Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Elm - Green Ash - Sugarberry / Fowl Mannagrass - (Cherokee Sedge) Riparian Blackland Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riparian mesic blackland woodland community occurs in deep soils on relatively level terrain, typically as narrow communities bordering ephemeral streams and dry-mesic and mesic blackland prairie. Fire plays a role in its formation and maintenance. Dominant tree species include Ulmus americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Celtis laevigata var. laevigata. Other woody vegetation includes Acer negundo, Nekemias arborea, Berchemia scandens, Campsis radicans, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Diospyros virginiana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Platanus occidentalis, Toxicodendron radicans, and Vitis cinerea. Dominant herbaceous species include Glyceria striata and/or Carex cherokeensis, with Arisaema dracontium, Arundinaria gigantea, Helianthus grosseserratus, Juncus effusus, and Leersia oryzoides. Temporarily high water tables probably strongly influence herbaceous community and moderately influence woody species composition. Woody vegetation succession is rapid during periods of fire suppression, forming almost impenetrable thickets of vines and shrubs. Carex cherokeensis appears to dominate the herbaceous vegetation in more disturbed stands. No high-quality examples of this community are known. A greater understanding of this community type should result with additional fire management. Fire-suppressed remnants of this community type occur at the International Paper Blackland Prairie. The type location is in Clark County, Arkansas. Other examples occur in Hempstead and Howard counties, and it should be found in Little River, Nevada, and Sevier counties, Arkansas.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: With fire all prairie riparian forests should have woodland derivatives. Carex cherokeensis-dominated herbaceous vegetation can make these communities virtually fire-proof. The forest variant fits ~Ulmus americana - Celtis (laevigata, occidentalis) - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Floodplain Forest (CEGL002090)$$ (G4 probably) with the same species as the woodland, but vines become more important than the herbs and the name may need some additions. There may be western and eastern versions of the forest community.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available