Print Report
CEGL007897 Fraxinus americana - Celtis laevigata - Nyssa sylvatica - Quercus shumardii - Ulmus americana Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Ash - Sugarberry - Blackgum - Shumard Oak - American Elm Forest
Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Calcareous Mixed Hardwood Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a generally calcareous forest composed of a variety of mostly calciphilic hardwoods and very limited amounts of Pinus taeda. It is found on calcareous clays of various Tertiary formations (e.g., Fleming, Catahoula?, Vicksburg?, Jackson, Cane River, Wilcox) in the uplands of central and northern Louisiana and presumably eastern Texas. Dominant and characteristic canopy species include Fraxinus americana, Celtis laevigata, Nyssa sylvatica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus shumardii, Quercus nigra, Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, Quercus pagoda, Ulmus americana, Ulmus alata, Gleditsia triacanthos, Diospyros virginiana, Tilia americana, Carya tomentosa, Carya glabra, Quercus muehlenbergii (occasional), and Carya myristiciformis (rare to occasional). Some dominant and characteristic midstory and understory species include Ostrya virginiana, Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida, Cercis canadensis, Cornus drummondii, Frangula caroliniana, Chionanthus virginicus, Viburnum rufidulum, Viburnum acerifolium, Acer leucoderme, Acer floridanum, Crataegus spp. (e.g., Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus crus-galli), Ilex decidua, Aesculus pavia, Asimina triloba, Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, and Sabal minor. Prominent vines include Berchemia scandens, Toxicodendron radicans, Bignonia capreolata, Vitis rotundifolia, and Smilax spp. The herb layer is relatively sparse in most examples but typically includes Carex cherokeensis, Carex spp., Chasmanthium laxum, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Viola spp., Trillium spp., Sanicula canadensis, and numerous other species. Many species of this community are more typical of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. A similar community with Cornus drummondii, Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus muehlenbergii has been observed on and around Weches glades in eastern Texas. However, Rhus aromatica, Phlox pilosa, and Echinacea purpurea are not present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The type is related to those in the Keiffer and Copenhagen areas but is typically not characterized by the diversity of calciphiles present in those areas. An example of this type is "Bear Creek Calcareous Forest," described in Martin and Smith (1991). A similar community with Cornus drummondii, Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus muehlenbergii has been observed on and around Weches glades in eastern Texas. However, Rhus aromatica, Phlox pilosa, and Echinacea purpurea are not present.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Dominant and characteristic canopy species in stands of this association include Fraxinus americana, Celtis laevigata, Nyssa sylvatica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus shumardii, Quercus nigra, Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus stellata, Quercus pagoda, Ulmus americana, Ulmus alata, Gleditsia triacanthos, Diospyros virginiana, Tilia americana, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Quercus muehlenbergii (occasional), and Carya myristiciformis (rare to occasional). Some dominant and characteristic midstory and understory species include Ostrya virginiana, Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida, Cercis canadensis, Cornus drummondii, Frangula caroliniana, Chionanthus virginicus, Viburnum rufidulum, Viburnum acerifolium, Acer leucoderme, Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Crataegus spp. (e.g., Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus crus-galli), Ilex decidua, Aesculus pavia, Asimina triloba, Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, and Sabal minor. Prominent vines include Berchemia scandens, Toxicodendron radicans, Bignonia capreolata, Vitis rotundifolia, and Smilax spp. The herb layer is relatively sparse in most examples but typically includes Carex cherokeensis, Carex spp., Chasmanthium laxum, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Viola spp., Trillium spp., Sanicula canadensis, and numerous other species. Many species of this community are more typical of the West Gulf Coastal Plain.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is only found on mesic calcareous clays of various Tertiary formations (e.g., Fleming, Catahoula?, Vicksburg?, Jackson, Cane River, Wilcox) in the uplands of central and northern Louisiana and presumably eastern Texas. It is a forest of generally calcareous substrates, composed of a variety of mostly calciphilic hardwoods and very limited amounts of Pinus taeda.
Geographic Range: This type is know from western Louisiana and may occur in eastern Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: LA, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684541
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D006 | 1.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Na.3 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - White Oak Forest Macrogroup | M008 | 1.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.3.b American Beech - Southern Sugar Maple - White Oak Forest Group | G166 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Alliance | A3235 Shumard Oak - Cherrybark Oak - White Ash Coastal Plain Forest Alliance | A3235 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Association | CEGL007897 White Ash - Sugarberry - Blackgum - Shumard Oak - American Elm Forest | CEGL007897 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Calcareous Forest (Martin and Smith 1991)
- LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
- Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.