| COUNTY: | Lewis | ACREAGE: | 26 |
| 7.5' QUADRANGLE: | Gordonsburg | OWNERSHIP: | Private |
| PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCE: | Western Highland Rim | YEAR DESIGNATED: | 2002 |
DESCRIPTION: |
 Map
to Auntney Hollow  Printer
friendly version - pdf |
Auntney Hollow is a 26-acre
natural area in Lewis County. It is significant because it supports a
rare Tennessee yellow-eyed grass (Xyris tennesseensis) seep community.
This small seep is less than one tenth of acre and is located at the base
of a west-facing slope near a tributary of Little Swan Creek. The size
and shape of the natural area was established to protect the watershed
immediately surrounding the seep. The State was able to protect this natural
area by receiving a donated conservation easement from the former property
owner, Weyerhaeuser, Inc. in 2002.
This natural area supports one of only seven populations of the federally and state endangered Tennessee yellow-eyed grass found in Tennessee. All seven populations are found in Lewis County. Tennessee yellow-eyed grass is considered one of Tennessee's rarest plant species. There are only fourteen populations known to occur in the world. Auntney Hollow is one of the largest populations of Tennessee yellow-eyed grass known with dozens of clumps of varying size and age classes. The state listed Grass of Parnassas (Parnassia grandiflora) is also a co-dominant species in this seep and is a prominent plant and easy to identify because of its large round conspicuous leaves.
The xyris seep occurs in a semi-open condition with willow, swamp dogwood (Cornus amomum) and alder growing along the seep's margin. The surrounding area is a closed canopy oak-hickory forest. This seep plant community also includes black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. umbrosa), cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior), marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), bull-rush (Scirpus atrovirens), goldenrod (Solidago patula) phlox (Phlox glaberrima), rattlebox (Ludwigia alternifolia), flat sedge (Cyperus strigosus), beak rush (Rhynchospora capitellata,) and short-headed rush (Juncus brachycephalus).
The xyris community seep is susceptible to illegal off-road vehicle (ORV)
damage. The seep requires occasional thinning to manage woody growth encroachment.
If not managed, xyris and other herbaceous plants in this seep community
could become displaced by alder and willow.
SITE MANAGEMENT:
Division of Natural Areas, Jackson Environmental Field Office, 1625 Hollywood Drive, Jackson, TN 38305, phone (731) 512-1369 or Division of Natural Areas, 7th Floor, L&C Annex, 401 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37243, phone (615) 532-0431.
PUBLIC ACCESS:
The property is privately owned and not open to the public. Visitation is permitted by request only.
