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CEGL006147 Acer saccharinum - (Populus deltoides) / Matteuccia struthiopteris - Laportea canadensis Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silver Maple - (Eastern Cottonwood) / Ostrich Fern - Canadian Woodnettle Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Silver Maple Floodplain Levee Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These are silver maple floodplain forests along major rivers in the temperate northeastern United States. They occur on the deep, alluvial, silty to somewhat coarse soils of point bars, levees, and adjacent terraces of medium to large, high-energy and moderate-gradient rivers with heavy erosion and sedimentation, and are subjected to spring flooding. The more-or-less closed canopy is high and arching, and the dominant below-canopy feature is the lush and extensive herb layer, with ferns especially prominent. Shrubs are scattered and the overall shrub cover is low. Bryoids are very minor. The canopy is strongly dominated by Acer saccharinum. Other trees may be locally common, or scattered, including Populus deltoides, Quercus rubra, Acer negundo, Ulmus rubra, Juglans nigra, Fraxinus americana, and Fraxinus pennsylvanica. Populus deltoides tends to be characteristic of the siltier soils and levees within these forests. Typical shrubs include Lindera benzoin, Cornus amomum, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, and potentially invasive non-native Lonicera spp., Rosa multiflora, or Ligustrum vulgare. Vines such as Vitis riparia are common at some sites. The dominant herbs are Matteuccia struthiopteris and Laportea canadensis. Associated herbs include Elymus riparius, Elymus virginicus, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Ageratina altissima, Arisaema triphyllum, Circaea lutetiana, Thalictrum pubescens, Onoclea sensibilis, and Polygonum virginianum. Particularly in the southern portions of this type''s range, non-native herbs such as Alliaria petiolata, Allium vineale, Ranunculus ficaria, and Microstegium vimineum may essentially replace the native herbs. This association is distinguished from the related ~Acer saccharinum / Onoclea sensibilis - Boehmeria cylindrica Floodplain Forest (CEGL006176)$$ by its greater abundance of Matteuccia struthiopteris relative to Onoclea sensibilis and its better-drained soils. Flood duration is usually shorter in the ostrich fern type. It is distinguished from floodplain forests to the south by the absence (or only very rare presence) of Platanus occidentalis and Celtis occidentalis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Two variations in the herb flora have been described (NHNHI 2002). In the ostrich fern variant, Matteuccia struthiopteris is more abundant than Laportea canadensis, Ageratina altissima, and Impatiens spp. are often abundant, and Toxicodendron radicans and Boehmeria cylindrica are infrequent. In the wood nettle variant, Laportea canadensis exceeds Matteuccia struthiopteris in abundance, and Toxicodendron radicans, Leersia virginica, Boehmeria cylindrica, and Cinna arundinacea are more frequent and abundant.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The more-or-less closed canopy is high and arching, and the dominant below-canopy feature is the lush and extensive herb layer, with ferns especially prominent. Shrubs are scattered and the overall shrub cover is low. Bryoids are very minor. The canopy is strongly dominated by Acer saccharinum. Other trees may be locally common, or scattered, including Populus deltoides, Quercus rubra, Acer negundo, Ulmus rubra, Juglans nigra, Fraxinus americana, and Fraxinus pennsylvanica. Populus deltoides tends to be characteristic of the siltier soils and levees within these forests. Typical shrubs include Lindera benzoin, Cornus amomum, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (= Sambucus canadensis), and potentially invasive non-native Lonicera spp., Rosa multiflora, or Ligustrum vulgare. Vines such as Vitis riparia are common at some sites. The dominant herbs are Matteuccia struthiopteris and Laportea canadensis. Associated herbs include Elymus riparius, Elymus virginicus, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Ageratina altissima (= Eupatorium rugosum), Arisaema triphyllum, Circaea lutetiana, Thalictrum pubescens, Onoclea sensibilis, and Polygonum virginianum (= Tovara virginiana). Particularly in the southern portions of this type''s range, non-native herbs such as Alliaria petiolata, Allium vineale, Ranunculus ficaria, and Microstegium vimineum may essentially replace the native herbs.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These are silver maple floodplain forests along major rivers in the temperate northeastern United States. They occur on the deep, alluvial, silty to somewhat coarse soils of point bars, levees, and adjacent terraces of medium to large, high-energy and moderate-gradient rivers with heavy erosion and sedimentation, and are subjected to spring flooding.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the northeastern United States from New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York south to Connecticut and Pennsylvania and possibly Maryland.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, MD?, NH, NJ, NY, PA, QC?, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684386
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.1 Silver Maple - American Sycamore - Hackberry species Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M029 | 1.B.3.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.1.b <i>Acer saccharinum - Platanus occidentalis - Liquidambar styraciflua</i> Floodplain Forest Group | G673 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A4473 <i>Acer saccharinum - Populus deltoides</i> East-Central Floodplain Forest Alliance | A4473 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL006147 Silver Maple - (Eastern Cottonwood) / Ostrich Fern - Canadian Woodnettle Floodplain Forest | CEGL006147 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Acer saccharinum / Matteuccia / Laportea (Type 3) (Sperduto and Crowley 2002a)
? Acer saccharinum / Onoclea sensibilis community, Matteuccia struthiopteris variant (Metzler 1984)
? Riverine floodplain forest: medium-gradient stream (NAP pers. comm. 1998)
< Silver Maple - American Elm: 62 (Eyre 1980)
? Acer saccharinum / Onoclea sensibilis community, Matteuccia struthiopteris variant (Metzler 1984)
? Riverine floodplain forest: medium-gradient stream (NAP pers. comm. 1998)
< Silver Maple - American Elm: 62 (Eyre 1980)
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