Print Report
CEGL007726 Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus nigra - Pinus taeda / Vaccinium elliottii - Morella cerifera Ruderal Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetgum - Water Oak - Loblolly Pine / Elliott''s Blueberry - Wax-myrtle Ruderal Forest
Colloquial Name: Southeastern Coastal Plain Ruderal Sweetgum - Oak - Loblolly Pine Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Southeastern Coastal Plain forest contains a mixture of upland and lowland species that typically occur together in uplands following cessation of agriculture. It is primarily dominated by hardwood trees, particularly Quercus spp. and Liquidambar styraciflua. This community type occurs in two phases: one with an emergent canopy of large Pinus taeda trees, and the other without the emergent canopy. Coverage by Pinus taeda in the Pinus taeda phase ranges from 10 to greater than 60%. The closed canopy is codominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with Quercus spp., especially Quercus nigra and Quercus phellos, or possibly Quercus pagoda. Nyssa sylvatica is also typical in the canopy or subcanopy, along with Liriodendron tulipifera in some cases. The moderately well-developed subcanopy is dominated by canopy species with Ilex longipes, Sassafras albidum, Acer rubrum, Cornus florida, Prunus serotina, Vaccinium arboreum, Carpinus caroliniana, and others. The shrub stratum is often sparse, and is primarily composed of canopy and subcanopy species. Occasionally a rather dense cover of Morella cerifera may be present. Other species that may occur include Euonymus americanus, Rubus sp., Callicarpa americana, Vaccinium elliottii, Gaylussacia frondosa, and Gaylussacia dumosa. The vine/liana stratum is sparse to moderate, and species present include Bignonia capreolata, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax rotundifolia, Wisteria frutescens, Gelsemium sempervirens, Toxicodendron radicans, Nekemias arborea, and others. The herbaceous layer ranges from moderate to fairly dense. Typical species include Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Scleria triglomerata, Carex abscondita, Dichanthelium boscii, Mitchella repens, Juncus coriaceus, Chimaphila maculata, Asplenium platyneuron, Malaxis unifolia, and others. The exotic Lonicera japonica is common in occurrences of this community. This forest type is documented in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, but is possible in adjacent regions; global distribution needs assessment.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association was described in 1998 based on data from the Congaree National Park, where it is the most extensive natural community in the upland zone. This forest type is documented in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, but is possible in adjacent regions; global distribution needs assessment. Vegetation dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua and Quercus nigra is reported from the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Fort Benning, Georgia. It seems to be compatible with this association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The closed canopy is codominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with Quercus spp., especially Quercus nigra and Quercus phellos, or possibly Quercus pagoda. Nyssa sylvatica is also typical in the canopy or subcanopy, along with Liriodendron tulipifera in some cases. One phase has an emergent canopy of large Pinus taeda. The moderately well-developed subcanopy is dominated by canopy species with Ilex longipes, Sassafras albidum, Acer rubrum, Cornus florida, Prunus serotina, Vaccinium arboreum, Carpinus caroliniana, and others. The shrub stratum is often sparse, and is primarily composed of canopy and subcanopy species. Occasionally a rather dense cover of Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) may be present. Other species that may occur include Euonymus americanus, Rubus sp., Callicarpa americana, Vaccinium elliottii, Gaylussacia frondosa, and Gaylussacia dumosa. The vine/liana stratum is sparse to moderate and species present include Bignonia capreolata, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax rotundifolia, Wisteria frutescens, Gelsemium sempervirens, Toxicodendron radicans, Nekemias arborea (= Ampelopsis arborea), and others. The herbaceous layer ranges from moderate to fairly dense. Typical species include Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Scleria triglomerata, Carex abscondita, Dichanthelium boscii (= Panicum boscii), Mitchella repens, Juncus coriaceus, Chimaphila maculata, Asplenium platyneuron, Malaxis unifolia, and others. The exotic Lonicera japonica is common in occurrences of this community.
Dynamics: This vegetation type occurs in uplands of the Coastal Plain following cessation of agriculture.
Environmental Description: This forest occurs in uplands of the Coastal Plain following cessation of agriculture.
Geographic Range: This forest type is documented in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, but is possible in adjacent regions from the Chesapeake to the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain. Its global distribution needs assessment.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA, MS, NC?, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688371
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Sweetgum - Loblolly Pine - Chinese Tallow Ruderal Forest Macrogroup | M305 | 1.B.1.Na.90 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.90.a Loblolly Pine - Sweetgum - Chinese Tallow Ruderal Forest Group | G031 | 1.B.1.Na.90.a |
| Alliance | A3232 Sweetgum - Sugarberry - Water Oak Ruderal Forest Alliance | A3232 | 1.B.1.Na.90.a |
| Association | CEGL007726 Sweetgum - Water Oak - Loblolly Pine / Elliott''s Blueberry - Wax-myrtle Ruderal Forest | CEGL007726 | 1.B.1.Na.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus (nigra, phellos) - Pinus taeda / Vaccinium elliottii - Myrica cerifera Forest (Landaal et al. 1998) [Plots 1-64; 2-43; 2-53; 2-60]
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2002. Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge: Natural community and rare plant survey. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Montgomery.
- Landaal, S., A. Weakley, and J. Drake. 1998. Classification of the vegetation of Congaree National Park. Report to BRD-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Chapel Hill, NC. 67 pp.
- Patterson, K. D. 2008d. Vegetation classification and mapping at George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/099. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 231 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.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.