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CEGL007201 Fagus grandifolia - Liriodendron tulipifera / Euonymus americanus / Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - Tuliptree / American Strawberry-bush / Southern Ladyfern Forest
Colloquial Name: Southern Mesic Beech - Tuliptree Slopes
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association includes mesic hardwood forests dominated by Fagus grandifolia and Liriodendron tulipifera generally lacking an oak component. This forest occurs on slopes in the "lower Piedmont" of Alabama, and related habitats of adjacent and ecologically related provinces (Ridge and Valley, Cumberland Plateau, Interior Low Plateau, and Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain). This type is described from narrow, moderately well-drained floodplains and sheltered coves which have had little or no severe recent disturbance. In addition to the dominants, other important canopy/subcanopy species include Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus americana, Quercus rubra, Carpinus caroliniana, Magnolia virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica, Diospyros virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, and Cornus florida. Shrubs and woody vines include Decumaria barbara, Euonymus americanus, Rhododendron canescens, Toxicodendron radicans, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax glauca, and the exotic Lonicera japonica. Important herbs include Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Polystichum acrostichoides, Woodwardia areolata, Osmunda cinnamomea, Mitchella repens, and Hexastylis arifolia.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The original concept of this association was defined based on four plots from work in the Piedmont of east-central Alabama (Golden 1979; "Small Streambottoms") and later expanded with information from Alabama''s Cumberland Plateau (e.g., Bankhead National Forest).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These mesic slope forests are dominated by Fagus grandifolia and Liriodendron tulipifera. According to Golden (1979), other important canopy/subcanopy species include Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus americana, Quercus rubra, Carpinus caroliniana, Magnolia virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica, Diospyros virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, and Cornus florida. Shrubs and woody vines include Decumaria barbara, Euonymus americanus, Rhododendron canescens, Toxicodendron radicans, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax glauca, and the exotic Lonicera japonica. Important herbs include Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Polystichum acrostichoides, Woodwardia areolata, Osmunda cinnamomea, Mitchella repens, and Hexastylis arifolia.
At Shiloh National Military Park the canopy of this association is dominated by Fagus grandifolia, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Fraxinus americana. Quercus rubra and Juglans nigra are also common in the canopy. In the subcanopy, Fagus grandifolia and Liriodendron tulipifera are dominant, with Carya glabra, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera, Ostrya virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Prunus serotina, Carya cordiformis, and Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba). The dominant shrubs are Asimina triloba and Lindera benzoin. Other shrubs (tall and short) are Ulmus alata, Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera, Ostrya virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Toxicodendron radicans, Smilax rotundifolia, Hydrangea arborescens, Vitis rotundifolia, Carpinus caroliniana, Lonicera japonica, Conopholis americana, Euonymus americanus, and Celtis laevigata. Polystichum acrostichoides is the most common herbaceous plant. Other herbs are Polygonum virginianum, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Asarum canadense, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Pilea pumila, Scutellaria ovata, Phryma leptostachya, Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis, Passiflora lutea, Epifagus virginiana, Sedum ternatum, Brachyelytrum erectum (= var. erectum), Sanicula canadensis, Rubus argutus, Phytolacca americana, Mitchella repens, Stellaria pubera, Maianthemum racemosum, Arisaema triphyllum, Microstegium vimineum, and Prenanthes altissima.
In the Cumberland Plateau of Alabama (Bankhead National Forest), this forest is dominated by Fagus grandifolia and Liriodendron tulipifera (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). Other canopy trees may include Fraxinus americana, Magnolia acuminata, and Pinus taeda. Oaks can be present in the canopy, but are not dominant (Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus)). The most common subcanopy trees are Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Magnolia macrophylla, Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus alata, and Ilex opaca. The shrub stratum is open to dense, with the most common species being Euonymus americanus and Ostrya virginiana, although many other species occur. Bignonia capreolata and Decumaria barbara are typical vines in this forest. The herb layer is dense and diverse, and not dominated by any single species. In the range of this association, the "sugar maple" in the stands, if present, may be Acer floridanum and/or Acer leucoderme, not Acer saccharum.
At Shiloh National Military Park the canopy of this association is dominated by Fagus grandifolia, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Fraxinus americana. Quercus rubra and Juglans nigra are also common in the canopy. In the subcanopy, Fagus grandifolia and Liriodendron tulipifera are dominant, with Carya glabra, Tilia americana var. heterophylla, Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera, Ostrya virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Prunus serotina, Carya cordiformis, and Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba). The dominant shrubs are Asimina triloba and Lindera benzoin. Other shrubs (tall and short) are Ulmus alata, Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera, Ostrya virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Toxicodendron radicans, Smilax rotundifolia, Hydrangea arborescens, Vitis rotundifolia, Carpinus caroliniana, Lonicera japonica, Conopholis americana, Euonymus americanus, and Celtis laevigata. Polystichum acrostichoides is the most common herbaceous plant. Other herbs are Polygonum virginianum, Phegopteris hexagonoptera, Asarum canadense, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Pilea pumila, Scutellaria ovata, Phryma leptostachya, Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis, Passiflora lutea, Epifagus virginiana, Sedum ternatum, Brachyelytrum erectum (= var. erectum), Sanicula canadensis, Rubus argutus, Phytolacca americana, Mitchella repens, Stellaria pubera, Maianthemum racemosum, Arisaema triphyllum, Microstegium vimineum, and Prenanthes altissima.
In the Cumberland Plateau of Alabama (Bankhead National Forest), this forest is dominated by Fagus grandifolia and Liriodendron tulipifera (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). Other canopy trees may include Fraxinus americana, Magnolia acuminata, and Pinus taeda. Oaks can be present in the canopy, but are not dominant (Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus)). The most common subcanopy trees are Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Magnolia macrophylla, Ostrya virginiana, Ulmus alata, and Ilex opaca. The shrub stratum is open to dense, with the most common species being Euonymus americanus and Ostrya virginiana, although many other species occur. Bignonia capreolata and Decumaria barbara are typical vines in this forest. The herb layer is dense and diverse, and not dominated by any single species. In the range of this association, the "sugar maple" in the stands, if present, may be Acer floridanum and/or Acer leucoderme, not Acer saccharum.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This mesic forest occurs on slopes in association with small streams, on narrow, well-drained floodplains and sheltered coves. This type is described from "narrow, moderately well-drained floodplains and sheltered coves which have had little or no severe recent disturbance" (Golden 1979). At Shiloh National Military Park, it occurs on a mesic steep north-facing slope on silt loam soil with some small (river) rocks exposed and includes some small seepage areas.
Geographic Range: This association is known from the lower Piedmont and Cumberland Plateau of Alabama, but may range into adjacent and related provinces (Ridge and Valley, Cumberland Plateau, Interior Low Plateau, and Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain) in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, GA, KY, MS, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689724
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.3 Appalachian-Interior-Northeastern Mesic Forest Macrogroup | M883 | 1.B.2.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.3.a American Beech - Tuliptree - Yellow Buckeye Forest Group | G020 | 1.B.2.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A2033 American Beech - Tuliptree - Bitternut Hickory Forest Alliance | A2033 | 1.B.2.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL007201 American Beech - Tuliptree / American Strawberry-bush / Southern Ladyfern Forest | CEGL007201 | 1.B.2.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Small Streambottoms (Golden 1979)
- Golden, M. S. 1979. Forest vegetation of the lower Alabama Piedmont. Ecology 60:770-782.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Nordman, C., M. Russo, and L. Smart. 2011. Vegetation types of the Natchez Trace Parkway, based on the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe Central Databases (International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications). Arlington, VA. Data current as of 11 April 2011. 548 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.