Print Report
CEGL008477 Nyssa biflora - Liquidambar styraciflua / Magnolia virginiana / Hamamelis virginiana - Viburnum nudum Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Tupelo - Sweetgum / Sweetbay / American Witch-hazel - Possumhaw Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These saturated forests occur in seepage-influenced areas adjacent to small streams in southern portions of the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama and possibly Mississippi. The open tree canopy is typically dominated by Nyssa biflora, with some combination of Liquidambar styraciflua and Acer rubrum. In addition, Pinus taeda may be present in some stands. The subcanopy (and possibly the canopy in some examples) contains substantial Magnolia virginiana; this stratum may also contain Ilex opaca var. opaca and Cornus foemina. Canopy cover in these seeps is not complete, and the shrub and herbaceous layers may be well-developed. The shrub stratum contains Ilex opaca var. opaca, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Hamamelis virginiana, and Itea virginica, which may be dominant. Other shrubs present include Viburnum dentatum, Ilex decidua, Cornus foemina, Arundinaria tecta, and others. The herbaceous layer includes Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Osmunda cinnamomea, Woodwardia areolata, Solidago patula var. strictula, Sagittaria latifolia, Penthorum sedoides, Mikania scandens, Juncus effusus, Chelone glabra, Dichanthelium spp., Carex crinita, Carex frankii, Carex intumescens, Carex leptalea, Mitchella repens, Sphagnum spp., and others. Various of these herbs may be locally dominant in patches. Woody vines are common; some typical species are Smilax laurifolia, Smilax rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Berchemia scandens, and others. This association lacks some of the species characteristic of related vegetation types from further south, such as Morella caroliniensis, Toxicodendron vernix, Ilex coriacea, Clethra alnifolia, and Persea palustris.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The open tree canopy of stands is typically dominated by Nyssa biflora, with some combination of Liquidambar styraciflua and Acer rubrum (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). In addition, Pinus taeda may be present in some stands. The subcanopy (and possibly the canopy in some examples) contains substantial Magnolia virginiana; this stratum may also contain Ilex opaca var. opaca and Cornus foemina. Canopy cover in these seeps is not complete, and the shrub and herbaceous layers may be well-developed. The shrub stratum contains Ilex opaca var. opaca, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Hamamelis virginiana, and Itea virginica, which may be dominant. Other shrubs present include Viburnum dentatum, Ilex decidua, Cornus foemina, Arundinaria tecta (= Arundinaria gigantea ssp. tecta), and others. The herbaceous layer includes Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Osmunda cinnamomea, Woodwardia areolata, Solidago patula var. strictula, Sagittaria latifolia, Penthorum sedoides, Mikania scandens, Juncus effusus, Chelone glabra, Dichanthelium spp., Carex crinita, Carex frankii, Carex intumescens, Carex leptalea, Mitchella repens, Sphagnum spp., and others. Various of these herbs may be locally dominant in patches. Woody vines are common; some typical species are Smilax laurifolia, Smilax rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans, Berchemia scandens, and others. This association lacks some of the species characteristic of related vegetation types from further south, such as Morella caroliniensis (= Myrica heterophylla), Toxicodendron vernix, Ilex coriacea, Clethra alnifolia, and Persea palustris.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This saturated forest occurs in the southern Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama and possibly Mississippi, and possibly the nearby Ridge and Valley/Piedmont transition area of Alabama (231Dd).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, MS
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686626
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.3 Sweetbay - Swamp Bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M032 | 1.B.3.Nb.3 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a Sweetbay - Loblolly-bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Group | G037 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A0378 <i>Magnolia virginiana - Nyssa biflora - Quercus laurifolia</i> Southeast Swamp Forest Alliance | A0378 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
| Association | CEGL008477 Swamp Tupelo - Sweetgum / Sweetbay / American Witch-hazel - Possumhaw Swamp Forest | CEGL008477 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- MSNHP [Mississippi Natural Heritage Program]. 2006. Ecological communities of Mississippi. Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Jackson, MS. 9 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Nordman, C., M. Russo, and L. Smart. 2011. Vegetation types of the Natchez Trace Parkway, based on the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe Central Databases (International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications). Arlington, VA. Data current as of 11 April 2011. 548 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.