Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Cherrybark Oak - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Southern Magnolia - (Carolina Basswood) / Dwarf Palmetto Forest

Colloquial Name: Louisiana East Gulf Coastal Plain Pleistocene Prairie Terrace Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This is a loess forest of the essentially flat to very gently rolling Pleistocene Prairie Terraces of Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Ascension parishes of the Louisiana East Gulf Coastal Plain. It is often associated with the wetter community ~Quercus michauxii - Quercus (nigra, pagoda) - Liquidambar styraciflua - Pinus taeda Wet Forest (CEGL007715)$$ in a complex of wetland and non-wetland forests occurring on interdigitated microtopographic highs and lows. In higher quality examples, the overstory is typically dominated by Quercus pagoda, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Quercus nigra, but Platanus occidentalis, Magnolia grandiflora, Fagus grandifolia, Ulmus americana, and Quercus michauxii are common primary associates, and various of these may be locally dominant. Other canopy species often present include Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus shumardii, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Morus rubra, Acer rubrum, Carya glabra, Ulmus alata, Prunus caroliniana, and Celtis laevigata. Ilex opaca is often present as a subcanopy species. Common shrub species include Sabal minor, Lindera benzoin, Asimina triloba, Euonymus americanus, Halesia diptera, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, Cornus drummondii, Aralia spinosa, Ilex vomitoria, Symplocos tinctoria, Carpinus caroliniana, Ostrya virginiana, and Callicarpa americana. Arundinaria gigantea may be very common in patches in the understory, and the exotic shrub Ligustrum sinense can be extremely abundant. A variety of vines is typically present, including wild grapes Vitis spp., particularly Vitis rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, Berchemia scandens, Bignonia capreolata, Campsis radicans, Smilax spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Cocculus carolinus, and Decumaria barbara. The exotic vine Lonicera japonica has become a serious pest in many places. The herbaceous component is distinctive, but not particularly diverse, and includes among others, Thelypteris spp., Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Polystichum acrostichoides, Botrychium virginianum, Asplenium platyneuron, Polygonum virginianum, Pilea pumila, Sanicula spp., Laportea canadensis, Podophyllum peltatum, Trillium foetidissimum, Cryptotaenia canadensis, Elephantopus carolinianus, and Carex spp. Phoradendron leucarpum and Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana are common on older hardwoods, and Tillandsia usneoides is often present. Mosses, lichens and liverworts are common to abundant. Forests of this association are present on relatively deep and fertile, somewhat acidic to circumneutral, silt loam soils of loessal origin. In the Florida parishes of Louisiana, this forest community shares many woody taxa in common with the closely related Southern Mesophytic Forest of the Tunica Hills in the northwestern Florida parishes, ~Quercus pagoda - Magnolia grandiflora - Fagus grandifolia / Hydrangea quercifolia / Thelypteris kunthii Forest (CEGL007461)$$, but because it occurs on relatively poorly drained flatlands, it has less predominance of species typical of well-drained sites, and a greater prevalence of species characteristic of less well-drained sites.

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