Print Report
CEGL004740 Celtis laevigata - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - (Juglans nigra) / Asimina triloba / Carex grayi Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sugarberry - Green Ash - (Black Walnut) / Pawpaw / Gray''s Sedge Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Atlantic Coastal Plain Sugarberry - Green Ash Levee Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a levee forest of brownwater rivers in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the Carolinas, possibly ranging north and south to adjacent states. It has been described from the Congaree River, South Carolina, and from the Roanoke River, North Carolina, where it occurs in two more-or-less distinct phases. Both phases have closed canopies codominated by Acer negundo, Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Ulmus americana. Subcanopies range from dense to sparse and are dominated by Asimina triloba. The relative abundance and diversity of understory herbs (e.g., Carex grayi, Carex louisianica) are inversely related to the abundance of Asimina triloba; however, Arundinaria gigantea often has a higher abundance under Asimina. Vines are also common, and important species include Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Smilax rotundifolia. In the Congaree Swamp National Monument, South Carolina, the mostly closed canopy of this community is dominated by Celtis laevigata, Juglans nigra, Acer negundo, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Ulmus americana. These species are important in the well-developed subcanopy also. These occurrences differ from the Roanoke River occurrences by having a lesser amount of tree importance contributed by Fraxinus pennsylvanica and by having substantial amounts of Juglans nigra. A variety of other tree species are possible in these strata; these species include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Platanus occidentalis, Quercus laurifolia, Diospyros virginiana, Carya cordiformis, Quercus pagoda, Morus rubra, and others. The shrub layer ranges from sparse to well-developed and is dominated by Asimina triloba with Lindera benzoin, Ilex decidua, and likely other species present as well. The moderately dense understory is dominated by Elymus virginicus. Other typical species include Carex grayi, Carex retroflexa, Chasmanthium latifolium, Elephantopus carolinianus, Leersia lenticularis, Polygonum virginianum, Sanicula canadensis, Carex bromoides, Glyceria striata, Laportea canadensis, and others. The vine stratum is moderate, and many species are possible. Among these are Bignonia capreolata, Berchemia scandens, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax tamnoides, Vitis rotundifolia, Matelea carolinensis, Cocculus carolinus, and Vitis vulpina.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is based on plot data collected on the floodplains of the Roanoke River, North Carolina, and the Congaree River, South Carolina. Related vegetation in Virginia''s Coastal Plain and Piedmont is treated as ~Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Platanus occidentalis - Celtis laevigata / Chasmanthium latifolium Piedmont Floodplain Forest (CEGL007013)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This forest has been documented as occurring in two more-or-less distinct phases (Rice and Peet 1997). Both phases have closed canopies codominated by Acer negundo, Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Ulmus americana. Subcanopies range from dense to sparse and are dominated by Asimina triloba. One of the phases (the Asimina triloba phase) has a more well-developed understory stratum of Asimina triloba than the other, although it is at least frequent in the other, lower-density phase (Rice and Peet 1997). The other phase is called the Carex grayi - Carex louisianica phase, and its understory is often a continuous, dense mixture of Carex species. The relative abundance and diversity of understory herbs are inversely related to the abundance of Asimina triloba; however, Arundinaria gigantea often has a higher abundance under Asimina. Vines are also common, and important species include Toxicodendron radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Smilax rotundifolia.
In the Congaree Swamp National Monument, South Carolina, the mostly closed canopy of this community is dominated by Celtis laevigata, Juglans nigra, Acer negundo, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Ulmus americana. These species are important in the well-developed subcanopy also. These occurrences differ from the Roanoke River occurrences by having a lesser amount of tree importance contributed by Fraxinus pennsylvanica and by having substantial amounts of Juglans nigra. A variety of other tree species are possible in these strata; these species include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Platanus occidentalis, Quercus laurifolia, Diospyros virginiana, Carya cordiformis, Quercus pagoda, Morus rubra, and others. The shrub layer ranges from sparse to well-developed and is dominated by Asimina triloba with Lindera benzoin, Ilex decidua, and likely other species present as well. The moderately dense understory is dominated by Elymus virginicus. Other typical species include Carex grayi, Carex retroflexa, Chasmanthium latifolium, Elephantopus carolinianus, Leersia lenticularis, Polygonum virginianum, Sanicula canadensis, Carex bromoides, Glyceria striata, Laportea canadensis, and others. The vine stratum is moderate, and many species are possible. Among these are Bignonia capreolata, Berchemia scandens, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax tamnoides, Vitis rotundifolia, Matelea carolinensis, Cocculus carolinus, and Vitis vulpina. The exotics Ligustrum sinense, Melia azedarach, Lonicera japonica, and Microstegium vimineum are present in some occurrences of this community. At Ocmulgee National Monument near Macon, Georgia, this community is documented with nearly 100% cover of Ligustrum sinense in the shrub strata and thus a sparse, species-poor herbaceous layer.
In the Congaree Swamp National Monument, South Carolina, the mostly closed canopy of this community is dominated by Celtis laevigata, Juglans nigra, Acer negundo, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Ulmus americana. These species are important in the well-developed subcanopy also. These occurrences differ from the Roanoke River occurrences by having a lesser amount of tree importance contributed by Fraxinus pennsylvanica and by having substantial amounts of Juglans nigra. A variety of other tree species are possible in these strata; these species include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Platanus occidentalis, Quercus laurifolia, Diospyros virginiana, Carya cordiformis, Quercus pagoda, Morus rubra, and others. The shrub layer ranges from sparse to well-developed and is dominated by Asimina triloba with Lindera benzoin, Ilex decidua, and likely other species present as well. The moderately dense understory is dominated by Elymus virginicus. Other typical species include Carex grayi, Carex retroflexa, Chasmanthium latifolium, Elephantopus carolinianus, Leersia lenticularis, Polygonum virginianum, Sanicula canadensis, Carex bromoides, Glyceria striata, Laportea canadensis, and others. The vine stratum is moderate, and many species are possible. Among these are Bignonia capreolata, Berchemia scandens, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax tamnoides, Vitis rotundifolia, Matelea carolinensis, Cocculus carolinus, and Vitis vulpina. The exotics Ligustrum sinense, Melia azedarach, Lonicera japonica, and Microstegium vimineum are present in some occurrences of this community. At Ocmulgee National Monument near Macon, Georgia, this community is documented with nearly 100% cover of Ligustrum sinense in the shrub strata and thus a sparse, species-poor herbaceous layer.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This forest occurs on levees of brownwater rivers. Soils that support these forests are relatively fertile and loamy because of frequent flooding and resultant sediment deposition. At Congaree Swamp National Monument, South Carolina, this forest type occurs in the southern portion of the unit on well-drained, relatively fertile levees of the Congaree River. These undergo frequent inundation of relatively shorter duration than areas behind the levee (TNC 1998b). On the Roanoke River (North Carolina), this vegetation occurs on the Chewacla Loam and the Wehadkee Loam.
Geographic Range: This levee forest is found along brownwater rivers in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the Carolinas, possibly ranging north and south to adjacent states. It has been described from the Congaree River, South Carolina, and from the Roanoke River, North Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689854
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5
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.b Green Ash - American Elm - Black Willow Floodplain Forest Group | G759 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.b |
| Alliance | A3707 Green Ash - American Sycamore - American Elm Coastal Plain Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3707 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.b |
| Association | CEGL004740 Sugarberry - Green Ash - (Black Walnut) / Pawpaw / Gray''s Sedge Floodplain Forest | CEGL004740 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Celtis laevigata - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Acer negundo - (Juglans nigra) / Asimina triloba / Carex grayi Forest (Landaal et al. 1998) [Plots 1-29; 1-39; 1-57]
? Celtis laevigata - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Acer negundo / Asimina triloba / Carex grayi Forest (Rice and Peet 1997)
? Celtis laevigata - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Acer negundo / Asimina triloba / Carex grayi Forest (Rice and Peet 1997)
- Landaal, S., A. Weakley, and J. Drake. 1998. Classification of the vegetation of Congaree National Park. Report to BRD-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Chapel Hill, NC. 67 pp.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Rice, S. K., and R. K. Peet. 1997. Vegetation of the Lower Roanoke River Floodplain. Unpublished report to The Nature Conservancy. 154 pp.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.