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CEGL007418 Taxodium ascendens / Ilex myrtifolia Swamp Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pond-cypress / Myrtle Dahoon Swamp Forest

Colloquial Name: Pond-cypress / Myrtle Dahoon Depression Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This forest, dominated by a moderate to dense canopy of Taxodium ascendens over Ilex myrtifolia, occurs in depressions on the Coastal Plain from southern North Carolina south to panhandle and peninsular Florida, and west to Alabama and Louisiana. Other characteristic species in the canopy, which can occasionally share dominance with Taxodium ascendens are Nyssa biflora and (from southeastern South Carolina south) Pinus elliottii var. elliottii. Typical occurrences have a mostly closed canopy, little understory with shrubs and herbs established on fallen logs, tree bases or areas where the substrate is elevated. Deep areas may have rooted aquatics and surface water will be present for extended periods of the year.

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: Stands are dominated by a moderate to dense canopy of Taxodium ascendens over Ilex myrtifolia. Other characteristic species in the canopy are Nyssa biflora and (from southeastern South Carolina south) Pinus elliottii var. elliottii. Other common species in this community are Nyssa biflora, Magnolia virginiana, Acer rubrum, Persea palustris, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Cyrilla racemiflora, Clethra alnifolia, Lyonia lucida, Dulichium arundinaceum, Osmunda cinnamomea, Pontederia cordata, Boehmeria cylindrica, Triadenum spp., Rhynchospora macrostachya, Rhynchospora inundata, Carex glaucescens, Carex spp., Juncus spp., Polygonum spp., and Hydrocotyle spp. Floating aquatic species include Brasenia schreberi, Nymphoides spp., Nuphar advena, Cabomba caroliniana, Utricularia spp., and Potamogeton spp. Exotics Ligustrum sinense and Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum) may be problems in this community. Pinus elliottii is present from southeastern South Carolina south. A typical occurrence will have a mostly closed canopy, little understory with shrubs and herbs established on fallen logs, tree bases or areas where the substrate is elevated. Deep areas will have rooted aquatics, and water will be present on the surface mostly throughout. It should be noted that the crosswalked NC community, Small Depression Pond, is more broadly defined and not all these species may be applicable.

Dynamics:  Fires probably are very infrequent since this community is nearly permanently flooded. Water levels probably are fairly steady within occurrences year-round. Succession within this community may lead ultimately to development of some sort of bay forest, i.e., forests dominated by Magnolia virginiana, Persea palustris, and Gordonia lasianthus.
Environmental Description:  This forest occurs in depressions on the Coastal Plain from southern North Carolina south to panhandle and peninsular Florida, and west to Alabama and Louisiana. Long hydroperiods (probably exceeding 250 days) are necessary for maintenance of the community; sites usually are underlain by a clay lens. The community occurs in very low topographic positions, almost always in small coastal plain depressions and Carolina bays. Possibly may occur in low spots in a flatwoods environment. Two occurrences in South Carolina were found on Byars loam (clayey kaolinitic thermic Umbric Paleaquult) and Rembert loam (clayey kaolinitic thermic Typic Ochraquult) (C. Aulbach-Smith pers. comm.) soil series, and one in Osceola County, Florida, was on a Typic Humaquept (Huck 1987). Typically the water and soil is peat-influenced and acidic. The following is from Wharton (1978): "The soil of cypress ponds is basic [acidic? -CWN] , pH 5.5. Phosphorus is extremely low. The following are the mean figures for five environmental variables of cypress ponds as given by Monk (1968) in ppm: Calcium 185, magnesium 55.2, potassium 15.8, phosphorus 1.2, moisture 35." Most occurrences probably are underlain by a clay lens, especially when they occur in Carolina bays.
Geographic Range: This forest occurs in the Coastal Plain from southern North Carolina south to panhandle and peninsular Florida, and west to Alabama and Louisiana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA, LA?, MS, NC, SC


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?

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.1 Pond-cypress - Slash Pine Swamp Macrogroup M161 1.B.3.Nb.1
Group 1.B.3.Nb.1.a Pond-cypress / Holly species Basin Swamp Group G036 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3340 Pond-cypress / Swamp Titi Swamp Forest Alliance A3340 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL007418 Pond-cypress / Myrtle Dahoon Swamp Forest CEGL007418 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IIA10a. Pond Cypress Forest (Allard 1990)
< Oligotrophic Seasonally Flooded Forest (Rawinski 1992)
? Pond Cypress (23) (USFS 1988)
? Pondcypress: 100 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): S. Landaal

Author of Description: S. Landaal

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-23-94
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