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CEGL003896 Platanus occidentalis - Betula nigra - Salix (caroliniana, nigra) Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Sycamore - River Birch - (Coastal Plain Willow, Black Willow) Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Piedmont-Central Appalachian Sycamore - River Birch Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This early-successional woodland community of coarse-textured (cobbly / bouldery) to fine-textured (silty or muddy) depositional bars and islands occurs along rivers and large streams in the High Allegheny Plateau, Central Appalachians, and Lower New England ecoregions. It is subject to relatively frequent and powerful flooding and ice-scouring and has a highly variable physiognomy. It is dominated by stunted, usually battered and flood-trained trees (varying from <5 to >10 m tall) of Platanus occidentalis and Betula nigra. Salix caroliniana and Salix nigra are dominant or codominant in a minority of stands. Other floodplain trees, particularly Acer saccharinum and Fraxinus pennsylvanica, may occur as minor associates. Shrub associates include Cornus amomum, Salix sericea, Alnus serrulata, and sometimes Cephalanthus occidentalis or Physocarpus opulifolius. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense. Characteristic herbs include Apocynum cannabinum, Polygonum virginianum, Polygonum hydropiper, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum sagittatum, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Eupatorium serotinum, Asclepias incarnata, Pilea pumila, Hypericum spp., Bidens spp., Phalaris arundinacea, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Leersia virginica, Panicum virgatum, and Justicia americana. Vines such as Vitis riparia and Toxicodendron radicans are often found throughout this association. Exotics such as Lythrum salicaria, Microstegium vimineum, Fallopia japonica var. japonica, Securigera varia, and Rosa multiflora are frequent invaders.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Classification of this type was refined through analysis of data from 40 plots from the Potomac River across several physiographic provinces. Salix interior, a former nominal in the type, is listed as "rare" in Maryland and Virginia (Kartesz 1999).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The physiognomy of this community is extremely variable, with recently disturbed stands often having the stature of shrublands, and older stands attaining more of a woodland form. The vegetation is dominated by stunted and often battered and flood-trained trees (varying from less than 5 m tall to >10 m tall) of Platanus occidentalis and Betula nigra. Salix caroliniana and Salix nigra are dominant or codominant in a minority of stands. Other floodplain trees, particularly Acer saccharinum and Fraxinus pennsylvanica, may occur as minor associates. Shrub associates include Cornus amomum, Salix sericea, Alnus serrulata, and sometimes Cephalanthus occidentalis or Physocarpus opulifolius. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense. Characteristic herbs include Apocynum cannabinum, Polygonum virginianum, Polygonum hydropiper, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum sagittatum, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Asclepias incarnata, Eupatorium serotinum, Hypericum spp., Bidens spp., Artemisia annua, Cyperus spp., Boehmeria cylindrica, Phyla lanceolata, Hibiscus laevis, Ipomoea lacunosa, Acalypha rhomboidea, Phalaris arundinacea, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Leersia virginica, Panicum virgatum, Pilea pumila, and Justicia americana. Vines such as Vitis riparia and Toxicodendron radicans are often found throughout this association. Exotics such as Microstegium vimineum, Polygonum cespitosum var. longisetum, Lythrum salicaria, Securigera varia (= Coronilla varia), Rosa multiflora, and Fallopia japonica var. japonica are a frequent problem.
The two variants of this type in the Potomac drainage [see Environment] are similar in total floristic composition but may differ considerably in herbaceous density and the relative abundances of individual species. The high-gradient variant tends to have a sparse herb layer of somewhat stunted ruderal species, including Apocynum cannabinum, Cyperus strigosus, Acalypha rhomboidea, and Eupatorium serotinum. The low-gradient variant has a variable herb layer that includes flood-tolerant species such as Pilea pumila, Leersia virginica, Leersia oryzoides, Scrophularia marilandica, annual species of Polygonum (Polygonum cespitosum var. longisetum, Polygonum punctatum, Polygonum sagittatum), Mimulus alatus, Mimulus ringens, Carex lurida, Carex frankii, Carex tribuloides, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Paspalum fluitans, Verbena hastata, and Scutellaria lateriflora. Exotics are common in both variants.
The two variants of this type in the Potomac drainage [see Environment] are similar in total floristic composition but may differ considerably in herbaceous density and the relative abundances of individual species. The high-gradient variant tends to have a sparse herb layer of somewhat stunted ruderal species, including Apocynum cannabinum, Cyperus strigosus, Acalypha rhomboidea, and Eupatorium serotinum. The low-gradient variant has a variable herb layer that includes flood-tolerant species such as Pilea pumila, Leersia virginica, Leersia oryzoides, Scrophularia marilandica, annual species of Polygonum (Polygonum cespitosum var. longisetum, Polygonum punctatum, Polygonum sagittatum), Mimulus alatus, Mimulus ringens, Carex lurida, Carex frankii, Carex tribuloides, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Paspalum fluitans, Verbena hastata, and Scutellaria lateriflora. Exotics are common in both variants.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is an early-successional community of coarse-textured or fine-textured depositional bars and islands subject to frequent flooding. Two environmental / floristic variants of this type have been recognized across the upper Potomac River drainage: one occurring on cobbly and bouldery depositional bars and islands along high-gradient river stretches subject to frequent, high-energy flooding and ice-scouring; the other occurring on low, frequently flooded, muddy depositional bars and shorelines in relatively low-gradient (alluvial process control) river reaches. In the high-gradient variant, soils are usually sandy, periodically droughty when exposed, and tightly packed in a matrix of cobbles or boulders. In the low-gradient variant, soils have a significant silt component and are poorly drained even after long periods of exposure. Soils collected from plots of both variants were circumneutral (pH 7.0 to 7.2), with high calcium levels and 100% total base saturation.
Geographic Range: This association is found in the High Allegheny, Central Appalachian, Piedmont, and Lower New England ecoregions from West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland north to New York. It is also attributed to the Western Allegheny Plateau. The low-gradient variant is widespread along major streams of the Piedmont Mesozoic Basins in northern Virginia and Maryland, and scattered along lower-gradient stretches of rivers and large streams in the Ridge and Valley province. It has been documented by plot data from the Potomac and Monocacy rivers and Antietam Creek in Maryland and Bull Run in Virginia. Its distribution is very likely much wider than existing data indicate.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687668
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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.1 Silver Maple - American Sycamore - Hackberry species Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M029 | 1.B.3.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.1.b <i>Acer saccharinum - Platanus occidentalis - Liquidambar styraciflua</i> Floodplain Forest Group | G673 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3699 River Birch - American Sycamore Appalachian-Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3699 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL003896 American Sycamore - River Birch - (Coastal Plain Willow, Black Willow) Floodplain Forest | CEGL003896 | 1.B.3.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Platanus occidentalis - Betula nigra - Salix (caroliniana, nigra) / Apocynum cannabinum Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Lea 2003)
? Black willow - mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
= Mixed Hardwood Floodplain Thicket (Zimmerman et al. 2012)
? Mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
? River birch (sycamore) - mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
? River birch-willow thickets (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
? Silver maple (river birch) - mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
? Sycamore - mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
? Black willow - mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
= Mixed Hardwood Floodplain Thicket (Zimmerman et al. 2012)
? Mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
? River birch (sycamore) - mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
? River birch-willow thickets (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
? Silver maple (river birch) - mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
? Sycamore - mixed hardwood riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
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- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
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- WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.
- Zimmerman, E. A. 2011e. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Mixed Hardwood Floodplain Thicket Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=30013] (accessed February 01, 2012)
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