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CEGL004433 Pinus serotina / Arundinaria tecta Swamp Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pond Pine / Switch Cane Swamp Woodland
Colloquial Name: Pond Pine Woodland (Canebrake Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland occurs in association with large peat domes in the tidewater region of North Carolina. It is extirpated from Virginia. The canopy is dominated by Pinus serotina, and canopy closure varies from woodland structure to a nearly closed canopy. Historic accounts suggest that these communities were once much more common than now, and formerly had more open canopy [see ~Pinus serotina / Arundinaria tecta Wooded Wet Shrubland (CEGL003851)$$ in ~Arundinaria tecta Wet Shrubland Alliance (A0804)$$].
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community, or one similar to it, may be present in southern Georgia and in Florida (S. Orzell pers. comm.). Should this be considered the fire-suppressed condition of ~Pinus serotina / Arundinaria tecta Wooded Wet Shrubland (CEGL003851)$$?
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is characterized by a dense stand of Arundinaria tecta (= Arundinaria gigantea ssp. tecta) occasionally reaching 9-10 m in height with scattered to fairly dense Pinus serotina. Physiognomy and structure vary with time since last burn. In areas that burn every 3 to 5 years the appearance of the community will be that of pure Arundinaria tecta with, perhaps, scattered Pinus serotina (Frost 1989). Cover of pocosin shrubs, such as Ilex glabra, Ilex coriacea, Lyonia lucida, Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora, Cyrilla racemiflora, Zenobia pulverulenta, Magnolia virginiana, Aronia arbutifolia, and Acer rubrum var. trilobum, increase with lack of fire and, with greater than 15 years of fire suppression, these species will overtake the cane.
Dynamics: This pyrophytic wetland community is dependent on the maintenance of the natural hydrologic and fire regime. Stand height, density and species composition vary with organic matter depth, fire frequency and fertility (Frost 1989).
Environmental Description: This community occurs on shallow organic soils 10-100 cm deep, in areas burned at a frequency of every 3-12 years (Frost 1989). Typically this community is found "around the periphery of deep peat deposits; where peat feathers out onto mineral soil; in peat-filled depressions and sloughs in pine barrens; and on upland flats where drainage is poor enough to permit accumulation of an organic layer thick enough to support the cane rhizome mat" (Frost n.d.). Soils supporting this type are Histosols, especially Terric Medisaprists and shallow Typic Medisaprists, and other soils with histic epipedons such as Umbraquults, Ochraquults and Fluvaquents. It is likely that the soil is saturated throughout most of the winter and spring, and probably dries in the summer and fall. Organic matter depth, fire frequency, and nutrient availability are the primary factors controlling vegetation structure and composition in this community (Frost n.d.).
Geographic Range: This woodland occurs in association with large peat domes in the tidewater region of North Carolina. It once may have ranged into Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688441
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.3 Sweetbay - Swamp Bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M032 | 1.B.3.Nb.3 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a Sweetbay - Loblolly-bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Group | G037 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A0581 Pond Pine Swamp Woodland Alliance | A0581 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
| Association | CEGL004433 Pond Pine / Switch Cane Swamp Woodland | CEGL004433 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Canebrake (Frost 1989)
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Frost, C. C. 1989. History and status of remnant pocosin, canebrake and white cedar wetlands in Virginia. Unpublished report. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Frost, C. C. No date. Presettlement vegetation of the Albemarle-Pamlico region, North Carolina. Draft of Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Heineke, T. E. 1987. The flora and plant communities of the middle Mississippi River Valley. Ph.D. dissertation, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. 653 pp.
- Hughes, R. H. 1966. Fire ecology of canebrakes. Proceedings of the Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference 5:149-158.
- Meanley, B. 1972. Swamps, river bottoms and canebrakes. Barre Publishing, Barre, MA. 142 pp.
- 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.
- Orzell, S. L. Personal communication. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Nongame Wildlife Program, Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee.
- SCWMRD [South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- 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.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.