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CEGL007410 Salix nigra - (Platanus occidentalis, Populus deltoides) Southern Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Willow - (American Sycamore, Eastern Cottonwood) Southern Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Large River Black Willow Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This riverine community is dominated or codominated by Salix nigra. Often, Salix nigra is generally the sole dominant with few other species present. It occurs on recently deposited ground in the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain and other large river floodplains of the southeastern United States. This association also includes some "sandbar forest" examples with Platanus occidentalis and Populus deltoides sharing dominance with Salix nigra.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Apparently originally conceived of as a community of riverine point-bar succession. Heineke (1987) mentions "riverfront areas and frontlands of islands which are actively accreting" with Salix nigra and Populus deltoides. Landward stands may be pure Salix nigra. In addition, he mentions "older, higher sites with more coarse-grained sediments" which are dominated by the mixture of Salix nigra and Populus deltoides. Is it useful or possible to distinguish the pure Salix from the mix? This is often an early-successional community, but its regeneration and survival depends on natural flooding and hydrologic regimes being maintained.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Salix nigra may be the sole dominant in stands of this type, with few other species present. This association also includes some examples with Platanus occidentalis and Populus deltoides. Heineke (1987) mentions "riverfront areas and frontlands of islands which are actively accreting" with Salix nigra and Populus deltoides. Landward stands may be pure Salix nigra. In addition, he mentions "older, higher sites with more coarse-grained sediments" which are dominated by the mixture of Salix nigra and Populus deltoides.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This riverine willow community occurs on recently deposited ground in large river floodplains. This includes "sandbar forests dominated by Salix nigra, with Platanus occidentalis and Populus deltoides" in the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain (formerly included in CEGL007908). Heineke (1987) mentions "riverfront areas and frontlands of islands which are actively accreting" with Salix nigra and Populus deltoides. Landward stands may be pure Salix nigra. In addition, he mentions "older, higher sites with more coarse-grained sediments" which are dominated by the mixture of Salix nigra and Populus deltoides.
Geographic Range: This community is known from the Mississippi River and similar large river floodplains of the southeastern United States from Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana and possibly Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, FL?, KY, LA, MS, SC?, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685673
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5
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.b Green Ash - American Elm - Black Willow Floodplain Forest Group | G759 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.b |
| Alliance | A3421 Eastern Cottonwood - Black Willow - Carolina Willow Coastal Plain Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3421 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.b |
| Association | CEGL007410 Black Willow - (American Sycamore, Eastern Cottonwood) Southern Floodplain Forest | CEGL007410 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.b |
Concept Lineage: merged in
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = riverfront areas and frontlands of islands (Heineke 1987)
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Heineke, T. E. 1987. The flora and plant communities of the middle Mississippi River Valley. Ph.D. dissertation, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. 653 pp.
- 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]
- Lea, C., B. Waltermire, and C. Nordman. 2013. Vegetation classification and mapping, Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/GULN/NRTR--2013/710. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- MSNHP [Mississippi Natural Heritage Program]. 2006. Ecological communities of Mississippi. Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Jackson, MS. 9 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.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.