Print Report
CEGL006501 Acer rubrum - Abies balsamea / Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Maple - Balsam Fir / Withe-rod Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Balsam Fir Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These forests or woodlands are found on small floodplains in the northernmost regions of the Northern Appalachians of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and possibly Quebec. The setting is typically small to medium-sized rivers (often third- or fourth-order streams) in montane valleys or other settings with cold-air drainage. Soils are fine sandy loams or loams with only low to moderate nutrient availability. The canopy can range from nearly closed to an open woodland character, and lower layers may be well-developed where the canopy is not continuous. Abies balsamea is characteristic in the canopy, although not necessarily dominant; Acer rubrum is also common, and may be dominant. Associated tree species include Prunus serotina, Picea glauca, Betula papyrifera, and Pinus strobus. Acer saccharinum, Fraxinus nigra, Tsuga canadensis, Picea rubens, and/or Ulmus americana may be occasional at some sites. Shrubs include Corylus cornuta, Alnus incana, Spiraea alba, Viburnum recognitum, Sambucus racemosa, and Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides. Northern herbs are frequent as a group and include Coptis trifolia, Cornus canadensis, Carex novae-angliae, and Oclemena acuminata; also typical are Onoclea sensibilis, Osmunda regalis, Athyrium filix-femina, Thalictrum pubescens, Brachyelytrum erectum, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex stricta, Carex intumescens, Veratrum viride, and Uvularia sessilifolia.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is documented from New Hampshire and Maine, but may also occur in adjacent states and provinces. Some occurrences lack Abies balsamea, but have understory species characteristic of these more northern settings as compared to ~Acer rubrum - Prunus serotina / Cornus amomum Floodplain Forest (CEGL006503)$$. Additional fieldwork in this floodplain setting would help to round out the type, and determine if settings with and without Abies balsamea should be regarded as different associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy can range from nearly closed to an open woodland character, and lower layers may be well-developed where the canopy is not continuous. Abies balsamea is characteristic in the canopy, although not necessarily dominant; Acer rubrum is also common, and may be dominant. Associated tree species include Prunus serotina, Picea glauca, Betula papyrifera, and Pinus strobus. Acer saccharinum, Fraxinus nigra, Tsuga canadensis, Picea rubens, and/or Ulmus americana may be occasional at some sites. Shrubs include Corylus cornuta, Alnus incana, Spiraea alba, Viburnum recognitum (= Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum), Sambucus racemosa, and Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides. Northern herbs are frequent as a group and include Coptis trifolia (= ssp. groenlandica), Cornus canadensis, Carex novae-angliae, and Oclemena acuminata; also typical are Onoclea sensibilis, Osmunda regalis, Athyrium filix-femina, Thalictrum pubescens, Brachyelytrum erectum, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex stricta, Carex intumescens, Veratrum viride, and Uvularia sessilifolia.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests or woodlands are found on small floodplains in the northernmost regions of the Northern Appalachians. The setting is typically small to medium-sized rivers (often third- or fourth-order streams) in montane valleys or other settings with cold-air drainage. Soils are fine sandy loams or loams with only low to moderate nutrient availability.
Geographic Range: These forests or woodlands are found on small floodplains in the northernmost regions of the Northern Appalachians of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and possibly Quebec.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: ME, NH, QC?, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687201
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.3 <i>Tsuga canadensis - Fraxinus nigra - Larix laricina</i> Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M504 | 1.B.3.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.3.a Silver Maple - Green Ash - Black Ash Floodplain Forest Group | G653 | 1.B.3.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A3715 Silver Maple - Red Maple - American Elm Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3715 | 1.B.3.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL006501 Red Maple - Balsam Fir / Withe-rod Floodplain Forest | CEGL006501 | 1.B.3.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Abies balsamea-Acer rubrum/Carex stricta, Type 11 (Sperduto and Crowley 2002a)
- CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Gawler, S. C. 2002. Natural landscapes of Maine: A guide to vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta, ME.
- Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.
- Sperduto, D. D., and K. F. Crowley. 2002a. Floodplain forests in New England: Analysis and proposed classification. In collaboration with natural heritage programs in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord, NH. 19 pp. plus appendices.
- Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.
- Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2005. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.