Print Report

CEGL007422 Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Acer rubrum / Itea virginica Floodplain Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo - Red Maple / Virginia Sweetspire Floodplain Forest

Colloquial Name: Southern Coastal Plain Bald-cypress - Tupelo Swamp Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association includes seasonally flooded swamps dominated by Taxodium distichum with Nyssa aquatica and other hardwood species, especially Acer rubrum and Ulmus americana. Shrub species which may be present include Itea virginica and Clethra alnifolia (within its range). Cover of the herbaceous stratum varies from sparse to moderate and is often characterized by Saururus cernuus and may also include Boehmeria cylindrica, Sagittaria latifolia, and Smilax spp. In the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain and Gulf Coastal Plain, this community primarily occurs in sloughs which flood for 3-4 months annually.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type includes data from Savannah River Site, inner Coastal Plain of South Carolina (after Jones et al. 1981b; Bald cypress-water gum-mixed hardwood community; 5 stands sampled). There are also data from the Kisatchie National Forest (Allen 1993c). No occurrences are known with dominant Itea virginica shrub layer in eastern Texas, but it may be possible (R. Turner pers. comm.). ~Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica / Fraxinus caroliniana Floodplain Forest (CEGL007431)$$ is similar, but apparently the conceptual difference is that CEGL007431 is semipermanently flooded while this association (CEGL007422) is seasonally flooded.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This swamp forest has a canopy dominated by Taxodium distichum, Nyssa aquatica, and Acer rubrum var. drummondii. Associated canopy species include Styrax americanus, Fraxinus caroliniana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus phellos, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ulmus rubra, Ulmus alata, Nyssa biflora, and Quercus laurifolia. This is typically a closed-canopy community, with cover ranging approximately between 60-100%, but most often 80-90%. The sparse to patchy tall-shrub stratum (2-5 m in height) includes Itea virginica, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Diospyros virginiana, Forestiera acuminata, Ilex decidua, and Carpinus caroliniana. In the Kisatchie National Forest, Itea virginica has a frequency of 50% in occurrences. The short-shrub stratum (0.5-2 m in height; mean cover of 13%) is dominated by Acer rubrum, Itea virginica, Taxodium distichum, and Nyssa aquatica. Associates include Styrax americanus, Ulmus alata, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Rubus argutus, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus spp., Diospyros virginiana, Quercus lyrata, Ilex decidua, Liquidambar styraciflua, Forestiera acuminata, Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus caroliniana, Carpinus caroliniana, Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum) (exotic), Rubus trivialis, Carya aquatica, Nyssa biflora, Crataegus viridis, and Quercus phellos. The mixed graminoid-forb herbaceous layer (mean cover 33%) is dominated by Triadenum tubulosum, Triadenum virginicum, Carex atlantica, Saururus cernuus, and Gratiola virginiana. Associates include Boehmeria cylindrica, Justicia lanceolata (= Justicia ovata var. lanceolata), Polygonum punctatum, Proserpinaca palustris, Carex joorii, Peltandra virginica, Lycopus rubellus, Mikania scandens, Leersia virginica, Lysimachia radicans, Carex intumescens, Spiranthes cernua, Carex tribuloides, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Viola spp., Panicum rigidulum, Rhynchospora corniculata, Ludwigia glandulosa, Osmunda regalis, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (= Aster lateriflorus), Carex flaccosperma, Commelina virginica, Leersia lenticularis, Bidens mitis, Carex lupulina, Carex louisianica, Penthorum sedoides, Pluchea camphorata, and Cyperus virens. Minor associates (each with cover less than 1%) include Acmella oppositifolia var. repens, Carex lonchocarpa, Onoclea sensibilis, Acalypha rhomboidea (= Acalypha virginica var. rhomboidea), Pilea pumila, Lobelia cardinalis, Sagittaria platyphylla, Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum, Carex bromoides, Mimulus alatus, Hydrolea uniflora, Juncus effusus, Micranthemum umbrosum, Mitchella repens, Elephantopus carolinianus, Helenium flexuosum, Poa autumnalis, Woodwardia areolata, Asclepias perennis, Juncus diffusissimus, Phanopyrum gymnocarpon, Cerastium glomeratum, Erechtites hieraciifolius, Erigeron philadelphicus, Ageratina altissima var. altissima, Hypericum mutilum, Dichanthelium commutatum, Sphenopholis obtusata, and Spirodela polyrrhiza. Sphagnum spp. are not significant in this community. Within their ranges Tillandsia usneoides and Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. polypodioides are present on canopy trees and woody shrubs (Martin and Smith 1991, Allen 1993c). Triphora trianthophora may occur in Louisiana examples of this community, although this species is more typical of mesic slope forests (Allen 1995c).

Dynamics:  Hydrologic fluctuation is the main disturbance in this community and the primary ecological factor affecting the species composition and structure. The water budget of alluvial cypress swamp systems includes surface flow, groundwater inflow, precipitation throughfall, flooding, evapotranspiration, interception loss, and surface and subsurface outflow into the river channel. Hydrologic inflows are predominantly runoff from surrounding uplands and overflow of the flooding river. Flooding generally accounts for less than 50% of the total annual water input. Seasonal pulses of floods bring in water and nutrient-rich sediments (Mitsch and Gosselink 1993).

As this community matures, the relative abundance of Acer rubrum var. drummondii may decrease, with the canopy becoming increasingly dominated by Taxodium distichum and Nyssa aquatica.
Environmental Description:  This association includes seasonally flooded swamps. In the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain and Gulf Coastal Plain, this community primarily occurs in sloughs which flood for 3-4 months annually. This community occurs primarily in sloughs which receive annual flooding for approximately 3 or 4 months. The acidic clay soils are very poorly drained and very slowly permeable; the Yorktown series (Typic Fluvaquent) is commonly associated with this community in Louisiana. Slopes are typically less than 1%, and the high water table is within 15 cm of the soils surface throughout the year in most years (Soil Conservation Service 1990, L. Smith pers. comm. 1995). Stands assigned here from the Savannah River Plant (South Carolina) are in "floodplains which are flooded most of the year" (Jones et al. 1981b).
Geographic Range: This association is found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from South Carolina south to Alabama and west to Louisiana and presumably Texas and in the interior to Kentucky and Arkansas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, KY, LA, MS, SC, TN, TX


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?

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.c Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo Floodplain Forest Group G033 1.B.3.Nb.4.c
Alliance A3594 Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo Floodplain Forest Alliance A3594 1.B.3.Nb.4.c
Association CEGL007422 Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo - Red Maple / Virginia Sweetspire Floodplain Forest CEGL007422 1.B.3.Nb.4.c
Concept Lineage: merged

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Bald cypress-water gum-mixed hardwood community (Jones et al. 1981b)
< Baldcypress - Tupelo: 102 (Eyre 1980)
? Baldcypress - Water Tupelo (67) (USFS 1988)
< Cypress Swamps, Cypress-Blackgum Phase (Clewell 1971)
< IIA4b. Bald Cypress - Water Tupelo Swamp (Allard 1990)
= Very Wet Areas (Allen 1993b)
Concept Author(s): S. Landaal

Author of Description: J.E. Mohan, L. Smith, S. Landaal and M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-23-02
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