Print Report
CEGL008554 Fagus grandifolia - Magnolia grandiflora / Ostrya virginiana / Aesculus parviflora Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - Southern Magnolia / Hophornbeam / Bottlebrush Buckeye Forest
Colloquial Name: Red Hills Beech - Magnolia Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a generally circumneutral beech - magnolia association which occurs on slopes in the Alabama Red Hills area. It occurs in mesic conditions on slopes of various aspects. Fagus grandifolia and Magnolia grandiflora are canopy dominants in most stands, with Fagus grandifolia generally more abundant. Other canopy dominants include Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus americana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Magnolia macrophylla, Quercus pagoda, Ostrya virginiana, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, and Quercus alba. Carya carolinae-septentrionalis is a characteristic but not constant species, which occurs in many stands of this association in the Alabama Red Hills, but does not occur in Florida, or west of the Mississippi River. The subcanopy can be dominated by Magnolia grandiflora, Ostrya virginiana, Halesia diptera, Ilex opaca, Magnolia macrophylla, Fagus grandifolia, and/or Cornus florida. Also of interest are Magnolia pyramidata and Magnolia acuminata which are found in some stands. The most important shrub for differentiating the type is Aesculus parviflora, which is found in nearly all stands. Other important shrubs are Ostrya virginiana, Illicium floridanum, Hydrangea quercifolia, Arundinaria gigantea, Halesia diptera, Aesculus pavia, Fagus grandifolia, Magnolia grandiflora, and Calycanthus floridus var. floridus. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse. The most common herbaceous plants include Polystichum acrostichoides, Laportea canadensis, Smilax hugeri, Carex spp., Luzula spp., Hexastylis arifolia, Mitchella repens, Solidago caesia, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Dioscorea quaternata, Sanicula canadensis, and Aristolochia serpentaria. Some stands of this association support populations of the endangered Phaeognathus hubrichti (Red Hills salamander).
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: Fagus grandifolia and Magnolia grandiflora are canopy dominants in most stands, with Fagus grandifolia generally more abundant. Other canopy dominants include Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus americana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Magnolia macrophylla, Quercus pagoda, Ostrya virginiana, Carya carolinae-septentrionalis, and Quercus alba. Carya carolinae-septentrionalis is a characteristic but not constant species, which occurs in many stands of this association in the Alabama Red Hills, but does not occur in Florida, or west of the Mississippi River. Other canopy species include Quercus rubra, Prunus serotina, Carya glabra, Quercus nigra, Quercus shumardii, Nyssa sylvatica, and Pinus glabra. The subcanopy can be dominated by Magnolia grandiflora, Ostrya virginiana, Halesia diptera, Ilex opaca, Magnolia macrophylla, Fagus grandifolia, and/or Cornus florida. Also of interest are Magnolia pyramidata and Magnolia acuminata, which are found in some stands. Other subcanopy species include Oxydendrum arboreum, Ilex longipes, Carpinus caroliniana, Asimina triloba, Acer leucoderme, and Pinus glabra. The most important shrub for differentiating the type is Aesculus parviflora, which is found in nearly all stands. Other important shrubs are Ostrya virginiana, Illicium floridanum, Hydrangea quercifolia, Arundinaria gigantea, Halesia diptera, Aesculus pavia, Fagus grandifolia, Magnolia grandiflora, and Calycanthus floridus var. floridus. Additional shrubs include Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Euonymus americanus, Hydrangea arborescens, Cercis canadensis, Callicarpa americana, Viburnum prunifolium, Hamamelis virginiana, Acer rubrum, Dirca palustris, Celtis tenuifolia, Morus rubra, Symplocos tinctoria, Ilex vomitoria, Carya pallida, Diospyros virginiana, Vaccinium elliottii, Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), and Prunus caroliniana. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse. The most common herbaceous plants include Polystichum acrostichoides, Laportea canadensis, Smilax hugeri, Carex spp., Luzula spp., Hexastylis arifolia, Mitchella repens, Solidago caesia, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Dioscorea quaternata, Sanicula canadensis, and Aristolochia serpentaria. Additional herbaceous species include Asplenium platyneuron, Adiantum pedatum, Arisaema triphyllum, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Botrychium biternatum, Amsonia tabernaemontana, Ageratina altissima, Hymenocallis occidentalis, Desmodium nudiflorum, Cynoglossum virginianum, and Dichanthelium spp.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is a generally circumneutral beech - magnolia association which occurs on slopes in the Alabama Red Hills area. It occurs in mesic conditions on slopes of various aspects. Most soils are derived from calcareous deposits. The term Red Hills seems to have been first used for the region by Harper (1943) in reference to the orange-red clay subsoils. Eocene limestone outcroppings with fossil mollusks are found in Red Hills area (Diamond 1987).
Geographic Range: This association is known from the Alabama Red Hills area.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688154
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.a American Beech - Southern Magnolia - Oak species Forest Group | G007 | 1.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A0369 American Beech - Southern Magnolia Forest Alliance | A0369 | 1.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL008554 American Beech - Southern Magnolia / Hophornbeam / Bottlebrush Buckeye Forest | CEGL008554 | 1.B.1.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Diamond, D. D. 1987. Plant communities of Texas (series level). Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 36 pp.
- Harper, R. M. 1943. Forests of Alabama. Geological Survey of Alabama Monograph 10. University of Alabama. 230 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.