Sampling of a second-growth, mesic upland stream bottom and adjacent north and south slope forests on the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Kentucky yielded detailed information on the structure of the canopy, subcanopy, and shrub synusia. The upland stream bottom and north slope communities were dominated by vigorous even-aged stands of Liriodendron tulipifera with an understory of shade-intolerant species. South slope dominants included Quercus alba and several species of Carya with an understory of mixed shade-tolerant and intolerant species.