Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Taxodium ascendens is the most conspicuous tree in the canopy. Nyssa biflora frequently occurs in the subcanopy (Monk and Brown 1965, Clewell 1971, 1981), but may occur as a canopy species. Shrubs occur on hummocks which form around cypress buttresses and knees. This stratum may be made up of one or several species of Eubotrys racemosa (= Leucothoe racemosa), Cyrilla racemiflora, Itea virginica, Lyonia lucida, Hypericum fasciculatum, Clethra alnifolia, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Ilex cassine, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Persea palustris, and more. Shrubs form a distinct understory with increasing distance from the center depression (Monk and Brown 1965, Clewell 1971). Carex spp. and Sphagnum spp. occur on the thin, peaty muck. Other ground cover is scattered on hummocks, and includes Woodwardia virginica, Saururus cernuus, and Lachnanthes caroliana. Density increases with proximity to the community''s edge. Pieris phillyreifolia, an epiphytic shrub-vine may occur on the Taxodium ascendens trees, and Tillandsia usneoides, are often abundant in some parts of the range.

Dynamics:  Species composition appears to be related to soil calcium and pH levels as well as maximum flooding. The importance of Taxodium ascendens increases with depth of flooding while Pinus elliottii, Nyssa biflora, Acer rubrum, and Morella cerifera decrease in importance; the reverse pattern seems to be true with increases in calcium levels (Monk and Brown 1965).

Likely due to the scarcity of undergrowth and inability to carry fire, fire is irregular - at least in the center - of this community (Clewell 1971, 1981). Wharton (1978) indicates this community has a 50- to 150-year fire interval, but that once a fire is started it can burn the peat for long periods (up to 50 years in the Okefenokee Swamp). Although the center of this community may have a fire interval of 100 to 150 years, the periphery burns much more frequently (3 to 5 years at outer edge) due to the shorter hydroperiod (FNAI 1990). Charcoal commonly found on Taxodium ascendens trunks indicates fires that burn through adjacent communities do reach the cypress. Taxodium ascendens can survive light fires, but peat fires can kill the trees.

Fire is an important determinant of successional dynamics and is in turn largely determined by hydroperiod. In the absence of occasional, light fire, this community may succeed to ~Gordonia lasianthus - Magnolia virginiana - Persea palustris / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest (CEGL007044)$$ (Monk and Brown 1965, FNAI 1990). When peat fires occur, this community may be transformed to a treeless pond. One theory links the successional status of this community to that of ~Nyssa biflora / Itea virginica - Cephalanthus occidentalis Swamp Forest (CEGL007434)$$; calcium favors the growth of Nyssa biflora over that of Taxodium ascendens, and the Nyssa biflora itself acts as a calcium pump, thus generating a positive feedback that favors the swamp tupelo-dominated community (Clewell 1971). This Nyssa biflora-dominated community also occurs in depressions with longer, and/or less fluctuating, hydroperiods. Some Nyssa biflora-dominated and codominated swamps may be the result of past cypress logging.