Print Report
CEGL002420 Taxodium distichum / Lemna minor Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bald-cypress / Common Duckweed Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Bald-cypress Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This bald-cypress swamp is found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of the United States in a variety of ecological settings. Examples may occur in oxbow lakes and ponds, and along the banks of rivers and lakes in saturated or flooded soils. This type is characterized by a monospecific canopy of straight, tall individuals of Taxodium distichum above shallow to deep water (depths ranging from soil saturation to approximately 6 m) during all or most of the year. Flooding is seasonal, occurring during winter and spring. Stands have a sparse to moderate subcanopy and depauperate shrub and herb layers. The trunks of the canopy trees typically form swelled buttresses. Canopy cover is variable, from at or near 100% to less than 60% in some examples. More open examples of this type tend to occur in deeper water. In the deepest water situations scattered trees grow over an open water surface covered by floating and submersed aquatic plants. Taxodium distichum regeneration is absent in areas of permanent inundation, as seed germination does not occur in standing water. The subcanopy and herbaceous layers are dependent upon timing, duration, and depth of flooding. Cephalanthus occidentalis and Rosa palustris may be common shrubs in some examples of this community, while Fraxinus caroliniana (in its range) and Acer rubrum var. drummondii are common in the subcanopy. Shallow water emergents, floating-leaved aquatics, such as Azolla caroliniana, Brasenia schreberi, Cabomba caroliniana, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Limnobium spongia, Landoltia punctata, Wolffia columbiana, Lemna spp. Nymphaea spp., and submerged hydrophytes, such as Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa, Myriophyllum aquaticum, and Potamogeton nodosus, are common in permanent water zones throughout the range of Taxodium distichum swamps. This community is differentiated from other swamp forests by lacking Nyssa spp. as other than occasional individuals. This is the only community type currently defined outside Florida with Taxodium distichum as the sole dominant.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is the only community type currently defined outside Florida with Taxodium distichum as the sole dominant. Stands are possible in suitable habitat anywhere within the range of Taxodium distichum; however, it is more commonly recognized outside of, or near the edge of, the range of Nyssa aquatica which otherwise is frequently codominant with Taxodium distichum. Classification can become difficult where excessive logging has removed most of the mature bald-cypress. Logging, and possibly alteration of hydrologic regimes, may create an unnaturally open canopy more typical of woodland communities. Water tupelo regeneration is prevalent at these disturbed sites, often replacing bald-cypress as the dominant plant species. Unless canopy composition is severely altered, this criterion is currently used to establish species dominance. Where logging causes classification difficulties, adjacent undisturbed occurrences may be used to ascertain pre-disturbance dominance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by a monospecific canopy of straight, tall individuals of Taxodium distichum with a sparse to moderate subcanopy and depauperate shrub and herb layers. Trees are generally very tall and straight with their trunks forming swelled buttresses. Canopy cover is extremely variable, from densely closed forests to sparse canopies. Taxodium distichum regeneration is absent in areas of permanent inundation, as seed germination does not occur in standing water. The subcanopy and herbaceous layers are dependent upon timing, duration, and depth of flooding. Cephalanthus occidentalis and Rosa palustris are common shrubs in this community, while Fraxinus caroliniana (in its range) and Acer rubrum var. drummondii are common in the subcanopy. A common vine is Brunnichia ovata. Shallow water emergents, floating-leaved aquatics, such as Azolla caroliniana, Brasenia schreberi, Cabomba caroliniana, Limnobium spongia, Landoltia punctata (= Spirodela punctata), Wolffia columbiana, Lemna minor, Nymphaea spp., and submerged hydrophytes, such as Ceratophyllum demersum, are common in permanent water zones throughout the range of this type. In the southern part of the range (e.g., southern Alabama) Lemna minor is replaced by Lemna valdiviana. Other important aquatic species may include Ludwigia palustris, Ludwigia peploides, and Hydrolea uniflora. The most open-canopied examples, in deeper water, may support dense colonies of Nuphar advena, and often greater cover of Nelumbo lutea, Cabomba caroliniana, Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa, and Wolffia columbiana (Van Kley and Hine 1998). Interestingly, cover of the epiphyte Tillandsia usneoides apparently peaks in more closed-canopied situations. Common herbaceous species from occurrences in southwestern Arkansas include Bidens discoidea, Carex lupulina, Carex glaucescens, Echinodorus cordifolius, Heliotropium indicum, Leersia oryzoides, Limnobium spongia, Lycopus rubellus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Proserpinaca palustris, and Saururus cernuus (J. Campbell pers. comm. 1999, D. Zollner pers. comm. 1999, TNC 1995a). The exotic plant species Eichhornia crassipes may a problem.
Bald-cypress swamps are similar in species composition and physiognomy throughout their range. Water levels determine species composition, density, and regeneration. Sites exhibit pronounced variability in herbaceous growth, and many species are specially adapted to flooded conditions. Bald-cypress swamps exhibit shifts in vegetative dominance largely governed by water fluctuations, windthrows, beaver predation, senescence, and fire. Bald-cypress forest understory varies from sparse herbaceous growth to very dense and diverse herbaceous flora. Bald-cypress reaches its greatest size in areas of permanent inundation.
Bald-cypress swamps are similar in species composition and physiognomy throughout their range. Water levels determine species composition, density, and regeneration. Sites exhibit pronounced variability in herbaceous growth, and many species are specially adapted to flooded conditions. Bald-cypress swamps exhibit shifts in vegetative dominance largely governed by water fluctuations, windthrows, beaver predation, senescence, and fire. Bald-cypress forest understory varies from sparse herbaceous growth to very dense and diverse herbaceous flora. Bald-cypress reaches its greatest size in areas of permanent inundation.
Dynamics: Prolonged flooding (most pronounced during late winter and early spring) can cause even mature trees to die. Drought encourages woody and herbaceous regeneration, and the herbaceous layer can become very dense when substrates are available during dry periods. Excessive sedimentation can increase the rate of fill common to all wetlands. Beaver predation, windthrows, senescence, and fire are ongoing seasonal and cyclic occurrences which can dramatically affect community composition. Canopy cover is variable, from at or near 100% to less than 60% in some examples. More open examples of this type tend to occur in deeper water. In the deepest water situations scattered trees grow over an open water surface covered by floating and submersed aquatic plants (Van Kley and Hine 1998). Taxodium distichum regeneration is absent in areas of permanent inundation, as seed germination does not occur in standing water. The subcanopy and herbaceous layers are dependent upon timing, duration, and depth of flooding. Woody regeneration is completely dependent on periods of drawdown, which may result in dense stands of even-aged trees. Very old, mature trees are generally scattered throughout bald-cypress swamps among dominant, medium-aged trees. Swamps containing large numbers of mature trees exhibit numerous canopy openings due to senescence and windthrows. Old-growth bald-cypress are usually hollow with many snags and dead limbs. Regeneration in bald-cypress swamps does occur on the periphery where fluctuating water levels often leave moist soil areas ideal for seed germination. Seed dispersal is accomplished by floating on the water surface.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on a variety of inundated topographic habitats, including oxbow ponds, natural lakes, drowned floodplains, backwater sloughs, along river edges, and in various isolated depressions within the floodplain. It is more commonly associated with brownwater than blackwater rivers. The community usually is linear in outline as it occurs in river floodplains and oxbows. Occurrences generally are surrounded by bottomland hardwood communities. Bedrock is deeply buried Paleozoic rock and has little or no effect on plant communities. Unconsolidated alluvial sediments need further characterization. Soil types on which it is found are very poorly drained. This includes impounded water (e.g., abandoned millponds, beaver ponds) and other habitats with relatively stable water levels. Hydrologic regime is the most important environmental determinant of the distribution of this community. Sites experience frequent flooding to near permanent ponding. Soils are always saturated. Floodwater may be 3 m or more deep and may be stagnant or flow up to 7 km/hour (Eyre 1980). Taxodium distichum is adapted to surviving under prolonged flooding, although exposed unflooded soils are necessary for seedling establishment. Saturated soils, with standing water all or most of the year, select for plants which exhibit special adaptations for existence in an environment with limited oxygen and nutrient availability. Seasonal flood pulses deposit sediment which can, when excessive, cause plant stress and speed wetland succession. Prolonged inundation does not allow for bald-cypress regeneration within the swamp and restricts new growth to perimeter low-water zones. Bald-cypress also has minimal sprouting ability, erratic reproduction, and slow growth which makes it a poor competitor with Nyssa aquatica (Wharton et al. 1982).
In Illinois, bald-cypress swamps occur on nearly level, deep soils on broad flats and narrow depressions or sloughs in the floodplains of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Soils are difficult to till and have silty clay surface and subsurface layers, high shrink-swell capacity, low organic matter, and slow permeability with ponding of water common. Bald-cypress swamps exhibit reduced soil chemistry while substrates are saturated.
In Illinois, bald-cypress swamps occur on nearly level, deep soils on broad flats and narrow depressions or sloughs in the floodplains of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Soils are difficult to till and have silty clay surface and subsurface layers, high shrink-swell capacity, low organic matter, and slow permeability with ponding of water common. Bald-cypress swamps exhibit reduced soil chemistry while substrates are saturated.
Geographic Range: This bald-cypress swamp is found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of the United States. Stands are possible in suitable habitat anywhere within the range of Taxodium distichum, i.e., the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain from Virginia to southern Florida, the lower Gulf Coastal Plain to southeastern Texas, and the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain to southern Illinois. However, it is more commonly recognized outside of, or near the edge of, the range of Nyssa aquatica which otherwise is frequently codominant with Taxodium distichum. Such areas include southwestern Arkansas and northwestern Louisiana, southeastern Oklahoma, eastern Mississippi and adjacent Alabama, southern Indiana, peninsular Florida, northeastern Virginia, eastern Maryland and Delaware.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683252
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Nb Southeastern North American Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D062 | 1.B.3.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nb.4 Swamp Chestnut Oak - Bald-cypress - Pecan Southern Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M031 | 1.B.3.Nb.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo Floodplain Forest Group | G033 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
| Alliance | A3594 Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3594 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
| Association | CEGL002420 Bald-cypress / Common Duckweed Floodplain Forest | CEGL002420 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Taxodium - Nyssa aquatica / Rosa palustris community (Voigt and Mohlenbrock 1964)
< Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica swamp (Robertson et al. 1984)
= Taxodium distichum / Lemna minor Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Bald-cypress, closed canopied type (Van Kley and Hine 1998)
? Baldcypress / Ceratophyllum Semi-Permanently Flooded Swamps (Turner et al. 1999)
< Baldcypress: 101 (Eyre 1980)
= Closed-canopy Cypress Swamps & Open (Deep Water) Cypress Swamps (TNC 1995a)
< Eastern Broadleaf and Needleleaf Forests: 113: Southern Floodplain Forest (Quercus-Nyssa-Taxodium) (Küchler 1964)
< IIA4a. Bald Cypress Swamp (Allard 1990)
< Mesotrophic Semipermanently Flooded Forest (Rawinski 1992)
? P1B3dI1a. Taxodium distichum (Foti et al. 1994)
< Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica swamp (Robertson et al. 1984)
= Taxodium distichum / Lemna minor Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Bald-cypress, closed canopied type (Van Kley and Hine 1998)
? Baldcypress / Ceratophyllum Semi-Permanently Flooded Swamps (Turner et al. 1999)
< Baldcypress: 101 (Eyre 1980)
= Closed-canopy Cypress Swamps & Open (Deep Water) Cypress Swamps (TNC 1995a)
< Eastern Broadleaf and Needleleaf Forests: 113: Southern Floodplain Forest (Quercus-Nyssa-Taxodium) (Küchler 1964)
< IIA4a. Bald Cypress Swamp (Allard 1990)
< Mesotrophic Semipermanently Flooded Forest (Rawinski 1992)
? P1B3dI1a. Taxodium distichum (Foti et al. 1994)
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