Print Report
CEGL007732 Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus laurifolia - (Pinus taeda) / Arundinaria gigantea / Carex abscondita Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetgum - Laurel Oak - (Loblolly Pine) / Giant Cane / Thicket Sedge Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Sweetgum - Laurel Oak / Giant Cane Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These forests occur on somewhat poorly drained to moderately well-drained silt loam soils of ridges of associated river floodplains in the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain. These are temporarily flooded sites with an annual probability of flooding of 100% but with the water table well below the soil surface throughout the growing season in most years. At the Congaree National Park (South Carolina), this community type occurs in two phases: one with an emergent canopy of large Pinus taeda trees, and the other without the emergent canopy. Coverage by Pinus taeda in the Pinus taeda phase ranges from 10% to greater than 60%. The closed canopy of stands of this type is codominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with Quercus spp., especially Quercus nigra and Quercus laurifolia, and possibly by Quercus phellos. Other species typical in this stratum include Ulmus alata, Ulmus americana, Fraxinus americana, Quercus pagoda, Quercus michauxii, Quercus shumardii, and Acer rubrum. The well-developed subcanopy is dominated by Carpinus caroliniana and Ilex opaca. Canopy species are present in this stratum as well, as are Nyssa sylvatica, Ilex decidua, Diospyros virginiana, Celtis laevigata, Carya ovata, Morus rubra, and likely other species. Arundinaria gigantea and Asimina triloba dominate the shrub stratum. The herbaceous layer ranges from moderate to fairly dense. Typical species include Carex abscondita, Boehmeria cylindrica, Mitchella repens, Botrychium dissectum, Carex intumescens, Carex lupulina, Carex retroflexa, Asplenium platyneuron, Carex alata, Carex debilis, Ruellia caroliniensis, Elephantopus tomentosus, Leersia virginica, Dichanthelium boscii, Lobelia cardinalis, Sabatia angularis, and others. This forest type is documented in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, but is possible in adjacent regions; global distribution needs assessment.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community type is among the community types of which occurrences had structure and species composition most affected by Hurricane Hugo which hit Congaree National Park in September 1989. All of the plots placed within this classification unit had many snapped off trees and tip-up mounds. This association was described based on data from the Congaree National Park in 1998. There, this community type occurs in two phases: one with an emergent canopy of large Pinus taeda trees, and the other without the emergent canopy.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this type have a closed canopy codominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with Quercus spp., especially Quercus nigra and Quercus laurifolia, and possibly by Quercus phellos. Other species typical of this stratum include Ulmus alata, Ulmus americana, Fraxinus americana, Quercus pagoda, Quercus michauxii, Quercus shumardii, and Acer rubrum. The well-developed subcanopy is dominated by Carpinus caroliniana and Ilex opaca. Canopy species are present in this stratum as well, as are Nyssa sylvatica, Ilex decidua, Diospyros virginiana, Celtis laevigata, Carya ovata, Morus rubra, and likely other species. Arundinaria gigantea and Asimina triloba dominate the shrub stratum. The herbaceous layer ranges from moderate to fairly dense. Typical species include Carex abscondita, Boehmeria cylindrica, Mitchella repens, Botrychium dissectum, Carex intumescens, Carex lupulina, Carex retroflexa, Asplenium platyneuron, Carex alata, Carex debilis, Ruellia caroliniensis, Elephantopus tomentosus, Leersia virginica, Dichanthelium boscii (= Panicum boscii), Lobelia cardinalis, Sabatia angularis, and others. At the Congaree National Park (South Carolina), this community type occurs in two phases: one with an emergent canopy of large Pinus taeda trees, and the other without the emergent canopy. Coverage by Pinus taeda in the Pinus taeda phase ranges from 10% to greater than 60%.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests occur on somewhat poorly drained to moderately well-drained silt loam soils of ridges of associated river floodplains in the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain. These are temporarily flooded sites with an annual probability of flooding of 100%, but with the water table well below the soil surface throughout the growing season in most years.
Geographic Range: These forests occur on river floodplains in the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA?, NC?, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683508
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.a Swamp Chestnut Oak - Laurel Oak - Sweetgum Floodplain Forest Group | G034 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Alliance | A3628 Laurel Oak - Willow Oak - Loblolly Pine Coastal Plain Riparian Forest Alliance | A3628 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Association | CEGL007732 Sweetgum - Laurel Oak - (Loblolly Pine) / Giant Cane / Thicket Sedge Floodplain Forest | CEGL007732 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus nigra - Quercus laurifolia / Arundinaria gigantea / Carex abscondita Forest (Landaal et al. 1998) [Plots 1-02; 1-34; 1-40; 1-41; 1-42; 1-44; 2-07; 2-08; 2-13; 2-18; 2-32; 2-33; 2-36; 2-49]
- Landaal, S., A. Weakley, and J. Drake. 1998. Classification of the vegetation of Congaree National Park. Report to BRD-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Chapel Hill, NC. 67 pp.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.