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CEGL007390 Nyssa biflora - Quercus laurifolia / Sphagnum spp. Riparian Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Tupelo - Laurel Oak / Peatmoss species Riparian Forest
Colloquial Name: Swamp Tupelo - Laurel Oak / Sphagnum Depression Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest occurs in shallow depressions along streams in western Louisiana and in relict stream sloughs in the pine flatwoods of southwestern Louisiana. It includes occurrences that do and do not receive overbank flooding. In the flatwoods, this forest generally occurs just downslope from ~Quercus laurifolia - Liquidambar styraciflua - Nyssa biflora - Acer rubrum / Sabal minor Floodplain Forest (CEGL007804)$$. Flooding occurs for 4-6 months a year. The acidic silty soils are overlain by organic muck and leaf litter but are not as peaty and are slightly less acidic than East Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains Nyssa biflora forests. In addition to Nyssa biflora and Quercus laurifolia, this forest also may contain Liquidambar styraciflua and Acer rubrum in the canopy. A poorly developed shrub layer of Ilex verticillata and Itea virginica may also be present. Sphagnum forms a dense, continuous ground cover. This community is known from the West Gulf Coastal Plain.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Rank and alliance placement of this association need assessment. Originally named for depression type on Kisatchie National Forest (Vernon District, Drakes Creek Gum Pond) within stream floodplains; but the concept is now expanded to include types in relict stream sloughs in flatwoods of southwestern Louisiana. This type is conceptually related to ~Taxodium distichum - Nyssa biflora - Magnolia virginiana - Acer rubrum Floodplain Forest (CEGL007902)$$ but is apparently drier. This type incorporates examples in western Louisiana formerly considered under ~Nyssa biflora / Itea virginica - Cephalanthus occidentalis Swamp Forest (CEGL007434)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This broad-leaved forest is dominated by Nyssa biflora and Quercus laurifolia. Other species that may be associated with the canopy include bottomland oaks and hardwoods including Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum, Quercus michauxii, and Magnolia virginiana. The canopy cover ranges from 60-100%. Tall- and short-shrub strata are sparse, with scattered to nearly absent individuals of Vaccinium elliottii, Lyonia lucida, Itea virginica, Cyrilla racemiflora, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Persea palustris, Ilex opaca, Carpinus caroliniana, Toxicodendron pubescens, Ilex decidua, Rhododendron canescens, Rhododendron oblongifolium, or Rubus argutus. In some occurrences Tillandsia usneoides and Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana are epiphytic on the canopy species. Sphagnum spp. form a dense ground cover. The herbaceous cover ranges from sparse to patchy and is dominated by Carex spp., Onoclea sensibilis, Chasmanthium spp., Scleria spp., Boehmeria cylindrica, and Dichanthelium boscii (Bridges and Orzell 1989b, Martin and Smith 1991, L. Smith pers. comm. 1995, Grace and Smith 1995). The exotics Lonicera japonica, Ligustrum sinense, and Microstegium vimineum may invade this community to the exclusion of native herbs.
Dynamics: Flooding is the primary natural disturbance in this community, bringing pulses of alluvium and nutrients, preventing invasion by less flood-tolerant species, and decreasing seedling establishment by the canopy dominants (Sharitz and Mitsch 1993).
Environmental Description: This forest occurs in broad, shallow depressions and oxbows characterized by ponding along streams and in first bottoms in western Louisiana and in relict stream sloughs in the pine flatwoods of southwestern Louisiana. It includes occurrences that do and do not receive overbank flooding. Flooding occurs for 4 to 6 months a year, with the source being channel overflow and precipitation. The acidic silty soils are overlain by organic muck and leaf litter but are not as peaty and are slightly less acidic than East Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains Nyssa biflora forests.
Geographic Range: This forest occurs in shallow depressions along streams in western Louisiana and in relict stream sloughs in the pine flatwoods of southwestern Louisiana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, LA, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689714
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.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 | A3627 Laurel Oak - Sweetgum - Swamp Tupelo Coastal Plain Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3627 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Association | CEGL007390 Swamp Tupelo - Laurel Oak / Peatmoss species Riparian Forest | CEGL007390 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IIA4d. Tupelo Swamp (Allard 1990)
? Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo: 103 (Eyre 1980)
? Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo: 103 (Eyre 1980)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Bridges, E. L., and S. L. Orzell. 1989b. Additions and noteworthy vascular plant collections from Texas and Louisiana, with historical, ecological and geographical notes. Phytologia 66:12-69.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Grace, S. L., and L. M. Smith. 1995. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Vernon District. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 192 pp.
- LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
- Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
- Mitsch, W. J., and J. G. Gosselink. 1993. Wetlands. Second edition. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York. 722 pp.
- Sharitz, R. R., and W. J. Mitsch. 1993. Southern floodplain forests. Pages 311-372 in: W. H. Martin, S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. Biodiversity of the southeastern United States: Lowland terrestrial communities. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
- Smith, Latimore M. Personal communication. Natural Heritage Program Ecologist. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.