want to visit more than this cedar glade/barren next year might be the Alabama Ketona dolostone glades. Another year perhaps.
Ok, i seriously can’t get over some of Middle TN glades scaled diversity
like the grass diversity is one thing but, the amount of globally rare species is fried. Matt from @indefenseofplants if you Sarah and Grant kill it with another banger episode on barren prairies of the centeral midwest Ill be stoked. I know Liatris cylindracea is something y’all could shed light on in great detail to the general public.
The forbe diversity on this limestone talus may have absolutely no chill.
Here is a small list of rare and or endangered sp that may also be found in this region.
Tn(pyne’s) groundplum is one thing, and many of you know about TN coneflower (non sandrock type) being one of the first plant species on the endangered species list. but rock harlyquin, purple featherleaf prairie clover, Nashville breadroot, frenches shooting star, glade phlox, blue heart, Nashville mustard, longstyled glade crest, tall larkspur, gattingers lobellia, sunny bell lily, hoary puccoon, price’s woodsorrel, glade savory, Gattinger’s prairie clover, glade stone crop(i’ve only seen this in clifton gorge and in Indiana dunes lol), and yellow glade paintbrush.
many cliff break grow on the surface along with other xeric fern anomalies like Astrolepis integerrima
If you are into biofilms pls go check the place out because it has some of the best examples of Nostac forms and soil crusts (bact and lichen)
