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CEGL002431 Acer saccharinum - Celtis laevigata - Carya illinoinensis Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silver Maple - Sugarberry - Pecan Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Silver Maple - Sugarberry - Pecan Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This silver maple floodplain forest type is found in the central United States. Stands occur in deep (greater than 1 m) moist alluvial soils of river bottoms and occasionally at the base of protected slopes. The soils are poorly drained and often have an impervious clay layer which encourages the ponding of water. Groundwater is at or near the surface, except on ridges and terraces where the levees of old streams and meanders were deposited. Canopy cover is more-or-less complete and dominated by Acer saccharinum, Celtis laevigata, and Carya illinoinensis. Less dominant species encountered are Acer negundo, Populus deltoides, Salix nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus palustris, and Betula nigra. Trees are tall (24-30 m [80-100 feet]) and straight with rounded, spreading, open crowns and massive branches. The understory is sparse and dominated by Celtis laevigata, Acer saccharinum, and Ulmus americana. Forestiera acuminata and Ilex decidua dominate the shrub layer. Herbaceous species most commonly encountered are Boehmeria cylindrica, Laportea canadensis, and Urtica dioica. Although the understory may be sparsely populated, a diverse variety of species can be encountered. Vines may form dense thickets and include Vitis spp., Smilax spp., Toxicodendron radicans, and Campsis radicans.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a relatively southern type, separable from ~Acer saccharinum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus americana Floodplain Forest (CEGL002586)$$, but the distinction needs more clarity. Missouri isn''t sure they can distinguish these two types in the state. Stands are found on Kentucky''s Mississippi River Alluvial Plain, Carya illinoinensis can codominate (M. Evans pers. comm. 1999). This forest occurs on the Arkansas River (T. Foti pers. comm. 1999).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Tree subcanopy is 10-20 m tall and vine/liana 0-5 m.
Floristics: Canopy cover is more or less complete (80-100%), and dominated by Acer saccharinum, Celtis laevigata, and Carya illinoinensis. Carya illinoinensis seldom occurs in high densities but grows to be one of the largest trees on the floodplain. Less dominant species encountered are Acer negundo, Populus deltoides, Salix nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus palustris, and Betula nigra. Trees are tall (25-35 m) and straight with rounded, spreading, open crowns and massive branches. The understory is sparse, dominated by Celtis laevigata, Acer saccharinum, and Ulmus americana. Forestiera acuminata and Ilex decidua dominate the shrub layer. Herbaceous species most commonly encountered are Boehmeria cylindrica, Laportea canadensis, and Urtica dioica. Although the understory may be sparsely populated, a diverse variety of species can be encountered. Vines may form dense thickets and include Vitis spp., Smilax spp., Toxicodendron radicans, and Campsis radicans (TNC 1995a). Species composition within and among this natural community is largely determined by the flooding regime of adjacent rivers and lakes. Soil physical properties also affect plant associations. Herbaceous density is influenced by the depth and duration of flooding.
Dynamics: This natural community is subject to flooding during periods of heavy precipitation and wind and storm damage. It is a mid-successional floodplain forest subject to periodic shallow flooding. Wind and lightning damage commonly occurs during storms. Infrequent severe floods and seasonal short-duration shallow flooding create a dynamic situation which maintains this successional stage. Seasonal flooding (early winter and late spring) contributes nutrients and sediments to this dynamic and productive ecosystem. Occasional prolonged flooding can stress canopy species, especially pecan and sugarberry. Silver maple can become more prevalent under these conditions.
Environmental Description: Stands occur in deep (greater than 1 m), moist alluvial soils of second bottoms and terraces within the Mississippi River floodplain and occasionally at the base of protected slopes. These soils are deep, medium-textured, and have adequate or excessive moisture available for vegetation during the growing season. Often the deposition of impermeable clay layers causes ponding of water in low areas. Many of these soils have a high shrink-swell capacity. Ridge-and-swale topography is common as a result of depositional and scouring processes which occur when rivers flood over their banks and meander through the floodplain. Soil properties also vary with distance from the river. Heavier particles settle out first to form ridges and terraces, while finer particles settle further out and form expansive, level floodplain terraces. This community is subject to periodic flooding, although it is seldom deeply inundated (>1.5 m) for more than several days at a time.
Soils include dominantly level or nearly level to gently sloping soils that formed in alluvium on floodplains. These soils are deep, medium-textured, and have adequate or excessive moisture available for vegetation during the growing season. They have a udic or aquic moisture regime, a thermic temperature regime, and montmorillonitic or mixed mineralogy. Soils are Aquepts, Aqualfs, Aquents, Udolls, and Udalfs. Haplaquepts, Ochraqualfs, Fluvaquents, Natraqualfs, Ochraqualfs, and Hapludalfs are found in backswamp areas and older natural levees. Dystrochrepts, Udifluvents, and Fluvaquents occur in smaller areas. Soils Associations which would support this community in southern Illinois include Belknap-Wakeland, Darwin-Medway-Cairo, Jacob-Booker, Ginat-Weinbach-Sciotoville, Armiesburg-Emma, and Belknap-Bonnie-Cape. Bedrock is deeply buried Paleozoic material. The unconsolidated sediments that overlay the bedrock need to be further characterized.
Soils include dominantly level or nearly level to gently sloping soils that formed in alluvium on floodplains. These soils are deep, medium-textured, and have adequate or excessive moisture available for vegetation during the growing season. They have a udic or aquic moisture regime, a thermic temperature regime, and montmorillonitic or mixed mineralogy. Soils are Aquepts, Aqualfs, Aquents, Udolls, and Udalfs. Haplaquepts, Ochraqualfs, Fluvaquents, Natraqualfs, Ochraqualfs, and Hapludalfs are found in backswamp areas and older natural levees. Dystrochrepts, Udifluvents, and Fluvaquents occur in smaller areas. Soils Associations which would support this community in southern Illinois include Belknap-Wakeland, Darwin-Medway-Cairo, Jacob-Booker, Ginat-Weinbach-Sciotoville, Armiesburg-Emma, and Belknap-Bonnie-Cape. Bedrock is deeply buried Paleozoic material. The unconsolidated sediments that overlay the bedrock need to be further characterized.
Geographic Range: This silver maple forest type is found in the central United States, ranging from southern Indiana west to Missouri, south to Arkansas, Oklahoma and possibly Mississippi, and east to Kentucky.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN, KY, MO?, MS, OK?, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686588
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.1 Silver Maple - American Sycamore - Hackberry species Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M029 | 1.B.3.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.1.b <i>Acer saccharinum - Platanus occidentalis - Liquidambar styraciflua</i> Floodplain Forest Group | G673 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3700 Green Ash - American Sycamore - Silver Maple Ozark-Ouachita Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3700 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002431 Silver Maple - Sugarberry - Pecan Floodplain Forest | CEGL002431 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Acer saccharinum - Celtis laevigata - Carya illinoinensis Forest (TNC 1995a)
= Acer saccharinum - Celtis laevigata - Carya illinoinensis Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Acer saccharinum - Populus deltoides/Aster community (Voigt and Mohlenbrock 1964)
< Eastern Broadleaf and Needleleaf Forests: 113: Southern Floodplain Forest (Quercus-Nyssa-Taxodium) (Küchler 1964)
< Silver Maple - American Elm: 62 (Eyre 1980)
< Sycamore - Sweetgum - American Elm: 94 (Eyre 1980)
= Acer saccharinum - Celtis laevigata - Carya illinoinensis Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Acer saccharinum - Populus deltoides/Aster community (Voigt and Mohlenbrock 1964)
< Eastern Broadleaf and Needleleaf Forests: 113: Southern Floodplain Forest (Quercus-Nyssa-Taxodium) (Küchler 1964)
< Silver Maple - American Elm: 62 (Eyre 1980)
< Sycamore - Sweetgum - American Elm: 94 (Eyre 1980)
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