Print Report
CEGL005035 Acer saccharum - Carya cordiformis / Asimina triloba Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sugar Maple - Bitternut Hickory / Pawpaw Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Sugar Maple - Hickory Mesic Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This maple - hickory mesic floodplain forest is found in the central United States. Stands occur on level to gently sloping ridges, terraces, natural levees, or higher elevations which border river floodplains or streams. Sites often have a ridge-and-swale topography. Mesic moisture conditions are maintained throughout most of the growing season, but some flooding does occur. Soils are moist and well- to moderately drained. In general, they have medium-textured silts and colluvial, deep, clay loams derived from sandstone and shales. Acer saccharum and Carya cordiformis dominate the overstory. The subcanopy contains a variety of tree saplings, including Ulmus americana, Ulmus rubra, Morus rubra, and Prunus serotina var. serotina. The shrub layer is often quite dense and tangled with vines. Species include Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Campsis radicans, Smilax tamnoides, Smilax rotundifolia, Wisteria frutescens, and Vitis vulpina. Asimina triloba dominates the shrub layer, but Lindera benzoin, Aralia spinosa, Corylus americana, Ilex decidua, Crataegus viridis, Crataegus pruinosa, and Cornus florida are also commonly encountered. On better sites, the herbaceous stratum is dense and diverse. Typical species include Laportea canadensis, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, Polygonum virginianum, Poa sylvestris, Ruellia strepens, Tradescantia subaspera, Vernonia gigantea, Eutrochium purpureum, Teucrium canadense, and Dioscorea quaternata. Stands on the floodplains of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in western Kentucky contain other canopy species, such as Gymnocladus dioicus, Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus muehlenbergii, Carya illinoinensis, Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Nyssa sylvatica, and Juglans nigra.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is not well-defined, occupying a relatively narrow segment of the moisture/topographic gradient and containing a diverse mixture of tree species. Further study is needed to determine its characteristics. Only a few remnants remain in Kentucky (e.g., Bayou Creek Ridge Natural Area, McCracken County). Many occurrences have been cleared for agriculture. This type resembles ~Acer (saccharum, floridanum) - Quercus rubra - Carya cordiformis / Asimina triloba Forest (CEGL002060)$$ but is east of the Mississippi, whereas CEGL002060 is west. A related mesic hardwood floodplain type, ~Fagus grandifolia - Quercus spp. - Acer rubrum - Juglans nigra Floodplain Forest (CEGL005014)$$, is dominated by Fagus rather than Acer and Carya.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Structural variation in this community is subject to the duration and depth of flooding and soil physical properties. Understory, shrub, herbaceous, and vine layers can be dense, especially when flooding is minimal or in response to canopy openings. Where dense shrubs exist, light penetrating to the forest floor is diminished, and herbaceous density is reduced. Campanulastrum americanum and Fleischmannia incarnata are two of the more aggressive species which persist on these sites. Tree canopy is 20-50 m tall.
Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by broadleaf deciduous trees. Acer saccharum and Carya cordiformis dominate the overstory. These stout-branched trees display broad crowns and stout columnar trunks and grow to 20-30 m in height. The subcanopy contains a variety of tree saplings, including Ulmus americana, Ulmus rubra, Morus rubra, and Prunus serotina var. serotina. The shrub layer is often quite dense and tangled with vines. Species include Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Campsis radicans, Smilax tamnoides (= Smilax hispida), Smilax rotundifolia, Wisteria frutescens, and Vitis vulpina. Asimina triloba dominates the shrub layer, but Lindera benzoin, Aralia spinosa, Corylus americana, Ilex decidua, Crataegus viridis, Crataegus pruinosa, and Cornus florida are also commonly encountered. On better sites, the herbaceous stratum is dense and diverse. Typical species include Laportea canadensis, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (= Aster lanceolatus), Polygonum virginianum, Poa sylvestris, Ruellia strepens, Tradescantia subaspera, Vernonia gigantea, Eutrochium purpureum (= Eupatorium purpureum), Teucrium canadense, and Dioscorea quaternata. Stands on the floodplains of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in western Kentucky contain other canopy species, such as Gymnocladus dioicus, Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus muehlenbergii, Carya illinoinensis, Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Nyssa sylvatica, and Juglans nigra (TNC 1995a). Species variability and physiognomic differences within and among occurrences of this element are directly related to the duration and depth of seasonal flooding, soil physical properties, and the amount of light penetrating the tree canopy.
Dynamics: Flooding during periods of heavy precipitation, wind, and storm damage can have dramatic effects on vegetative composition. Although this element is a late-successional (climax) floodplain forest, the stresses of seasonal shallow, short-duration flooding (during winter and spring) create canopy openings which are quickly colonized by early- and mid-successional species. This community is stable under normal hydrologic conditions. Excessive rainfall and subsequent flooding can cause considerable tree mortality and encourage invasion of early-successional species.
Environmental Description: Stands occur on level to gently sloping ridges, terraces, natural levees, or higher elevations which border river floodplains or streams. Sites often have a ridge-and-swale topography. Mesic moisture conditions are maintained throughout most of the growing season, but some flooding does occur. Soils are moist and well- to moderately drained. In general, they are medium-textured silts and colluvial, deep, clay loams derived from sandstone and shales. The soil types listed describe soil associations where this community occurs in southern Illinois. This floodplain forest is found on moist, well-drained soils but prefers medium-textured silt and colluvial clay loams that are deep, moist but well-drained, and often slightly acidic. These soils are moderately productive and mainly derived from sandstone and shales. Soil classification data were taken from a general soils map of Illinois (Fehrenbacher et al. 1982). Bedrock is primarily deeply buried Paleozoic sandstone, limestone, or shale, which very rarely reaches the surface. Soil parent material is deep (greater than 40 inches) alluvium (Nelson 1985).
Although these sites are continuously moist, they are wet for only a small but significant part of the year. Ponding of water is rare. Seasonal, short-duration, shallow flooding and continuous moisture availability are key environmental factors mediating floristic composition within this forest.
Although these sites are continuously moist, they are wet for only a small but significant part of the year. Ponding of water is rare. Seasonal, short-duration, shallow flooding and continuous moisture availability are key environmental factors mediating floristic composition within this forest.
Geographic Range: This maple - hickory mesic floodplain forest is found in the central United States, ranging from Tennessee, Kentucky, and southern Illinois east to Ohio and possibly Indiana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: IL, IN?, KY, OH, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689385
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.1 Silver Maple - American Sycamore - Hackberry species Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M029 | 1.B.3.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.1.a Silver Maple - Green Ash - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest Group | G652 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A3711 Sugar Maple - Bitternut Hickory Mesic Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3711 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005035 Sugar Maple - Bitternut Hickory / Pawpaw Floodplain Forest | CEGL005035 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Acer saccharum - Carya cordiformis / Asimina triloba Floodplain Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
< Fagus - Liquidambar/Rhus [Toxicodendron] community (Voigt and Mohlenbrock 1964) [Despite the difference in name and presence of Fagus in Voigt and Mohlenbrock''s (1964) type, the topographic position and associated species are very similar.]
< Eastern Broadleaf Forests: 102: Beech-Maple Forest (Fagus-Acer) (Küchler 1964)
< Fagus - Liquidambar/Rhus [Toxicodendron] community (Voigt and Mohlenbrock 1964) [Despite the difference in name and presence of Fagus in Voigt and Mohlenbrock''s (1964) type, the topographic position and associated species are very similar.]
< Eastern Broadleaf Forests: 102: Beech-Maple Forest (Fagus-Acer) (Küchler 1964)
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