Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The overstory is consistently codominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Acer rubrum. In near-tidal situations, Nyssa biflora and Taxodium distichum are locally codominant. Ulmus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Pinus taeda are minor overstory trees throughout the range. The understory and shrub layers are typically very open and contain young specimens of the overstory trees, Carpinus caroliniana, Lindera benzoin, Cornus foemina, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera). Dirca palustris is a common shrub in a subset of ravines in the York River drainage. The climbing liana Decumaria barbara is common, along with Toxicodendron radicans. The herb layer is dense, lush, and clearly divisible into two relatively discrete assemblages that occupy hummocks and mucky hollows, respectively. The most constant patch-dominants of the relatively well-drained hummocks are Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus) and Carex bromoides, with Caltha palustris, Cinna arundinacea, Galium triflorum, Geum canadense, Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens, Carex granularis, Leersia virginica, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Arisaema triphyllum, Carex laevivaginata, Carex styloflexa, Carex gracillima, Rudbeckia laciniata, and Polygonum setaceum occurring at lower cover and/or constancy. Characteristic patch-dominants of the wet, mucky hollows are Pilea fontana, Bidens laevis, Saururus cernuus, Cicuta maculata var. maculata, Impatiens capensis, and Glyceria striata. Additional herbs associated with wetter microhabitats are Scirpus lineatus, Boehmeria cylindrica, Orontium aquaticum, Polygonum arifolium, Viola cucullata, and Cardamine pensylvanica. Stands of this community contain a number of species disjunct from primary ranges inland and farther west, including Caltha palustris, Pedicularis lanceolata, Liparis loeselii, and Carex tetanica.

Dynamics:  This community only develops in saturated ravine bottoms with calcareous soils and/or groundwater, a rare condition in the Coastal Plain of Virginia. The drier hummocks of this environment are extremely susceptible to invasion by Microstegium vimineum.