Print Report
CEGL006498 Quercus phellos - Quercus (palustris, lyrata) / Ilex decidua / Carex typhina Floodplain Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Willow Oak - (Pin Oak, Overcup Oak) / Possum-haw / Cattail Sedge Floodplain Forest
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Oak Floodplain Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This swamp forest ranges from the Piedmont and adjacent Inner Coastal Plain of central Virginia south through the Piedmont into north-central North Carolina. It occupies somewhat poorly drained to very poorly drained floodplains of large streams and small rivers. Typical habitats include shallow sloughs, low flat terraces, and backswamps. Hydrologic regime can be somewhat ambiguous, but is probably best characterized as seasonally flooded. Flooding is typically fairly shallow (<30 cm). Soils examined at plots had silt and silty-clay loam horizons grading to sticky clay, white- or orange-mottled subsoils. Samples were uniformly strongly acidic, but some had moderately high calcium, magnesium, and base saturation levels. Relatively undisturbed stands have a strong oak component, with Quercus phellos (most constant), Quercus palustris, Quercus lyrata, and Quercus michauxii sharing dominance in variable combinations. Quercus pagoda and Quercus bicolor also occur but are infrequent and local. Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Liquidambar styraciflua are constant, sometimes codominant overstory associates. Ilex decidua is the most constant shrub dominant, with Carpinus caroliniana and Viburnum prunifolium codominant in some areas. The herb layer is usually dense and characterized by patch-dominance of sedges and other graminoids, including Carex typhina, Carex grayi, Carex tribuloides, Carex radiata, Carex intumescens, Leersia virginica, Poa autumnalis, Glyceria striata, and Cinna arundinacea. Characteristic forbs include Boehmeria cylindrica, Impatiens capensis, Lysimachia ciliata, Lycopus virginicus, Commelina virginica, and Saururus cernuus. Spring ephemerals such as Cardamine bulbosa, Cardamine douglassii, and Claytonia virginica are sometimes abundant on hummocks and other better drained microhabitats. Invasive weeds, especially Lysimachia nummularia, are often problematic in this community type.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association has been plot-sampled and classified repeatedly by VDNH. The current classification is based on analysis of a 1250-plot regional dataset assembled for the NCR and Mid-Atlantic national parks vegetation mapping projects. This type was represented by 20 plots from the southern Piedmont and immediately adjacent Coastal Plain of Virginia. Additional information supplied by Mike Schafale indicates that this association is also present in north-central North Carolina.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Relatively undisturbed stands have a strong oak component, with Quercus phellos (most constant), Quercus palustris, Quercus lyrata, and Quercus michauxii sharing dominance in variable combinations. Quercus pagoda and Quercus bicolor also occur but are infrequent and local. Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Liquidambar styraciflua are constant, sometimes codominant overstory associates. Other overstory and understory trees include Ulmus americana, Acer rubrum, Carya ovata, Ulmus alata, Celtis occidentalis, and Betula nigra. Ilex decidua is the most constant shrub dominant, with Carpinus caroliniana and Viburnum prunifolium codominant in some areas. Climbing and scrambling lianas of Toxicodendron radicans, Smilax rotundifolia, and Campsis radicans are also common. The herb layer is usually dense and characterized by patch-dominance of sedges and other graminoids, including Carex typhina, Carex grayi, Carex tribuloides, Carex radiata, Carex intumescens, Leersia virginica, Poa autumnalis, Glyceria striata, and Cinna arundinacea. Characteristic forbs include Boehmeria cylindrica, Impatiens capensis, Lysimachia ciliata, Lycopus virginicus, Commelina virginica, and Saururus cernuus. Spring ephemerals such as Cardamine bulbosa, Cardamine douglassii, and Claytonia virginica are sometimes abundant on hummocks and other better drained microhabitats. The invasive exotic Lysimachia nummularia is often abundant and problematic in this community type.
Dynamics: Disturbed stands have a smaller component of oaks and increased importance of Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum, and Betula nigra.
Environmental Description: This association occurs in somewhat poorly drained to very poorly drained floodplains of large streams and small rivers. Typical habitats include shallow sloughs, low flat terraces, and backswamps. Hydrologic regime can be somewhat ambiguous, but is probably best characterized as seasonally flooded. Standing water is usually present, at least in discrete sloughs or pools, well into the growing season. However, sites usually have some microtopographic heterogeneity that includes better drained hummocks that are rarely inundated. Flooding is typically fairly shallow (<30 cm). Soils examined at plots had silt and silty-clay loam horizons grading to sticky clay, white- or orange-mottled subsoils. Samples were uniformly strongly acidic, but some had moderately high calcium, magnesium, and base saturation levels.
Geographic Range: The type ranges from the Piedmont and adjacent Inner Coastal Plain of central Virginia south through the Piedmont into north-central North Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.802090
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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.a Swamp Chestnut Oak - Laurel Oak - Sweetgum Floodplain Forest Group | G034 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
Alliance | A3633 Willow Oak Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3633 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
Association | CEGL006498 Willow Oak - (Pin Oak, Overcup Oak) / Possum-haw / Cattail Sedge Floodplain Forest | CEGL006498 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus phellos - Quercus (palustris, lyrata) / Ilex decidua / Carex typhina Forest (Fleming 2002b)
= Quercus phellos - Quercus (palustris, lyrata) / Ilex decidua / Carex typhina Forest (Fleming 2002a)
= Ulmus americana / Ilex decidua / Carex (tribuloides, intumescens, typhina) Forest (Walton et al. 2001)
= Ulmus americana / Ranunculus caroliniana Forest (Walton et al. 2001)
= Quercus phellos - Quercus (palustris, lyrata) / Ilex decidua / Carex typhina Forest (Fleming 2002a)
= Ulmus americana / Ilex decidua / Carex (tribuloides, intumescens, typhina) Forest (Walton et al. 2001)
= Ulmus americana / Ranunculus caroliniana Forest (Walton et al. 2001)
- Fleming, G. P. 2002a. Ecological communities of the Bull Run Mountains, Virginia: Baseline vegetation and floristic data for conservation planning and natural area stewardship. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-12. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 274 pp. plus appendices.
- Fleming, G. P. 2002b. Preliminary classification of Piedmont & Inner Coastal Plain vegetation types in Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-14. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 29 pp.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2003. Preliminary vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2003. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- 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.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Walton, D. P., P. P. Coulling, J. Weber, A. Belden, Jr., and A. C. Chazal. 2001. A plant community classification and natural heritage inventory of the Pamunkey River floodplain. Unpublished report submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Natural Heritage Technical Report 01-19. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 200 pp. plus appendices.