Print Report

CEGL007330 Liquidambar styraciflua - (Liriodendron tulipifera) Ruderal Wet Forest

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetgum - (Tuliptree) Ruderal Wet Forest

Colloquial Name: Ruderal Sweetgum Wet Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This widespread association of the southeastern United States is dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua, but can be dominated by Liriodendron tulipifera in some cases, and occurs on heavily disturbed sites such as wetland old fields that have been recovering for the past 10-60 years. This is a successional community that develops following clearcutting or other disturbance along floodplains of major creeks and other temporarily flooded areas. As this community ages, it often begins to approach the composition of more natural ~Liquidambar styraciflua - Liriodendron tulipifera / Lindera benzoin / Arisaema triphyllum Floodplain Forest (CEGL004418)$$. This association is known from the Piedmont, Interior Low Plateau, Inner South Atlantic Coastal Plain, Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain, and possibly other provinces. Acer rubrum may be a major component of the canopy and subcanopy and may even partially dominate in some instances. In more mature examples, other canopy/subcanopy species which may occur to a lesser extent and often as scattered emergents are Quercus alba, Quercus phellos, Quercus nigra, Nyssa sylvatica, and Cornus florida. Stands in the Inner Coastal Plain of South Carolina typically contain Persea palustris and Magnolia virginiana. Some stands, as on the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, may contain Acer negundo as a codominant canopy/subcanopy component. The shrub layer can contain Carpinus caroliniana, Itea virginica, Vitis rotundifolia, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax rotundifolia, and/or Rubus sp., in addition to canopy/subcanopy species. Lonicera japonica is often abundant in the understory. On disturbed sites, the shrub layer is often dominated by Ligustrum sinense, and the ground layer is typically solid Microstegium vimineum or a tangle of Smilax rotundifolia and Rubus sp. The herbaceous layer may include Chasmanthium laxum, Carex spp., Boehmeria cylindrica, and Botrychium biternatum, sometimes growing on hummocks in standing water.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: At Arnold Air Force Base (Tennessee), this community is found primarily in the vicinity of Hunt Creek, Heron Pond, and Sinking Pond in areas that have experienced logging. Prior to logging, these areas would probably have had canopies dominated by Quercus phellos or Quercus alba, with the overall community structure being that of ~Quercus alba - Carya ovata - Liriodendron tulipifera - (Quercus phellos) / Cornus florida Forest (CEGL007709)$$ or possibly ~Quercus phellos - Quercus alba / Vaccinium fuscatum - (Viburnum nudum) / Carex barrattii Wet Forest (CEGL007364)$$. The sweet gum-red maple-red bay community of Jones et al. (1981b) (2 stands sampled) is included here.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy of this association is dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua but can be dominated by Liriodendron tulipifera in some cases. Acer rubrum may be a major component of the canopy and subcanopy and may even partially dominate in some instances (TNC 1998a). In more mature examples, other canopy/subcanopy species which may occur to a lesser extent and often as scattered emergents are Quercus alba, Quercus phellos, Quercus nigra, Fraxinus americana, Carya spp., Nyssa sylvatica, and Cornus florida. Stands in the Inner Coastal Plain of South Carolina typically contain Persea palustris and Magnolia virginiana (Jones et al. 1981b). The shrub layer contains Carpinus caroliniana, Itea virginica, Vitis rotundifolia, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax rotundifolia, and Rubus sp., in addition to canopy/subcanopy species. Lonicera japonica is often abundant in the understory. On disturbed sites, the shrub layer is often dominated by Ligustrum sinense, and the ground layer is typically solid Microstegium vimineum or a tangle of Smilax rotundifolia and Rubus sp. The herbaceous layer may include Chasmanthium laxum, Carex spp., Boehmeria cylindrica, and Botrychium biternatum, sometimes growing on hummocks in standing water. Various Carex species may be present.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  This association occurs on disturbed sites such as wetland old fields. This is a successional community that develops following clearcutting or other disturbance along floodplains of major creeks and other temporarily flooded areas. These are productive stream terraces subject to occasional flooding (Jones et al. 1981b).

Geographic Range: This widespread association is known from the Piedmont, Southern Ridge and Valley, Interior Low Plateau, South Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic coastal plains, Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain, Chesapeake Bay, and possibly other provinces.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, DC, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ?, SC, TN, VA




Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: GNA

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: This association now includes vegetation formerly accommodated in CEGL007328, Liriodendron tulipifera - Liquidambar styraciflua / Cornus florida Forest, described from Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee (MP 8-04).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: ? Sweet gum-red maple-red bay community (Jones et al. 1981b)

Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley

Author of Description: A.S. Weakley and R. White

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-10-04

  • GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
  • Jones, S. M., D. H. Van Lear, and S. K. Cox. 1981b. Major forest community types of the Savannah River Plant: A field guide. USDE Savannah River Plant, National Environmental Research Park Program. Report No. SRO-NERP-9. 79 pp. plus 24 illustrations.
  • 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.
  • Patterson, K. D. 2008e. Vegetation classification and mapping at Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/127. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 235 pp.
  • Pyne, M., E. Lunsford Jones, and R. White. 2010. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Mammoth Cave National Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 334 pp.
  • Schotz, A., H. Summer, and R. White, Jr. 2008. Vascular plant inventory and ecological community classification for Little River Canyon National Preserve. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 244 pp.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1998a. An investigation and assessment of the vegetation of Arnold Air Force Base. Coffee and Franklin counties, Tennessee. The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Field Office, Nashville. 37 pp. plus appendices.
  • Taverna, K. and K. D. Patterson. 2008. Vegetation classification and mapping at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR-2008/126. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 277 pp.
  • White, Jr., R. D. 2004. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Cowpens National Battlefield. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 126 pp.
  • White, Jr., R. D. 2005. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Fort Donelson National Battlefield. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 135 pp.
  • White, Jr., R. D., and T. Govus. 2005. Vascular plant inventory and plant community classification for Kings Mountain National Military Park. NatureServe, Durham, NC. 178 pp.