Vascular flora of Gee Creek Wilderness Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee

The vascular flora of Gee Creek Wilderness, a watershed in the Blue Ridge physiographic province of southeast Tennessee, was studied for three growing seasons (1991-1993). A total of 592 plant collections, excluding duplicates. were collected in the wilderness. These collections represent 98 families, 243 genera, and 387 species and lesser taxa. Ten species are listed in Tennessee as either endangered, threatened, special concern, or special rare plants. Two species, Juglans cinerea and Vaccinium hirsutum, have been assigned a category 2 status by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The phytogeography of each taxon was analyzed both in Tennessee and in North America to understand the component nature of the flora. Eleven taxa were identified as uncommon floristic elements or have some type of phytogeographic significance. The flora of Gee Creek Wilderness is typical for the Southern Appalachians, except for the presence of a minor contingent of Cumberland Plateau species. These include Asplenium bradleyi, Carex joorii, Parnassia asarifolia, and Scutellaria pseudoserrata. Evidence of prospecting, mining, and logging activities is prevalent in the wilderness. Despite the disturbance history, less than 2% of the flora is introduced, or non-native to eastern North America. The complex and rugged terrain, abundant surface water features, and a unique flora make Gee Creek Wilderness an excellent member of the National Wilderness Preservation System.