When people think of Southern Appalachia, they tend to think of trees and forests, and rightfully so. Most of these mountains are canopied in forest cover with an understory of shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants, including native grass and sedge species. But the entirety of Southern Appalachia was not historically a closed canopied forest.
Throughout the Southeastern United States and across Appalachia, there are regular openings that allow for enough light to favor grasses and wildflowers in a meadow or savannah. Sure, I also imagine a wide-open plain with maybe a tree or two when I picture a savannah due to the images in media and our cultural memories. Perhaps Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt” or The Lion King have shaped this image for many of us.