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CEGL004481 Liquidambar styraciflua / Persea palustris Wet Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetgum / Swamp Bay Wet Forest
Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Sweetgum Lakeshore Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This natural lakeshore forest is dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua; the subcanopy is dominated by Persea palustris. Their hydrology is saturated, but is influenced by lake level fluctuations. This community is restricted in its habitat to saturated, peaty soils subject to periodic and seasonal flooding. These environments are associated with rare natural lakes in the exceedingly flat tidewater Coastal Plain of east-central and perhaps northeastern North Carolina.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Examples are known from Great Lake and Lake Simon Ellis, North Carolina. At Great Lake this forest grades into a swamp forest with an understory of Arundinaria gigantea and a slightly different species composition (Taggart and Fussell 1981); it is unclear whether this vegetation should be included in this association concept, more information is needed. An estimated 320 acres of this type occur at Lake Simon Ellis on private land (Taggart and Fussell 1981).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These natural lakeshore forests have a canopy dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua; the subcanopy is dominated by Persea palustris. Other species reportedly present include Symplocos tinctoria, Quercus nigra, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Decodon verticillatus, Acer rubrum, Taxodium distichum, Peltandra sagittifolia, Carex debilis, Dulichium arundinaceum, Saururus cernuus, Leersia virginica, Dichanthelium laxiflorum (= Panicum laxiflorum), Woodwardia areolata, Botrychium virginianum, Osmunda cinnamomea, and Osmunda regalis (Taggart and Fussell 1981). Nyssa biflora is included in the description of this type by Schafale and Weakley (1990); it was recorded by Taggart and Fussell (1981) in a closely related community type at the Great Lake site. It is unclear whether the community they describe (Liquidambar styraciflua / Persea borbonia / Persea borbonia - Arundinaria gigantea) is to be considered part of this association or not. More information is needed, as are data on this type from Lake Simon Ellis.
Dynamics: Although this type is a lakeshore forest, it is influenced by almost riverine flooding processes.
Environmental Description: Possibly the best known example of this forest occurs along the south and east shores of Great Lake in the Croatan National Forest along a broad, low levee. This levee forest lies between the lake and the only surface outlet. Water draining from the lake first floods through and across this forest type. According to Taggart and Fussell (1981), there is probably almost continuous movement of water throughout the year, due in part to large amounts of rainfall and correspondingly high runoff. The hydrology of this association is saturated, but is influenced by lake level fluctuations.
Geographic Range: This community appears to be endemic to the tidewater Coastal Plain of east-central and perhaps northeastern North Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686636
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.b Atlantic White-cedar - Pitch Pine Swamp Group | G039 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.b |
| Alliance | A3637 Sweetgum - Red Maple / Wax-myrtle Mid-Atlantic Swamp Forest Alliance | A3637 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.b |
| Association | CEGL004481 Sweetgum / Swamp Bay Wet Forest | CEGL004481 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Taggart, J. B., and J. O. Fussell. 1981. Great Lake and Great Lake sweetgum forest. Pages 330-344 in: C. B. McDonald, A. W. Ash, and J. O. Fussell. Natural areas inventory of Craven Co., NC. North Carolina Coastal Energy Impact Program Report No. 15.