Print Report
CEGL008484 Quercus phellos - Quercus (michauxii, shumardii) / (Quercus oglethorpensis) / Zephyranthes atamasca Gabbro Wet Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Willow Oak - (Swamp Chestnut Oak, Shumard Oak) / (Oglethorpe Oak) / Atamasco Lily Gabbro Wet Forest
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Gabbro Upland Depression Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association represents the wet hardwood forests (Iredell Flatwoods) which occur on gently sloping terrain or shallowly depressed upland flats over gabbro-derived clays in the Piedmont of Georgia and South Carolina. In Georgia, these sites are locally known as the "Monticello Glades," "Monticello Bottomlands," or "Gladesville Glades," from local placenames. Stands of this association are dominated by a variable combination of Quercus phellos, Quercus shumardii, Quercus michauxii, and Fraxinus americana. There are two apparent spatially intergrading phases of this association, the "wet-mesic" one (with an apparently shorter hydroperiod) which contains substantial Quercus shumardii and very little Quercus phellos; the other, longer hydroperiod one has much higher dominance by Quercus phellos and may lack Quercus shumardii. Other species that can be found in the canopy and/or subcanopy include Ulmus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus michauxii, Carya spp., and Juglans nigra. Some other subcanopy species include Acer floridanum, Cornus florida, Morus rubra, Crataegus viridis, Cercis canadensis, Sideroxylon lycioides, and Celtis occidentalis. The composition of the shrub strata varies from one stand to another, but some examples may have dominance by Sabal minor. Vines are abundant and diverse. They may include Vitis rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Berchemia scandens, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Campsis radicans, Cocculus carolinus, Bignonia capreolata, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Matelea carolinensis, Trachelospermum difforme, Passiflora lutea, and Lonicera sempervirens. Some of the more abundant herbs include Dichanthelium boscii, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Glyceria striata (which may dominate some more open, wetter stands), Carex tribuloides, Carex spp., and Scutellaria integrifolia. Landscape context and position, along with the distinctive geology and soil type, separate this community from alluvial bottomland communities with similar canopy composition. These forests are seasonally wet and are on the borderline between upland, saturated, and seasonally flooded. Because of the very subdued topography, the water table is never far from the surface, and the ground may be saturated for extended periods of time during the growing season.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Landscape context and position, along with the distinctive geology and soil type, separate this community from alluvial bottomland communities with similar canopy composition. These forests are seasonally wet, and are on the borderline between upland, saturated, and seasonally flooded. Sites in South Carolina include Brattonsville Woods and Troy Gabbro Swamp. Examples are also known from Edgefield and McCormick counties on USDA Forest Service land in the Long Cane Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest (R. Mackie pers. comm.). These examples are in the Carolina Slate Belt at about 170 m (550 feet) elevation, and are sometimes associated with streams.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands are dominated by a variable combination of Quercus phellos, Quercus shumardii, Quercus michauxii, and Fraxinus americana. There are two apparent spatially intergrading phases of this association, the "wet-mesic" one (with an apparently shorter hydroperiod) which contains substantial Quercus shumardii and very little Quercus phellos; the other, longer hydroperiod one has much higher dominance by Quercus phellos and may lack Quercus shumardii. Other canopy and/or subcanopy species may include Ulmus americana, Ulmus alata, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus michauxii, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Carya glabra, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya ovata, Quercus falcata, Quercus pagoda, Quercus stellata, Quercus x joorii, Juglans nigra, Pinus taeda, Quercus muehlenbergii?, and Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana. In addition, Quercus bicolor (rare in South Carolina) is reported from some sites in that state. Other subcanopy species include Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Cornus florida, Morus rubra, Quercus alba, Crataegus viridis, Cercis canadensis, Quercus rubra, Diospyros virginiana, Sideroxylon lycioides, Celtis occidentalis, and Prunus serotina. The shrub strata of some examples may have dominance by Sabal minor. Additional shrubs include Ilex decidua, Acer floridanum, Ulmus alata, Liquidambar styraciflua, Arundinaria gigantea, Cercis canadensis, Chionanthus virginicus, Vaccinium arboreum, Vaccinium stamineum, Malus angustifolia, Crataegus viridis, Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus marshallii, Crataegus crus-galli, Asimina parviflora, Cornus foemina, Diospyros virginiana, Euonymus americanus, and the rare and local Quercus oglethorpensis (which may reach into the subcanopy). Vines are abundant and diverse, including Vitis rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Berchemia scandens, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Campsis radicans, Cocculus carolinus, Bignonia capreolata, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax glauca, Smilax rotundifolia, Matelea carolinensis, Trachelospermum difforme, Passiflora lutea, and Lonicera sempervirens. Some abundant herbs include Dichanthelium boscii, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Glyceria striata (which may dominate more open, wetter stands), Carex tribuloides, Carex spp., and Scutellaria integrifolia. Others include Polygonum virginianum, Aristolochia serpentaria, Hypericum hypericoides ssp. hypericoides, Thalictrum dioicum, Asplenium platyneuron, Elephantopus tomentosus, Polystichum acrostichoides, Allium canadense, Desmodium sp., Geranium maculatum, Juncus coriaceus, Oxalis stricta, Hexastylis arifolia, and Bromus pubescens. In addition, Zephyranthes atamasca, Claytonia virginica, Polygonatum biflorum, Anemone caroliniana, Listera australis, and a rich spring flora are reported from these sites (T. Patrick, GANHP, pers. comm.). Some herbs reported from South Carolina sites include Cardamine bulbosa, Lilium canadense, Isoetes piedmontana?, Botrychium sp., Heuchera americana, Camassia scilloides, Scutellaria parvula, Lysimachia ciliata, Geum canadense, and Geum virginianum (SCWMRD unpubl. data). Herbs apparently restricted to stands with a shorter hydroperiod include Pycnanthemum sp., Galium obtusum, Galium circaezans, Conoclinium coelestinum, Dichanthelium sp., Danthonia spicata, Uvularia perfoliata, Solidago odora, Scutellaria elliptica, Scleria sp., Eupatorium sp., and Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana. Clark (1978) cites Quercus palustris as occurring at the Monticello Site, but this has been determined (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data) to be actually Quercus shumardii. Clark (1978) also reports Isoetes engelmannii and Ophioglossum vulgatum from this community; their identities should be checked. South Carolina descriptions include either Isoetes sp. or Isoetes virginica (unlikely). Isoetes piedmontana is also a possibility.
Dynamics: These forests are seasonally wet and are on the borderline between upland, saturated, and seasonally flooded. Because of the very subdued topography, the water table is never far from the surface, and the ground may be saturated for extended periods of time during the growing season. In winter and early spring, large areas of standing water typically are found at sites where this vegetation occurs. This helps create the unusual habitat conditions. In summer and fall, as the water table drops, the Iredell soil shrinks and becomes almost pavement-like, even though the water table may be only a foot or two below the soil surface (Clark 1978). This is a distinctly seasonal pattern to the hydrologic regime, but the resulting vegetation is a mixture of wetland and mesic species. There are two apparent spatially intergrading phases of this association, the "wet-mesic" one (with an apparently shorter hydroperiod) which contains substantial Quercus shumardii and very little Quercus phellos; the other, longer hydroperiod one, has much higher dominance by Quercus phellos and may lack Quercus shumardii. The presence of intermediate stands, and the general understanding that this vegetation is one type which is variable in its expression rather than two distinct associations, led to the conclusion that one, not two, types were worthy of recognition.
Environmental Description: Stands of this association occur on gently sloping terrain or shallowly depressed upland flats over gabbro-derived clays in the Piedmont of Georgia and related areas of South Carolina. The Iredell soil series (Oxyaquic Vertic Hapludalf) is the primary substrate for this association. It consists of moderately well-drained, slowly permeable soils, found on broad flats and gentle sideslopes. These soils are formed in material weathered from gabbro (as well as from diabase, diorite, and other basic igneous rocks high in ferro-magnesium minerals), which are located in uplands throughout the Piedmont. The soil is less acidic than most soils of the Piedmont. Their slope is dominantly less than 6% but ranges up to 15%. The surface layer is olive brown fine sandy clay loam, and the subsoil is light olive brown clay loam. Typically, the surface layer is about 15 cm (6 inches) thick. The subsoil is 56 cm (22 inches) thick, and the underlying material to a depth of 165 cm (65 inches) is light olive brown and olive loam. Organic matter content in the surface layer is low. Permeability is slow, available water capacity is medium, the shrink-swell potential is very high, and surface runoff is medium. The Enon soil is sometimes cited as a substrate for the Monticello Glades. However, this is a more well-drained soil of ridges and gently sloping to strongly sloping sideslopes, instead of the flat terrain of the "glades." In South Carolina, the wetter (saturated) Elbert soil is reported as a substrate for this vegetation. The Elbert soil may develop from the Iredell soil in wetter areas (SCWMRD unpubl. data).
Iredell soil sites are characterized by widely fluctuating hydrologic conditions. In winter and spring, the impermeability of the soil''s clay layer produces flooded conditions for extended periods of time; in summer and fall, the dried clay layer has limited moisture availability, causing severe drought conditions. These extremes of water availability, combined with the chemical properties of the soils, are thought to be the major factors promoting the persistence and distinctiveness of this vegetation (Ambrose 1990b). Landscape context and position, along with the distinctive geology and soil type, separate this community from alluvial bottomland communities with similar canopy composition. The Oconee National Forest examples occur on ultramafic rocks which include a large body of gabbro (12 km by 1.5 km) mapped along the northern basin divide of Falling Creek roughly parallel to Georgia State Highway 83 (Vincent et al. 1990). The gabbro here consists primarily of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and olivine. In South Carolina, there are sites from which this community is known in York County (SCWMRD unpubl. data), although large gabbro areas are also known from nearby Union County. Examples are also known from Edgefield and McCormick counties on USDA Forest Service land in the Long Cane Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest (R. Mackie pers. comm.).
Iredell soil sites are characterized by widely fluctuating hydrologic conditions. In winter and spring, the impermeability of the soil''s clay layer produces flooded conditions for extended periods of time; in summer and fall, the dried clay layer has limited moisture availability, causing severe drought conditions. These extremes of water availability, combined with the chemical properties of the soils, are thought to be the major factors promoting the persistence and distinctiveness of this vegetation (Ambrose 1990b). Landscape context and position, along with the distinctive geology and soil type, separate this community from alluvial bottomland communities with similar canopy composition. The Oconee National Forest examples occur on ultramafic rocks which include a large body of gabbro (12 km by 1.5 km) mapped along the northern basin divide of Falling Creek roughly parallel to Georgia State Highway 83 (Vincent et al. 1990). The gabbro here consists primarily of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and olivine. In South Carolina, there are sites from which this community is known in York County (SCWMRD unpubl. data), although large gabbro areas are also known from nearby Union County. Examples are also known from Edgefield and McCormick counties on USDA Forest Service land in the Long Cane Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest (R. Mackie pers. comm.).
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to the Piedmont of Georgia and South Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683724
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M503 | 1.B.3.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.2.b Overcup Oak - Post Oak - Blackgum Flatwoods & Pond Forest Group | G654 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
| Alliance | A3430 Willow Oak Piedmont-Cumberland Wet Depression Forest Alliance | A3430 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
| Association | CEGL008484 Willow Oak - (Swamp Chestnut Oak, Shumard Oak) / (Oglethorpe Oak) / Atamasco Lily Gabbro Wet Forest | CEGL008484 | 1.B.3.Na.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Piedmont Gabbro Upland Depression Forest (Sewell and Zomlefer 2014)
= Upland Swamp Glades (Wharton 1978)
= Upland Swamp Glades (Wharton 1978)
- Ambrose, J. 1990b. Rare wetlands. DNR Outdoor Report. Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Winter 5(1):6-7.
- Clark, R. C. 1978. Natural landmark site evaluation: Georgia. Monticello Bottomland Woods, Jasper County. Unpublished document.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- 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.
- Patrick, Dr. Thomas. Personal communication. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle, GA.
- Radford, A. E., and D. L. Martin. 1975. Potential ecological natural landmarks: Piedmont region, eastern United States. University of North Carolina, Department of Botany, Chapel Hill. 249 pp.
- SCWMRD [South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia.
- Sewell, S. Y. S., and W. B. Zomlefer. 2014. Floristics of Piedmont Gabbro Upland Depression Forests in Jasper County, Georgia. Castanea 79(3):195-220.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Vincent, H. R., K. I. McConnell, and P. C. Perley, 1990. Geology of selected mafic and ultramafic rocks of Georgia-A review: Georgia Geological Survey Information Circular 82. 59 pp.
- Wharton, C. H. 1978. The natural environments of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. 227 pp.