Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This community is dominated by Quercus palustris. Associated tree species include Carya ovata, Fraxinus americana, Nyssa sylvatica, and Quercus bicolor. Lindera benzoin is abundant in the shrub layer and Toxicodendron radicans is an abundant vine. There appear to be two phases, which were previously treated as separate community types (Putnam 1995), but environmental differences between them have not been determined. In one phase Acer rubrum and Fraxinus nigra are codominant trees, and the shrub layer includes Cornus amomum, Ilex verticillata, and Viburnum dentatum. These species are absent or sparse in the other phase where Acer saccharinum and Carpinus caroliniana are distinctive components. There are no immediately apparent differences in the herbaceous components of the two phases. The herbaceous layers of these communities are dominated by wetland indicators, including a high diversity of sedges. Abundant herbaceous species include Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex bromoides, Carex stricta, Cinna arundinacea, Leersia oryzoides, Lycopus uniflorus, Osmunda regalis, Onoclea sensibilis, Pilea pumila, and Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus). Additional sedge species include Carex amphibola, Carex debilis, Carex grayi, Carex gynandra, Carex interior, Carex intumescens, Carex leptalea, Carex lupulina, Carex lurida, Carex squarrosa, Carex stipata, and others.

Dynamics:  This community is subject to seasonal and periodic flooding by bank overflow and to inundation following precipitation events. Beaver activity also affects the dynamics of this wetland complex. Most of this forest type was logged in the past, and attempts were made to convert much of it to agriculture by draining. However, much of this cropland has been abandoned due to difficulties with maintaining drainage systems, and today much of it is young to maturing second-growth forest. There is one known old-growth stand which dates to pre-1900, but most of the oldest trees are now (2018) dead due to inundation from a failed drainage canal. Fraxinus spp. in this association are currently declining from infestations of the emerald ash borer.