Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy of stands is dominated by Magnolia virginiana and/or Persea palustris (and rarely also Gordonia lasianthus). Additional typically less important components of the canopy are Nyssa biflora, Taxodium ascendens, Ilex cassine, Acer rubrum, and Cliftonia monophylla. Sometimes there is a very sparse emergent component of Pinus elliottii or Pinus serotina. The shrub layer may be dominated by Lyonia lucida, and can also include Ilex coriacea, Ilex cassine, Ilex opaca, Morella cerifera, Clethra alnifolia, Serenoa repens, Gaylussacia mosieri, Rhododendron viscosum, Ilex glabra, Hamamelis virginiana, and Eubotrys racemosa (= Leucothoe racemosa). Vines are mainly Smilax laurifolia but also include Vitis rotundifolia and Toxicodendron radicans. Herbaceous flora is sparse to absent, but can include Osmunda cinnamomea, Woodwardia areolata, and Woodwardia virginica. The epiphyte Tillandsia usneoides may be present. Scattered Sphagnum patches occur. Stands of this forest typically have a low diversity of vascular plants. On Jekyll Island, Georgia, a stand dominated by large Nyssa biflora has been assigned here. In this stand, Persea palustris forms a distinct understory layer. Persea palustris and Lyonia ferruginea make up a tall-shrub layer. Ilex cassine and Ilex opaca may also be scattered in the tall-shrub layer. Morella cerifera and Persea palustris dominate the short-shrub layer. In some areas, the shrub layer becomes dense with Serenoa repens and Lyonia lucida. Few or no herbs are present, although Woodwardia areolata and Woodwardia virginica do occur where shrubs are less dense. A site in Bradwell Bay, Apalachicola National Forest, Florida, burned in a high-intensity wildfire in 1998. It is a regenerating stand of Magnolia virginiana with some Pinus elliottii and Pinus serotina. Lyonia lucida is a dominant shrub. The herbaceous flora is sparse but somewhat more diverse than other examples of this association.

A plot classified here from Fort Gordon, Georgia (232Bq; somewhat northerly and inland for this association), has a canopy dominated by a combination of Pinus taeda and Quercus nigra with Acer rubrum and Liriodendron tulipifera. The subcanopy is dominated by Magnolia virginiana and Gordonia lasianthus, with Ilex opaca and Oxydendrum arboreum; it lacks Nyssa biflora. The dominant shrub is Ilex coriacea, with Kalmia latifolia, Lyonia lucida, Persea palustris, Rhododendron viscosum, Symplocos tinctoria, and Itea virginica. Vines include Bignonia capreolata, Smilax laurifolia, and Vitis rotundifolia. Herbs are few, including Mitchella repens, Osmunda cinnamomea, and Carex spp. Its proper placement is unclear, but the attributions of this association (CEGL007049) to Fort Gordon and 232Bq are based on this plot.

Dynamics:  This association is subject to flooding, especially following hurricanes. An example of this association burned in a high-intensity wildfire in 1998 at Bradwell Bay, Apalachicola National Forest. In northeastern Florida, at the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (including Fort Caroline National Memorial), dead and dying Persea palustris indicate that these sweetbay forests are being affected by laurel wilt, which is caused by a vascular wilt fungus that is transmitted to species in the Lauraceae family via. the non-native redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus).