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CEGL006287 Fraxinus profunda - Nyssa biflora - (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) / Ilex verticillata / Polygonum arifolium Tidal Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pumpkin Ash - Swamp Tupelo - (Green Ash) / Common Winterberry / Halberd-leaf Tearthumb Tidal Forest

Colloquial Name: Pumpkin Ash - Swamp Tupelo Freshwater Tidal Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This open- to closed-canopy swamp forest occurs on fresh tidal rivers from Delaware to Virginia and is best developed in the Chesapeake Bay drainage. It occurs at the upper reaches of tidal influence (and somewhat beyond in some cases) and generally receives diurnal or irregular tidal flooding. The canopy is dominated by few tree species, generally Fraxinus profunda, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Nyssa biflora. Other canopy associates vary among occurrences and often include Nyssa sylvatica, Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia virginiana, Ulmus americana, and Pinus taeda. The shrub layer is well-developed and includes Lindera benzoin, Clethra alnifolia, Eubotrys racemosa, Ilex verticillata, Ilex opaca, Ilex laevigata, Alnus serrulata, Rhododendron viscosum, Viburnum dentatum, Viburnum nudum, Viburnum recognitum, Viburnum prunifolium, Amelanchier canadensis, Morella cerifera, Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium fuscatum, Itea virginica, Rosa palustris, Magnolia virginiana, and Cornus foemina. Alnus maritima is also characteristic in Outer Coastal Plain stands in Maryland and Delaware. Vines may be dense and include Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax laurifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Apios americana, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Bignonia capreolata, and Dioscorea villosa. The herbaceous layer is variable in composition and richness. Common associates include Polygonum arifolium, Polygonum sagittatum, Peltandra virginica, Saururus cernuus, Carex bromoides, Impatiens capensis, Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex intumescens, Leersia oryzoides, Commelina virginica, Cicuta maculata, Arisaema triphyllum, Thalictrum pubescens, Thelypteris palustris, Woodwardia areolata, Carex stricta, Zizania aquatica, Cinna arundinacea, Osmunda cinnamomea, and Osmunda regalis. The invasive exotic Murdannia keisak can also occur in this association. In addition, stands that have suffered significant loss of canopy trees (presumably due to stress from sea-level rise) may be intermediate in appearance and composition between swamp forest and herbaceous marsh. This association is differentiated from tidal swamps to the north by the presence of species of southern affinity, including Magnolia virginiana, Nyssa biflora, and Pinus taeda.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is differentiated from tidal swamps to the north by the presence of species of southern affinity, including Magnolia virginiana, Nyssa biflora, and Pinus taeda. This type is documented by more than 60 plots from the Chester, Choptank, James, Mattaponi, Nanticoke, Pamunkey, Pocomoke, and Potomac river drainages in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.

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

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy of this freshwater tidal swamp is dominated by few tree species, generally Fraxinus profunda, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Nyssa biflora. Other canopy associates vary among occurrences and often include Nyssa sylvatica, Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia virginiana, Ulmus americana, and Pinus taeda. The shrub layer is well-developed and includes Lindera benzoin, Clethra alnifolia, Eubotrys racemosa (= Leucothoe racemosa), Ilex verticillata, Ilex opaca, Ilex laevigata, Alnus serrulata, Rhododendron viscosum, Viburnum dentatum, Viburnum nudum, Viburnum recognitum, Viburnum prunifolium, Amelanchier canadensis, Morella cerifera, Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium fuscatum, Itea virginica, Rosa palustris, and Cornus foemina. Alnus maritima is also characteristic in Outer Coastal Plain stands in Maryland and Delaware. Rheinhardt (1992) noted that the richness of subcanopy and shrub species rivals that of any temperate forest in eastern North America. Vines may also be dense and include Apios americana, Dioscorea villosa, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax laurifolia, and Toxicodendron radicans. The herbaceous layer is variable in composition and richness. Common associates include Arisaema triphyllum, Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex bromoides, Carex intumescens, Carex stricta, Cicuta maculata, Cinna arundinacea, Commelina virginica, Impatiens capensis, Leersia oryzoides, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Peltandra virginica, Polygonum arifolium, Polygonum sagittatum, Saururus cernuus, Thalictrum pubescens, Thelypteris palustris, Woodwardia areolata, and Zizania aquatica. Invasive exotics such as Murdannia keisak and Clematis terniflora may also occur in this association. On the Pamunkey River in east-central Virginia, several herbaceous species, particularly Agalinis purpurea and Rhynchospora macrostachya (= var. colpophila), appear to be more common and characteristic of these disturbed stands than in either undisturbed tidal swamp forests or marshes.

Dynamics:  Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Nyssa biflora tend to sort out where there is longer inundation and a mean water table near the hummock surface. Acer rubrum and Liquidambar styraciflua tend to occur where the mean water table is relatively lower (Rheinhardt 1992). Duration of flooding is a poorer predictor of canopy composition than mean depth of flooding. Certain sites exhibit crown stress and tree mortality from sea-level rise, resulting in a shift from forest to woodland physiognomy and the apparent invasion by herbaceous species characteristic of emergent marshes. On the Pamunkey River in east-central Virginia, several herbaceous species, particularly Agalinis purpurea and Rhynchospora macrostachya, appear to be more common and characteristic of these disturbed stands than in either undisturbed tidal swamp forests or marshes.

Environmental Description:  This association occurs along fresh reaches of tidal rivers, usually receiving diurnal or irregular tidal flooding. There is distinct hummock-and-hollow microtopography with hollows flooded during higher tides. Development and persistence of this association appears to be limited downstream by halinity and upstream by the availability of sufficient sediment. Hence, tidal hardwood swamps are associated primarily with the upper (higher halinity) end of the freshwater portion of the halinity gradient and typically occur on higher landscape positions adjacent to tidal freshwater marshes. Soil is generally organic-rich and contains a frequently deep organic horizon over silty alluvial deposits. Pronounced hummock-and-hollow microtopography is characteristic. Hollows are inundated by diurnal tides; hummocks may be only irregularly flooded, and the tops of hummocks are only rarely (< annually) submerged (Rheinhardt 1992).

Geographic Range: This association is restricted to tidal rivers in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  DC, DE, MD, VA




Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G3

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: The rank and range of this association have been expanded to include the former CEGL006073 of DE and MD

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Acer rubrum - Fraxinus (pennsylvanica, profunda) Tidal Forest (Clancy 1996)
= Acer rubrum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tidal Forest (Bowman 2000)
= Fraxinus (pennsylvanica, profunda) / Ilex verticillata / Polygonum punctatum - Peltandra virginica - Saururus cernuus Tidally Flooded Forest (McCoy and Fleming 2000)
= Fraxinus profunda - Nyssa biflora / Ilex verticillata - Alnus serrulata / Polygonum arifolium Tidal Forest (Coulling 2002)
= Fraxinus profunda - Nyssa biflora / Ilex verticillata / Polygonum arifolium Tidal Forest (Walton et al. 2001)
> Ash-blackgum swamp (Rheinhardt 1992)
> Maple-sweetgum swamp (Rheinhardt 1992)

Concept Author(s): Eastern Ecology Group

Author of Description: S.L. Neid and G.P. Fleming

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-24-07

  • Bowman, P. 2000. Draft classification for Delaware. Unpublished draft. Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna, DE.
  • Clancy, K. 1996. Natural communities of Delaware. Unpublished review draft. Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Division of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Smyrna, DE. 52 pp.
  • Coulling, P. P. 2002. A preliminary classification of tidal marsh, shrub swamp, and hardwood swamp vegetation and assorted non-tidal, chiefly non-maritime, herbaceous wetland communities of the Virginia Coastal Plain. October 2002. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-18. 30 pp.
  • Coxe, R. 2009. Guide to Delaware vegetation communities. Spring 2009 edition. State of Delaware, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Fleming, G. P. 2001a. Community types of Coastal Plain calcareous ravines in Virginia. Preliminary analysis and classification. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 4 pp.
  • Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
  • Fleming, G. P., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
  • Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
  • Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
  • Harrison, Jason W. Personal communication. State Community Ecologist, Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Division, Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD.
  • McCoy, K. M., and G. P. Fleming. 2000. Ecological communities of U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Belvoir, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Unpublished report submitted to the U.S. Army. Natural Heritage Technical Report 00-08. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 156 pp. plus appendices.
  • Rheinhardt, R. 1992. A multivariate analysis of vegetation patterns in tidal freshwater swamps of lower Chesapeake Bay, USA. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 119:192-207.
  • Rheinhardt, R. D. 1991. Vegetation ecology of tidal freshwater swamps of the lower Chesapeake Bay, USA.
  • Tiner, R. W., Jr. 1985a. Wetlands of Delaware. Cooperative publication of USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, National Wetlands Inventory, Newton Corner, MA, and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Dover, DE. 77 pp.
  • Walton, D. P., P. P. Coulling, J. Weber, A. Belden, Jr., and A. C. Chazal. 2001. A plant community classification and natural heritage inventory of the Pamunkey River floodplain. Unpublished report submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Natural Heritage Technical Report 01-19. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 200 pp. plus appendices.