Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetgum - Swamp Chestnut Oak / Red Maple / Butterweed - Blunt Broom Sedge Wet Ravine Forest

Colloquial Name: Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Ravine Sweetgum Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This saturated forest community occurs along the flat, rich, lower ravines and the base of slopes on the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas. The soils are rich, calcareous, and usually nearly saturated and seepy. The forest canopy is tall (over 30 m [100 feet]) with large diameter trees (many over 1 m [3 feet]). The canopy is closed, but tree fall gaps are common, likely due to the nearly saturated soils. All forest layers are well developed with diverse midstory, shrub, and herbaceous strata. The overstory is dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with Platanus occidentalis and Quercus michauxii. Other overstory species may include Quercus nigra, Quercus pagoda, Quercus phellos, and Ulmus americana. The midstory is dominated by Acer negundo and Acer rubrum var. drummondii with Carpinus caroliniana, Celtis laevigata, Ilex opaca, Salix nigra, and saplings of overstory trees. Shrub species include Arundinaria gigantea, Lindera benzoin, Rhododendron canescens, Sabal minor, and Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis. Woody vines include Berchemia scandens, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax bona-nox, and Toxicodendron radicans. The herbaceous layer is dense, and dominance changes with slight alterations in topography. Common herbaceous species include Arisaema triphyllum, Carex crinita, Carex tribuloides, Chasmanthium latifolium, Juncus effusus, Leersia oryzoides, Leersia virginica, Packera glabella, Packera obovata, Salvia lyrata, Sanicula canadensis, and Saururus cernuus. Other herbaceous species may include Arisaema dracontium, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, Bignonia capreolata, Boehmeria cylindrica, Campsis radicans, Carex blanda, Carex intumescens, Carex glaucodea, Carex grayi, Geum canadense, Clematis sp., Cypripedium kentuckiense, Dicliptera brachiata, Erigeron sp. (Erigeron philadelphicus, Erigeron quercifolius), Euonymus americanus, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Lobelia cardinalis, Panicum sp., Passiflora lutea, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Pluchea camphorata, Polygonum sp., Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Ranunculus abortivus. The soils are alluvial clays and fine sandy loams created from erosion off the upland blackland ecosystem. The soils are moist to wet throughout the year, and large treefall gaps are a regular occurrence. Fire will creep through this community in dry years. In non-ravine areas much of this plant community has been converted to agriculture or was previously farmed (cotton) and is now abandoned. This community is typically bordered by ~Quercus muehlenbergii - Liquidambar styraciflua / (Arundinaria gigantea) / Carex cherokeensis - Chasmanthium latifolium Mesic Riparian Forest (CEGL007780)$$ upstream and/or ~Quercus alba - Quercus rubra / Ostrya virginiana / Arundinaria gigantea / Cynoglossum virginianum Forest (CEGL007971)$$. The highest quality example is at Nacatoch Ravines Natural Area and adjacent hunt club lands. The type locality is in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Other examples may occur in Clark, Howard, Little River, and Sevier counties, Arkansas.

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