Print Report

CEGL007864 Nyssa biflora - Acer rubrum / Lyonia lucida Floodplain Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Tupelo - Red Maple / Shining Fetterbush Floodplain Forest

Colloquial Name: Swamp Tupelo Floodplain Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: These forests occur on floodplains of the inner South Atlantic Coastal Plain and adjacent East Gulf Coastal Plain, including the Sandhills region, of Georgia and adjacent South Carolina. They are dominated by Nyssa biflora and Acer rubrum var. rubrum, with varying amounts of Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, Fraxinus caroliniana, and Ilex opaca in the canopy and subcanopy. Liquidambar styraciflua and Liriodendron tulipifera may also occur in some examples, especially following timber removal or natural disturbance. In addition, Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Carpinus caroliniana are reported from some examples. Shrubs may include Itea virginica, Leucothoe axillaris, and Lyonia lucida. Some typical vines include Nekemias arborea, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans, and Smilax laurifolia. Herb diversity is low, but species present may include Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex spp., Commelina virginica, Dulichium arundinaceum, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Justicia ovata, Saururus cernuus, Triadenum spp., Viola spp., and Woodwardia areolata. This community typically grades up into Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: In contrast to related associations from farther south in the outer Coastal Plain, this one lacks Taxodium distichum and Nyssa aquatica. At the Savannah River Site (Whipple et al. 1981), this community is reported to grade up into Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest (sensu Quarterman and Keever 1962). The crosswalk to Jones et al. (1981b) is on the assumption that dominance by yellow poplar (but with "swamp gum" [Nyssa biflora] as characteristic) is indicative of disturbance. At the Francis Marion National Forest, stands of CEGL007864 (Nyssa biflora) and CEGL007397 (Quercus lyrata) are quite similar in their lower strata (Glitzenstein and Streng 2004).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: These forests are dominated by Nyssa biflora and Acer rubrum var. rubrum, with varying amounts of Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, Fraxinus caroliniana, and Ilex opaca in the canopy and subcanopy. Liquidambar styraciflua and Liriodendron tulipifera may also occur in some examples, especially following timber removal or natural disturbance. In addition, Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Carpinus caroliniana are reported from some examples (Jones et al. 1981b). Shrubs may include Itea virginica, Leucothoe axillaris, and Lyonia lucida. Some typical vines include Nekemias arborea (= Ampelopsis arborea), Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans, and Smilax laurifolia. Herb diversity is low, but species present may include Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex spp., Commelina virginica, Dulichium arundinaceum, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Justicia ovata, Saururus cernuus, Triadenum spp., Viola spp., and Woodwardia areolata (Whipple et al. 1981). A stand from the Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina, which is assigned here with some doubt exhibits with dominance by Nyssa aquatica instead of Nyssa biflora. The canopy contains Nyssa aquatica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ulmus americana, and Acer rubrum var. rubrum, with some Celtis laevigata. The subcanopy contains Carya aquatica, Ilex decidua, and examples of canopy species. Shrubs include Carpinus caroliniana, Ilex decidua, Crataegus marshallii?, along with smaller canopy and subcanopy species.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  The habitat for this vegetation at the Savannah River Plant (South Carolina) is described by Whipple et al. (1981) as "flat, moist sites on low floodplains that are regularly but not permanently flooded."

Geographic Range: This association is known from the South Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of South Carolina and Georgia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  GA, SC




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G3G4

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: ? Nyssa sylvatica - Acer rubrum Community (Whipple et al. 1981)
= Yellow poplar-swamp gum-dog hobble community (Jones et al. 1981b)

Concept Author(s): Whipple et. al (1981)

Author of Description: M. Pyne and L. Gawin

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-21-04

  • GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
  • Jones, S. M., D. H. Van Lear, and S. K. Cox. 1981b. Major forest community types of the Savannah River Plant: A field guide. USDE Savannah River Plant, National Environmental Research Park Program. Report No. SRO-NERP-9. 79 pp. plus 24 illustrations.
  • Quarterman, E., and C. Keever. 1962. Southern mixed hardwood forests: Climax in the southeastern Coastal Plain, USA. Ecological Monographs 32:167-185.
  • SCWMRD [South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Whipple, S. A., L. H. Wellman, and B. J. Good. 1981. A classification of hardwood and swamp forests on the Savannah River Plant, SC. USDE Savannah River Plant National Environmental Research Park Program. SRO-NERP-6. 36 pp.