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CEGL006605 Quercus (phellos, palustris, michauxii) - Liquidambar styraciflua / Cinna arundinacea Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Willow Oak, Pin Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak) - Sweetgum / Sweet Woodreed Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Oak Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This floodplain swamp forest occurs in backswamps and topographic depressions within alluvial floodplains of large streams and small rivers. Along smaller headwater streams, it may occur in low, poorly drained floodplains with braided channels and depressions. Standing water is present for much of the year on loam or clay loam soils. The overstory is dominated by variable mixtures of Quercus phellos, Quercus palustris, Quercus michauxii, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Acer rubrum. The proportion of the latter two species typically increases with disturbance. The understory is commonly quite open and contains young Acer rubrum, several climbing vines, Carpinus caroliniana, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Asimina triloba, Viburnum dentatum, Ilex verticillata, and other species. The herb layer is usually well-developed, with a prominent graminoid component. Common herbaceous patch-dominants include Cinna arundinacea, Carex debilis var. debilis, Carex intumescens, Glyceria striata, and Carex tribuloides.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is supported by analysis of a 1250-plot regional dataset assembled for the NCR and Mid-Atlantic national parks vegetation mapping project. In that analysis, this type was represented by a group of 37 Maryland and 10 northern Virginia plots.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The overstory is dominated by variable mixtures of Quercus phellos, Quercus palustris, Quercus michauxii, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Acer rubrum. The proportion of the latter two species typically increases with disturbance. Other canopy associates include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Nyssa sylvatica, Ulmus americana, Quercus pagoda, Quercus lyrata, and Betula nigra. Climbing vines of Smilax rotundifolia, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans, and Campsis radicans are common and characteristic. The subcanopy and shrub layers tend to be open and composed of young recruitment of Acer rubrum, along with Carpinus caroliniana (usually dominant), Ilex opaca var. opaca, Asimina triloba, Euonymus americanus, Viburnum dentatum, Ilex verticillata, and Lindera benzoin. The herb layer is usually well-developed, with a prominent graminoid component. Common herbaceous patch-dominants include Cinna arundinacea, Carex debilis var. debilis, Carex intumescens, Glyceria striata, and Carex tribuloides. Additional characteristic herbs include Boehmeria cylindrica, Arisaema triphyllum, Lycopus virginicus, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Impatiens capensis, Leersia virginica, Onoclea sensibilis, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, and Rubus hispidus. Many other species occur at low constancy and cover. Mean species richness of 47 Maryland and Virginia plot samples was 38 taxa per 400 m2.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This floodplain swamp forest occurs in backswamps and topographic depressions within alluvial floodplains of large streams and small rivers. Along smaller headwater streams, it may occur in low, poorly drained floodplains with braided channels and depressions. Sites are probably overflowed annually, and depressions retain standing water well into the growing season. Soils are somewhat to very poorly drained loams or clay loams that are strongly to extremely acidic and infertile.
Geographic Range: This community is found in the Chesapeake Bay region. It is most characteristic of the Coastal Plain but also extends into the extreme eastern part of the Piedmont.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: DC, DE, MD, NJ, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689632
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
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.4 Swamp Chestnut Oak - Bald-cypress - Pecan Southern Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M031 | 1.B.3.Nb.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a Swamp Chestnut Oak - Laurel Oak - Sweetgum Floodplain Forest Group | G034 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Alliance | A4439 American Beech - Swamp Chestnut Oak - American Sycamore Forest Alliance | A4439 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Association | CEGL006605 (Willow Oak, Pin Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak) - Sweetgum / Sweet Woodreed Floodplain Forest | CEGL006605 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
Concept Lineage: Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus palustris / Carpinus caroliniana / Carex intumescens Forest (CEGL006602) and Acer rubrum - Quercus palustris - Carya (ovata, alba) / Carpinus caroliniana Forest (CEGL006949) merged into CEGL006605. CEGL007327 was split into CEGL006601 (which was subsequently merged into CEGL004418) and CEGL006602 (which was subsequently merged into CEGL006605).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Acer rubrum - Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus (palustris, phellos) Forest (Fleming 2002a)
? Acer rubrum - Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus (palustris, phellos) Seasonally Flooded Forest (Patterson pers. comm.)
= Acer rubrum - Quercus (phellos, palustris) / Cinna arundinacea Forest (Fleming and Patterson 2003)
= Quercus (palustris, phellos) - Acer rubrum - Cinna arundinacea Forest (Thomson et al. 1999)
= Quercus (palustris, phellos) - Acer rubrum / Campsis radicans - Aster lateriflorus Seasonally Flooded Forest (McCoy and Fleming 2000)
= Quercus michauxii - Ulmus americana / Bignonia capreolata / Athyrium filix-femina - Rubus flagellaris - Carex tribuloides Forest (Walton et al. 2001)
? Acer rubrum - Liquidambar styraciflua - Quercus (palustris, phellos) Seasonally Flooded Forest (Patterson pers. comm.)
= Acer rubrum - Quercus (phellos, palustris) / Cinna arundinacea Forest (Fleming and Patterson 2003)
= Quercus (palustris, phellos) - Acer rubrum - Cinna arundinacea Forest (Thomson et al. 1999)
= Quercus (palustris, phellos) - Acer rubrum / Campsis radicans - Aster lateriflorus Seasonally Flooded Forest (McCoy and Fleming 2000)
= Quercus michauxii - Ulmus americana / Bignonia capreolata / Athyrium filix-femina - Rubus flagellaris - Carex tribuloides Forest (Walton et al. 2001)
- Coxe, R. 2009. Guide to Delaware vegetation communities. Spring 2009 edition. State of Delaware, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
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- Walton, D. P., P. P. Coulling, J. Weber, A. Belden, Jr., and A. C. Chazal. 2001. A plant community classification and natural heritage inventory of the Pamunkey River floodplain. Unpublished report submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Natural Heritage Technical Report 01-19. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 200 pp. plus appendices.