Justin Tapia
Dr. Irene Rossell
The Hot Springs Window is a geologic area in Madison County, NC that supports many rare and uncommon plant species. This is due to the area’s unique geology that has exposed rocks millions of years old which, as they erode, have affected the composition of the surrounding soil. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is a woody evergreen vine that occurs throughout the southeastern United States, but its range is discontinuous in western North Carolina. However, there is a relatively large population within the Hot Springs Window. Crossvine also occurs along the Cheoah River in Graham County. This study seeks to investigate the distribution of Crossvine by examining the habitat and soil characteristics from 13 plants at Paint Rock in the Hot Springs Window of Madison County and 20 plants along the Cheoah River in Graham County (sampling was limited by Tropical Storm Helene). Sites were chosen based on ease of access during scouting and the presence of Crossvine noted in NC Natural Heritage Program plant inventories. Data was collected on soil pH, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, CEC, and humic matter as well as elevation, slope azimuth, host tree species, DBH, and bark texture. Results will be used to compare and contrast Crossvine habitats between the two study sites to better understand how conditions between these two regions may have contributed to the distribution of Crossvine in western North Carolina. Understanding the factors that influence the population distributions of native species is a key element in the stewardship of ecological communities. This is particularly important among woody vine species as they increase structure in forests, providing more niches for other species.