Print Report
CEGL003638 Pinus elliottii / Cliftonia monophylla - Cyrilla racemiflora Swamp Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Slash Pine / Buckwheat-tree - Swamp Titi Swamp Woodland
Colloquial Name: East Gulf Coastal Plain Slash Pine / Titi Swamp Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association presumably represents swamps of the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Florida (and possibly Mississippi and Alabama) with overstory canopy dominated by Pinus elliottii var. elliottii. In addition, Pinus serotina may be present but not abundant. These swamps may occur on strongly acidic, infertile, often peaty soils which are either shallowly inundated or waterlogged during wet seasons. They may be associated with blackwater areas and are usually isolated from more fire-prone flatwoods. In contrast to examples with a strong component of Pinus serotina, this association may inhabit deeper portions of acidic swamps. The midstory is strongly dominated by Cliftonia monophylla and Cyrilla racemiflora which tend to exclude invasion of other species, and which strongly suppress herbaceous understory species. Other evergreen species, such as Lyonia lucida and Ilex coriacea, may be common. Overall, species richness is quite low.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association should not be confused with unnaturally fire-suppressed flatwoods which have developed similar structure, although in a given area the two may be difficult to distinguish. Such examples should be considered as low-quality examples of an existing flatwoods association. According to C. Kindell, work is needed to determine clear distinction between this community and another related type, ~Pinus serotina - Pinus elliottii / Cliftonia monophylla - Cyrilla racemiflora Swamp Woodland (CEGL003674)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: This association is not subject to frequent, low-intensity fire typical of longleaf flatwoods. The lack of herbaceous vegetation and presence of a high water table makes it difficult for fires to ignite except under droughty conditions. If and when fires do occur they are likely to be intense crown fires which may also burn into the peaty soils. It has been observed that fire history may explain the physiognomy of this and related acid swamps [see Similar Association]. Clewell (1981) suggests that examples with emergent overstory and/or taller shrub layers are subject to less frequent fire or at least have not been subject to destructive fire as recently as shorter forms. Intense crown fires may eliminate or heavily reduce the pine overstory, creating a transition to ~Cyrilla racemiflora - Cliftonia monophylla Wet Scrub (CEGL003847)$$.
Environmental Description: These swamps may occur on strongly acidic, infertile, often peaty soils which are either shallowly inundated or waterlogged during wet seasons (Clewell 1981). They may be associated with blackwater areas (A. Weakley pers. comm.) and are usually isolated from more fire-prone flatwoods. In contrast to examples with a strong component of Pinus serotina, this association may inhabit deeper portions of acidic swamps (Clewell 1981).
Geographic Range: This association is found in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Florida (and possibly Mississippi and Alabama). It could potentially occur in other areas within the native range of the nominals.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, FL, MS?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689903
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3Q
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.3 Sweetbay - Swamp Bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M032 | 1.B.3.Nb.3 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a Sweetbay - Loblolly-bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Group | G037 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A0058 Buckwheat-tree Baygall Swamp Alliance | A0058 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
| Association | CEGL003638 Slash Pine / Buckwheat-tree - Swamp Titi Swamp Woodland | CEGL003638 | 1.B.3.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Boggy Flatwoods (Clewell 1981)
- Clewell, A. F. 1981. Natural setting and vegetation of the Florida Panhandle: An account of the environments and plant communities of northern Florida west of the Suwannee River. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mobile, AL. 773 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Weakley, Alan, PhD. Personal communication. Curator, UNC Herbarium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Formerly Chief Ecologist, NatureServe, Southeast Region, Durham, NC.