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CEGL007316 Carya cordiformis - Quercus pagoda - Carya myristiciformis / Sabal minor - Cornus asperifolia Wet Flatwoods Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bitternut Hickory - Cherrybark Oak - Nutmeg Hickory / Dwarf Palmetto - Toughleaf Dogwood Wet Flatwoods Forest
Colloquial Name: Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Marl Flatwoods Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This wet marl forest of the North Carolina Coastal Plain has well-developed tree, subcanopy, and herb layers. Limestone outcrops are present. The canopy is dominated by Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii, Carya myristiciformis, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Acer floridanum. Other typical canopy species include Carya cordiformis, Ulmus americana, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Juglans nigra, Quercus alba, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus nigra, Quercus phellos, Carya aquatica, Carya ovata, Carya glabra, Fraxinus americana, Acer rubrum, and Acer negundo. Typical subcanopy species include Acer floridanum, Asimina triloba, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Cornus asperifolia, Cornus florida, Morus rubra, and Ostrya virginiana. Sabal minor dominates the shrub layer in many areas (particularly the wetter portions of the community). Other shrubs and woody vines include Aesculus pavia var. pavia, Aesculus sylvatica, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Viburnum prunifolium, and Viburnum recognitum. The rich herbaceous stratum is dominated by Carex basiantha, Carex corrugata, and Carex cherokeensis. Other herbaceous species include Anemone virginiana, Arisaema triphyllum, Asarum canadense, Aristolochia serpentaria, Boehmeria cylindrica, Cardamine bulbosa, Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis, Cryptotaenia canadensis, Desmodium glutinosum, Dryopteris ludoviciana, Geranium maculatum, Geum canadense, Polystichum acrostichoides, Phryma leptostachya, Melica mutica, Sanicula canadensis var. canadensis, Sanicula marilandica, Scirpus lineatus, and Silphium asteriscus. This community is subject to seasonal ponding of water in low spots and seasonally saturated soils because the clay/marl substrate prevents rapid percolation of water. Length of flooding varies within a site due to differences in microtopography. Two subassociations could be recognized, one more mesic, the other with seasonal ponding.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Defined from one site of about 10 square kilometers in North Carolina. This community may occur in South Carolina or other states in the southeastern Coastal Plain, where marl approaches the surface closely enough to influence soil chemistry.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The canopy of stands is dominated by Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii, Carya myristiciformis, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum). Other typical canopy species include Carya cordiformis, Ulmus americana, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Juglans nigra, Quercus alba, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus nigra, Quercus phellos, Carya aquatica, Carya ovata, Carya glabra (= var. megacarpa), Fraxinus americana, Acer rubrum, and Acer negundo. Typical subcanopy species include Acer floridanum, Asimina triloba, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Cornus asperifolia, Cornus florida, Morus rubra, and Ostrya virginiana. Sabal minor dominates the shrub layer in many areas (particularly the wetter portions of the community. Other shrubs and woody vines include Aesculus pavia var. pavia, Aesculus sylvatica, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Viburnum prunifolium, and Viburnum recognitum (= Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum). The rich herbaceous stratum is dominated by Carex basiantha, Carex corrugata, and Carex cherokeensis. Other herbaceous species include Anemone virginiana, Arisaema triphyllum, Asarum canadense, Aristolochia serpentaria, Boehmeria cylindrica, Cardamine bulbosa, Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis, Cryptotaenia canadensis, Desmodium glutinosum, Dryopteris ludoviciana, Geranium maculatum, Geum canadense, Polystichum acrostichoides, Phryma leptostachya, Melica mutica, Sanicula canadensis var. canadensis (= Sanicula canadensis var. floridana), Sanicula marilandica, Scirpus lineatus, and Silphium asteriscus. Regionally rare plant species reported from this community include Carex superata (= Carex willdenowii var. megarrhyncha), Carex granularis, Carya myristiciformis, Cornus asperifolia, Listera australis, Ruellia strepens, Scirpus lineatus, and Tilia americana var. caroliniana (Schafale and Weakley 1990). These fertile sites are prone to invasion by exotics such as Lonicera japonica and Ligustrum sinense.
Dynamics: This community is subject to seasonal ponding of water in low spots and seasonally saturated soils because the clay/marl substrate prevents rapid percolation of water. Length of flooding varies within a site due to differences in microtopography.
Environmental Description: Stands of this association occur where marl approaches the surface closely enough to influence soil chemistry. The substrate is actually a coquina limestone, which consists of weakly metamorphosed deposits of marine fossils ("shell hash"). This material is locally called "marl," although this is not what the term is correctly applied to by geological terminology. Outcrops of the material are typically present at the surface of the soil. This is a type of non-riverine flatwoods (M. Schafale pers. comm.).
This community occurs on relatively flat areas where marl or limestone occurs near the surface. Soils are poorly drained and seasonally saturated, often with areas of standing water. Soils known from this community have been classified as Albaquic Hapludalfs and Typic Albaqualfs (Schafale and Weakley 1990) and in North Carolina occurrences are of the Pender and Invershiel Series, soil series endemic to Pender Count, North Carolina. These soils have a high base status, due to the surficial geology, which is reflected by a flora with many calciphilic species.
This community occurs on relatively flat areas where marl or limestone occurs near the surface. Soils are poorly drained and seasonally saturated, often with areas of standing water. Soils known from this community have been classified as Albaquic Hapludalfs and Typic Albaqualfs (Schafale and Weakley 1990) and in North Carolina occurrences are of the Pender and Invershiel Series, soil series endemic to Pender Count, North Carolina. These soils have a high base status, due to the surficial geology, which is reflected by a flora with many calciphilic species.
Geographic Range: This wet marl forest occurs in the North Carolina Coastal Plain, on a soil series endemic to Pender Count, North Carolina. It is also reported from South Carolina, based on a CVS plot from Francis Marion National Forest.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689950
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.2 Swamp Tupelo - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Bald-cypress Basin Swamp & Flatwoods Macrogroup | M033 | 1.B.3.Nb.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.2.b Laurel Oak - Willow Oak - Loblolly Pine Wet Flatwoods Group | G130 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.b |
| Alliance | A3443 <i>Quercus michauxii - Quercus pagoda - Quercus laurifolia</i> Wet Flatwoods Forest Alliance | A3443 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.b |
| Association | CEGL007316 Bitternut Hickory - Cherrybark Oak - Nutmeg Hickory / Dwarf Palmetto - Toughleaf Dogwood Wet Flatwoods Forest | CEGL007316 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IIA10c. Wet Marl Forest (Allard 1990)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Schafale, Mike P. Personal communication. Ecologist, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.