Print Report
CEGL004678 Quercus laurifolia - Quercus michauxii - Liquidambar styraciflua / Carpinus caroliniana Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Laurel Oak - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Sweetgum / American Hornbeam Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Atlantic Brownwater River Terrace & Ridge Laurel Oak Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This type covers forests of brownwater river floodplain terraces and ridges in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and adjacent East Gulf Coastal Plain. Stands lack a significant component of levee tree species, and the concept does not include forests on active natural levees. These are stable bottomland forests found throughout the Atlantic and adjacent East Gulf coastal plains along large or medium-sized rivers. The canopy of these forests is generally dominated by a variable mixture of Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus phellos, Quercus laurifolia, and Liquidambar styraciflua. In addition, Acer rubrum may be abundant. Other hardwoods which may be present include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Carya ovata, Carya cordiformis, Juglans nigra, and others. Subcanopy species may include Carpinus caroliniana (which may be dominant), Ilex decidua, Asimina triloba, and Ilex opaca var. opaca. The understory is typically dominated by Carpinus caroliniana. Patches of Arundinaria gigantea may be common in places. Vaccinium elliottii and Vaccinium formosum may be the most constant shrubs. Some other frequent species include Mitchella repens and Vitis rotundifolia. Included here are topographically intermediate examples that lack a significant pine component.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This concept and description are based on North Carolina data (Schafale and Weakley 1990, M. Schafale pers. comm. 2000). It is not known how well this concept applies in South Carolina. More review is needed. Stands compatible with this concept are found on ridges along brownwater in the Altamaha River Bioreserve (Georgia). They are dominated by Quercus michauxii and Quercus laurifolia with a little Quercus pagoda (K. Tassin pers. comm. 2001). At Congaree Swamp National Monument, the status of this vegetation type is unclear. Several plots classified in TNC 1998b as Celtis laevigata - Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus laurifolia / Carpinus caroliniana / Arundinaria gigantea / Carex lupulina Forest (Sweetgum Phase) have "somewhat higher importance by species more indicative of drier sites: Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, Carya ovata, Euonymus americanus, Botrychium dissectum, Ilex opaca, and Mitchella repens." This report also states "The sweetgum phase (of CEGL007736) bears affinities to the former Quercus (michauxii, pagoda, shumardii) - Liquidambar styraciflua Temporarily Flooded Forest Alliance (A.291) and likely clustered in the data analysis outputs with the green ash phase due to an increase in the importance of Celtis laevigata and a decrease in the importance of oaks as a result of disturbance." At least some of the 17 plots assigned to the sweetgum phase (plots 1-03, 1-05, 1-07, 1-11, 1-14, 1-15, 1-17, 1-18, 1-29, 1-33, 1-35, 1-38, 1-56, 1-58, 2-04, 2-29, and 2-34) may actually be hurricane-battered examples of CEGL004678.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These forests are dominated by a variable mixture of Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus phellos, Quercus laurifolia, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Acer rubrum may be abundant in some stands. Other hardwoods which may be present include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Carya ovata, Carya cordiformis, Carya aquatica, Juglans nigra, and others. Subcanopy species may include Carpinus caroliniana (which may be dominant), Ilex decidua, Asimina triloba, and Ilex opaca var. opaca. Patches of Arundinaria gigantea may be common in places (Schafale and Weakley 1990). This community lacks characteristic levee species such as Platanus occidentalis, Betula nigra, and Celtis laevigata, which are generally absent except in disturbed areas. Other levee species, such as Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Acer negundo, and Ulmus americana, may be present in smaller numbers (M. Schafale pers. comm. 2000). Vaccinium elliottii and Vaccinium formosum may be the most constant shrubs. Some other frequent species include Mitchella repens and Vitis rotundifolia. Stands compatible with this concept are found on ridges along brownwater in the Altamaha River Bioreserve (Georgia). They are dominated by Quercus michauxii and Quercus laurifolia with a little Quercus pagoda (K. Tassin pers. comm. 2001).
Dynamics: This community is distinguished by its occurrence on floodplains of brownwater rivers, where overbank flooding is, or was in the past, important. It is found away from riverbanks or natural levees (M. Schafale pers. comm. 2000).
Environmental Description: This type is found on brownwater river floodplain terraces and ridges in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and adjacent East Gulf Coastal Plain. These are stable bottomland forests found along large or medium-sized Coastal Plain rivers (Schafale and Weakley 1990). The water tends to be high in pH, in nutrients, and in mineral sediment. The water table may be high for long periods even when the site is not flooded. Brownwater rivers tend to have periods of sustained high flow, usually in the winter and spring.
Geographic Range: This association is widely distributed throughout the Atlantic Coastal Plain on large to medium-sized rivers. It extends marginally into the East Gulf and Upper East Gulf coastal plains of west-central Georgia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, NC, SC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683670
Confidence Level: Moderate
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 | A3631 Swamp Chestnut Oak - Cherrybark Oak Coastal Plain Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3631 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Association | CEGL004678 Laurel Oak - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Sweetgum / American Hornbeam Floodplain Forest | CEGL004678 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
Concept Lineage: Missing, original type now includes this former placeholder
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Celtis laevigata - Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus laurifolia / Carpinus caroliniana / Arundinaria gigantea / Carex lupulina Forest (Landaal et al. 1998)
= Quercus laurifolia - Quercus michauxii - Liquidambar styraciflua / Carpinus caroliniana Forest (Rice and Peet 1997)
< Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwoods (Brownwater Subtype) (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
= Quercus laurifolia - Quercus michauxii - Liquidambar styraciflua / Carpinus caroliniana Forest (Rice and Peet 1997)
< Coastal Plain Bottomland Hardwoods (Brownwater Subtype) (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
- Chafin, L. 2011. Georgia''s natural communities and associated rare plant and animal species: Thumbnail accounts. Based on "Guide to the Natural Communities of Georgia," by Edwards et al. 2013. University of Georgia Press. Georgia Nongame Conservation Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 125 pp.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2011b. Analysis of Coastal Plain / Outer Piedmont bottomlands and non-alluvial wetlands in Virginia, 400 plots. In-house analysis, January 2011. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
- 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.
- Rice, S. K., and R. K. Peet. 1997. Vegetation of the Lower Roanoke River Floodplain. Unpublished report to The Nature Conservancy. 154 pp.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Schafale, Mike P. Personal communication. Ecologist, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Tassin, K. Personal communication. Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Georgia Field Office, Atlanta, GA.