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CEGL007434 Nyssa biflora / Itea virginica - Cephalanthus occidentalis Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Tupelo / Virginia Sweetspire - Common Buttonbush Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: Swamp Tupelo Depression Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community occupies peaty or mucky, acidic, semipermanently wet depressions in the Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains. This community is strongly dominated by Nyssa biflora. Other bottomland species, including Taxodium distichum and Taxodium ascendens, may also be present, but combined usually contribute less than 30% of the canopy. Shrubs are scarce to scattered on hummocks and become more common with peat accumulation. Shrub species include Itea virginica and Cephalanthus occidentalis, with Clethra alnifolia, Lyonia lucida, Cliftonia monophylla, and Cyrilla racemiflora being common in the East Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains. Floating logs and stumps provide habitat for the sparse herbaceous stratum. Species include Woodwardia virginica, Woodwardia areolata, Osmunda cinnamomea, Eriocaulon spp., Xyris spp., Rhynchospora spp., Schoenoplectus spp., and Juncus spp. The moderately to strongly acidic sandy soils are overlain by organic muck and leaf litter. This community occurs in depressions on the Coastal Plain of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi; and sparingly on the Piedmont of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The closed Nyssa biflora canopy in this forest seems to allow less light penetration than in Taxodium swamps (Clewell 1971, Wharton et al. 1976, 1982). This community can be distinguished from other peatland communities by the dominance of Nyssa biflora, typically a swamp species (Schafale and Weakley 1990). In Virginia, where related vegetation is relatively uncommon and in a restricted geography, it is treated as ~Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Nyssa biflora / Fraxinus caroliniana / Itea virginica Floodplain Forest (CEGL007432)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is strongly dominated by Nyssa biflora. Other bottomland species, including Taxodium distichum and Taxodium ascendens, may occur but combined usually contribute less than 30% of the canopy. Shrubs are scarce to scattered on hummocks and become more common with peat accumulation. Shrub species include Itea virginica and Cephalanthus occidentalis, with Clethra alnifolia, Lyonia lucida, Cliftonia monophylla, and Cyrilla racemiflora being common in the East Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains. On Apalachicola National Forest at Morrison Hammock, Magnolia virginiana, Gordonia lasianthus, Ilex coriacea, Ilex myrtifolia, Pinus taeda, and Ilex cassine were also present at low cover values (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). Floating logs and stumps provide habitat for the sparse herbaceous stratum. Species include Woodwardia virginica, Woodwardia areolata, Osmunda cinnamomea, Eriocaulon spp., Xyris spp., Rhynchospora spp., Schoenoplectus spp. (= Scirpus spp.), and Juncus spp. The rare plants Rhynchospora inundata, Rhynchospora tracyi, Heteranthera reniformis, Rhexia aristosa, and Ilex amelanchier may be found in South Carolina (Nelson 1986).
Dynamics: Due to the increased hydroperiod, this community burns less frequently than cypress swamps (Wharton et al. 1976); fire is also more destructive to Nyssa biflora than it is to Taxodium ascendens (Clewell 1971, 1981).
Nyssa biflora increases the soil calcium content, and calcium favors the growth of Nyssa biflora over that of Taxodium ascendens. Therefore, pond-cypress swamps which contain Nyssa biflora may succeed to a Nyssa biflora-dominated community (Clewell 1971, 1981). Another theory suggests that blackgum would succeed cypress in the absence of peat accumulation (Wharton et al. 1976), presumably due to the tolerance of Nyssa biflora for the long hydroperiod. In addition, Nyssa biflora may replace Taxodium ascendens in the absence of fire (Nelson 1986). Some Nyssa biflora-dominated swamps may be a result of past Taxodium ascendens logging.
Nyssa biflora increases the soil calcium content, and calcium favors the growth of Nyssa biflora over that of Taxodium ascendens. Therefore, pond-cypress swamps which contain Nyssa biflora may succeed to a Nyssa biflora-dominated community (Clewell 1971, 1981). Another theory suggests that blackgum would succeed cypress in the absence of peat accumulation (Wharton et al. 1976), presumably due to the tolerance of Nyssa biflora for the long hydroperiod. In addition, Nyssa biflora may replace Taxodium ascendens in the absence of fire (Nelson 1986). Some Nyssa biflora-dominated swamps may be a result of past Taxodium ascendens logging.
Environmental Description: This community occupies peaty or mucky, acidic, semipermanently wet depressions in the Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains. This forest receives hydrologic inputs through seepage, and where associated with small drainages, occasional flooding. The moderately to strongly acidic sandy soils are overlain by organic muck and leaf litter, and generally underlain by clay (Clewell 1971, Wharton et al. 1976, 1982, Smith 1995a). The depressions in which this vegetation can be found may be located in floodplains.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in depressions on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, and sparingly on the Piedmont of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. It may also occur in the eastern portions of Louisiana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688030
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.Nb Southeastern North American Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D062 | 1.B.3.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Nb.2 Swamp Tupelo - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Bald-cypress Basin Swamp & Flatwoods Macrogroup | M033 | 1.B.3.Nb.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.2.a Swamp Tupelo - Ogeechee Tupelo - Bald-cypress Basin Swamp Group | G038 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A3636 Swamp Tupelo - Ogeechee Tupelo Depressional Swamp Forest Alliance | A3636 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.a |
| Association | CEGL007434 Swamp Tupelo / Virginia Sweetspire - Common Buttonbush Swamp Forest | CEGL007434 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Blackgum Swamp, Back Water Type (Clewell 1981)
< Blackgum Swamps (Clewell 1971)
< IIA10b. Swamp Tupelo Pond Forest (Allard 1990)
< Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo: 103 (Eyre 1980)
? Water Tupelo-Swamp Tupelo (USFS 1988)
< Blackgum Swamps (Clewell 1971)
< IIA10b. Swamp Tupelo Pond Forest (Allard 1990)
< Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo: 103 (Eyre 1980)
? Water Tupelo-Swamp Tupelo (USFS 1988)
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2002. Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge: Natural community and rare plant survey. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Montgomery.
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data on file. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Auburn University.
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Burns, R. M., and B. H. Honkala, technical coordinators. 1990b. Silvics of North America. Volume 2: Hardwoods. Agriculture Handbook 654. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. 877 pp.
- Chafin, L. 2011. Georgia''s natural communities and associated rare plant and animal species: Thumbnail accounts. Based on "Guide to the Natural Communities of Georgia," by Edwards et al. 2013. University of Georgia Press. Georgia Nongame Conservation Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 125 pp.
- Clewell, A. F. 1971. The vegetation of the Apalachicola National Forest: An ecological perspective. Unpublished document. USDA Forest Service, Tallahassee, FL. 152 pp.
- Clewell, A. F. 1981. Natural setting and vegetation of the Florida Panhandle: An account of the environments and plant communities of northern Florida west of the Suwannee River. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mobile, AL. 773 pp.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 2010a. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. 228 pp. [https://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm]
- GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
- MSNHP [Mississippi Natural Heritage Program]. 2006. Ecological communities of Mississippi. Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Jackson, MS. 9 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Smith, L. M. 1995a. Baseline information for the rare natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge. 24 pp. plus maps.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1988. Silvicultural examination and prescription field book. USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. Atlanta, GA. 35 pp.
- Wharton, C. H., H. T. Odum, K. Ewel, M. Duever, A. Lugo, R. Boyt, J. Bartolomew, E. DeBellevue, S. Brown, M. Brown, and L. Duever. 1976. Forested wetlands of Florida - their management and use. University of Florida, Center for Wetlands. 421 pp.
- Wharton, C. H., W. M. Kitchens, E. C. Pendleton, and T. W. Sipe. 1982. The ecology of bottomland hardwood swamps of the Southeast: A community profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services. FWS/OBS-81/37. Washington, DC.