Print Report
CEGL007431 Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica / Fraxinus caroliniana Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo / Carolina Ash Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Bald-cypress - Tupelo Brownwater Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a semipermanently flooded community of brownwater rivers which occurs primarily in the outer Atlantic Coastal Plain extending through the East Gulf Coastal Plain. Vegetation is characterized by a dense canopy composed almost exclusively of straight, tall individuals of Taxodium distichum and Nyssa aquatica with a sparse to moderate subcanopy and depauperate shrub and herb layers. Occasional individuals of several species (e.g., Populus heterophylla, Salix nigra, Nyssa biflora, Planera aquatica, Ulmus americana, Fraxinus profunda, Fraxinus caroliniana, Carya aquatica, Quercus lyrata) are possible in the canopy or subcanopy. The herbaceous layer is very sparse, and typical species include Saururus cernuus, Proserpinaca pectinata, Proserpinaca palustris, Asclepias perennis, Commelina virginica, Leersia lenticularis, and Phanopyrum gymnocarpon. It is found on the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia to southern Georgia, and possibly on the lower Gulf Coastal Plain west to southeastern Louisiana, excluding the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain. It can be found in oxbow lakes and ponds, along the banks of rivers and lakes, on low wet flats and sloughs, swales and backswamps. It occurs only on saturated or flooded soils. Forests dominated by Taxodium distichum and Nyssa aquatica are common throughout the southeastern Coastal Plain.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Conceptually, this type (CEGL007431) represents a type occurring along the outer Atlantic Coastal Plain extending through the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain and does NOT extend west of the Mississippi River. ~Taxodium distichum - (Nyssa aquatica) / Forestiera acuminata - Planera aquatica Floodplain Forest (CEGL002421)$$ represents the West Gulf and interior expressions of this vegetation. This type needs to be resolved with ~Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Acer rubrum / Itea virginica Floodplain Forest (CEGL007422)$$; apparently the conceptual difference is that CEGL007431 is semipermanently flooded while CEGL007422 is seasonally flooded.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is characterized by a dense canopy composed almost exclusively of straight, tall individuals of Taxodium distichum and Nyssa aquatica (together contributing at least 75% of the canopy cover) with a sparse to moderate subcanopy and depauperate shrub and herb layers. Occasional individuals of several species (e.g., Populus heterophylla, Salix nigra, Nyssa biflora, Planera aquatica, Ulmus americana, Fraxinus profunda, Fraxinus caroliniana, Carya aquatica, Quercus lyrata) are possible in the canopy or subcanopy. The herbaceous layer is very sparse, and typical species include Saururus cernuus, Proserpinaca pectinata, Proserpinaca palustris, Asclepias perennis, Commelina virginica, Leersia lenticularis, and Phanopyrum gymnocarpon (= Panicum gymnocarpon). Decumaria barbara, Toxicodendron radicans, and Bignonia capreolata are commonly occurring vines but usually have <10% cover. The exotic plant species Eichhornia crassipes may a problem. The SC crosswalked community is broader and some of the above-listed species may not be appropriate.
Dynamics: Flooding frequency is approximately 100% of years, and flooding duration is approximately 100% of the growing season. This is a Zone II community.
The community is potentially very long-lasting; bald-cypress trees have been reported to live longer than 1000 years. In areas where sediment accumulates over time, bottomland hardwood forest types may succeed this community.
The community is potentially very long-lasting; bald-cypress trees have been reported to live longer than 1000 years. In areas where sediment accumulates over time, bottomland hardwood forest types may succeed this community.
Environmental Description: The community occurs on a variety of inundated topographic habitats, including oxbow ponds and lakes, backwater sloughs, along river edges and in various isolated depressions within the floodplain. It is more commonly associated with brownwater than blackwater rivers. Soil types on which it is found include very poorly drained phases of Entisols, Alfisols, Inceptisols, Ultisols, and Spodosols (Burns and Honkala 1990a). Hydrologic regime is the most important environmental determinant of the distribution of this community. Sites experience frequent flooding to near permanent ponding, with floodwater that may be 3 m deep during rainy seasons and may remain for extended periods (Burns and Honkala 1990a). Probability of annual flooding is 100% with soils nearly permanently saturated (Wharton et al. 1982).
Geographic Range: This association is found on the lower Atlantic Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia to southern Georgia, and possibly on the lower Gulf Coastal Plain west to southeastern Louisiana, excluding the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain. Forests dominated by Taxodium distichum and Nyssa aquatica are common throughout the southeastern Coastal Plain.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, FL, GA, LA, NC, SC, TX, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686827
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5?
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.4 Swamp Chestnut Oak - Bald-cypress - Pecan Southern Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M031 | 1.B.3.Nb.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo Floodplain Forest Group | G033 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
| Alliance | A3594 Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3594 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
| Association | CEGL007431 Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo / Carolina Ash Floodplain Forest | CEGL007431 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica / Fraxinus caroliniana Forest (Landaal et al. 1998) [Plots 1-06; 1-09; 1-27; 1-30; 1-46; 1-59; 2-06; 2-09; 2-28; 2-40; 2-50; 2-51]
= Bald cypress-water gum community (Jones et al. 1981b)
< Baldcypress - Tupelo: 102 (Eyre 1980)
< IIA4a. Bald Cypress Swamp (Allard 1990)
< Mesotrophic Semipermanently Flooded Forest (Rawinski 1992)
= Bald cypress-water gum community (Jones et al. 1981b)
< Baldcypress - Tupelo: 102 (Eyre 1980)
< IIA4a. Bald Cypress Swamp (Allard 1990)
< Mesotrophic Semipermanently Flooded Forest (Rawinski 1992)
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