Print Report
CEGL008557 Tilia americana - Acer floridanum - Fraxinus americana / Arundinaria gigantea / Tillandsia usneoides Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Basswood - Southern Sugar Maple - White Ash / Giant Cane / Spanish-moss Forest
Colloquial Name: Alabama Red Hills Mesic Hardwood Bluff Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is found on mesic, north-facing bluffs in the Alabama Red Hills of the East Gulf Coastal Plain and on the first terrace of the Chattahoochee River in Russell County, Alabama (Fort Benning), Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain. This association is a deciduous hardwood forest dominated by Tilia americana var. caroliniana, with Fraxinus americana, Acer floridanum, and sometimes Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, or Fagus grandifolia. In the Chattahoochee River drainage, Tilia americana var. heterophylla can replace the typical southern Tilia americana var. caroliniana. Other less abundant canopy trees are Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus alba, Carya tomentosa, Pinus taeda, Carya cordiformis, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, Carya ovalis, Carya glabra, Quercus rubra, Quercus pagoda, Platanus occidentalis, and Quercus shumardii. The most common subcanopy species are Carpinus caroliniana, Fagus grandifolia, Acer floridanum, Ostrya virginiana, Halesia diptera, Carya cordiformis, and Magnolia acuminata. Additional subcanopy species are Cornus florida, Magnolia macrophylla, and Morus rubra. Tillandsia usneoides is common as an epiphyte. Arundinaria gigantea is the most abundant shrub; other shrubs are Vaccinium elliottii, Hydrangea quercifolia, Cercis canadensis, Magnolia grandiflora, Halesia diptera, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Ulmus rubra, Callicarpa americana, and Ilex opaca. The common herbaceous plants (in order of abundance) are Polystichum acrostichoides, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Solidago caesia, and Hexastylis arifolia. Vines present are Vitis aestivalis, Bignonia capreolata, and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. This association lacks a large assemblage of calciphilic herbs.
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: This association is a deciduous hardwood forest. In the Alabama Red Hills it is dominated by Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Fraxinus americana, Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), and Fagus grandifolia (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). Other less abundant canopy trees are Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus alba, Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Pinus taeda, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, and Quercus shumardii. The most common subcanopy species are Carpinus caroliniana, Fagus grandifolia, Acer floridanum, and Magnolia acuminata. Additional subcanopy species are Cornus florida, Magnolia macrophylla, and Morus rubra. Tillandsia usneoides is common as an epiphyte. Arundinaria gigantea is the most abundant shrub; other shrubs are Vaccinium elliottii, Hydrangea quercifolia, Magnolia grandiflora, Ulmus rubra, Callicarpa americana, and Ilex opaca. The herbaceous plants (in order of abundance) are Polystichum acrostichoides, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Solidago caesia, and Hexastylis arifolia. Vines present are Vitis aestivalis, Bignonia capreolata, and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. This association lacks a large assemblage of calciphilic herbs.
At Fort Benning near the Chattahoochee River, the composition of this association is slightly different. It is dominated by Tilia americana var. heterophylla, the range of which extends furthest south along the Chattahoochee River. Other canopy species are Liquidambar styraciflua, Carya cordiformis, Carya ovalis, Carya glabra, Acer floridanum, Quercus shumardii, Quercus rubra, Quercus pagoda, Platanus occidentalis, and Fraxinus americana. Subcanopy dominants are Carpinus caroliniana, Ostrya virginiana, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Carya cordiformis and Halesia diptera. Other subcanopy species are Cornus florida, Acer floridanum, Fagus grandifolia, Symplocos tinctoria, Quercus muehlenbergii, Ilex opaca, Carya glabra, and Viburnum rufidulum. Shrubs include Halesia diptera, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Ostrya virginiana, Cercis canadensis, Ilex opaca, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Staphylea trifolia, Callicarpa americana, Acer floridanum, Aesculus pavia, Quercus rubra, Arundinaria gigantea, Magnolia grandiflora, Euonymus americanus, and Ulmus rubra. The most abundant herbaceous plants are Polystichum acrostichoides and Chasmanthium sessiliflorum. Other herbaceous species are Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Trillium decipiens, Cynoglossum virginianum, Spigelia marilandica, Melica mutica, Geranium maculatum, Sanicula canadensis, Hexastylis arifolia, Elephantopus carolinianus, Smilax hugeri, Scleria triglomerata, Mitchella repens, Podophyllum peltatum, and Phryma leptostachya. Vines include Bignonia capreolata, Toxicodendron radicans, Menispermum canadense, Vitis rotundifolia, and Smilax glauca. Tillandsia usneoides is a characteristic epiphyte, indicative of the southern distribution of this association.
At Fort Benning near the Chattahoochee River, the composition of this association is slightly different. It is dominated by Tilia americana var. heterophylla, the range of which extends furthest south along the Chattahoochee River. Other canopy species are Liquidambar styraciflua, Carya cordiformis, Carya ovalis, Carya glabra, Acer floridanum, Quercus shumardii, Quercus rubra, Quercus pagoda, Platanus occidentalis, and Fraxinus americana. Subcanopy dominants are Carpinus caroliniana, Ostrya virginiana, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Carya cordiformis and Halesia diptera. Other subcanopy species are Cornus florida, Acer floridanum, Fagus grandifolia, Symplocos tinctoria, Quercus muehlenbergii, Ilex opaca, Carya glabra, and Viburnum rufidulum. Shrubs include Halesia diptera, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Ostrya virginiana, Cercis canadensis, Ilex opaca, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Staphylea trifolia, Callicarpa americana, Acer floridanum, Aesculus pavia, Quercus rubra, Arundinaria gigantea, Magnolia grandiflora, Euonymus americanus, and Ulmus rubra. The most abundant herbaceous plants are Polystichum acrostichoides and Chasmanthium sessiliflorum. Other herbaceous species are Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Trillium decipiens, Cynoglossum virginianum, Spigelia marilandica, Melica mutica, Geranium maculatum, Sanicula canadensis, Hexastylis arifolia, Elephantopus carolinianus, Smilax hugeri, Scleria triglomerata, Mitchella repens, Podophyllum peltatum, and Phryma leptostachya. Vines include Bignonia capreolata, Toxicodendron radicans, Menispermum canadense, Vitis rotundifolia, and Smilax glauca. Tillandsia usneoides is a characteristic epiphyte, indicative of the southern distribution of this association.
Dynamics: Disturbance occurs in canopy gaps.
Environmental Description: This community is found on mesic, north-facing bluffs in the Alabama Red Hills of the East Gulf Coastal Plain and is also found on the first terrace of the Chattahoochee River in Russell County, Alabama (Fort Benning) (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). The Red Hills area has subsurface limestone which in some places occurs as outcrops, but is generally overlaid by sand and clay soils.
Geographic Range: This community is found in the Alabama Red Hills of the East Gulf Coastal Plain and on Fort Benning, AL (Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687507
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D006 | 1.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Na.3 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - White Oak Forest Macrogroup | M008 | 1.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.3.b American Beech - Southern Sugar Maple - White Oak Forest Group | G166 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Alliance | A3236 Southern Sugar Maple - Shumard Oak - White Ash Coastal Plain Forest Alliance | A3236 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Association | CEGL008557 American Basswood - Southern Sugar Maple - White Ash / Giant Cane / Spanish-moss Forest | CEGL008557 | 1.B.1.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Chattahoochee Ravines (Wharton 1978)
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Wharton, C. H. 1978. The natural environments of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. 227 pp.