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G038 Nyssa biflora - Nyssa ogeche - Taxodium distichum Basin Swamp Group
Type Concept Sentence: These are forests which occur in poorly drained basins and wet flats in the Southern Coastal Plain, dominated by some combination of Nyssa biflora, occasionally Nyssa ogeche and/or Nyssa sylvatica, and Taxodium distichum. Several Quercus species more tolerant of wet conditions (such as Quercus laurifolia, Quercus michauxii, and Quercus phellos) may be present.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Tupelo - Ogeechee Tupelo - Bald-cypress Basin Swamp Group
Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Hardwood Basin Swamp
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: Forests in this group occur in poorly drained basins and wet flats in the Southern Coastal Plain. Canopy dominants are some combination of Nyssa biflora, occasionally Nyssa ogeche and/or Nyssa sylvatica, and Taxodium distichum. Several Quercus species more tolerant of wet conditions (such as Quercus laurifolia, Quercus michauxii, and Quercus phellos) may be present. Other woody species that may occur are Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Chamaecyparis thyoides, Fraxinus profunda, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus serotina, Pinus taeda, Populus heterophylla, and Taxodium ascendens. Typical species in the moderate to dense understory include Acer rubrum, Clethra alnifolia, Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Lyonia lucida, Magnolia virginiana, Persea palustris, and Smilax laurifolia. The herbaceous layer may be sparse to dense, and species include Carex spp., Woodwardia areolata, Woodwardia virginica, and Sphagnum spp. Vines are conspicuous components. Stands occur on poorly drained basins and flats with organic or mineral soils that are saturated by rainfall and seasonal high water tables, but without the influence of river or tidal flooding (although they may be physically proximal to small streams). Stands may be difficult to distinguish from some other wetland forests based purely on canopy composition.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands have generally closed canopies dominated by deciduous trees, particularly Nyssa and Taxodium, but the shrub strata may have a broad-leaved evergreen component. Southern stands with a high cover of Chamaecyparis thyoides typically are placed here, depending on hydrology. The hydrology is nonriverine, with water coming from rainwater and groundwater rather than from overbank flooding. The environmental settings include depressions and wet flats.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: It is not clear if this group should include associations that have characteristics such as "very wet forests along mucky small streams in sandy terrain...flooded occasionally by stream water, but is primarily kept saturated by seepage input" or have "floodplain edges...that are very rarely flooded by alluvial waters, but which receive regular seepage from adjacent upland slopes"? CEGL004734, CEGL004427 and CEGL004679 have been placed in G038; CEGL004631 is placed into ~Hardwood - Loblolly Pine Nonriverine Wet Flatwoods Group (G130)$$. This group was formerly called "Atlantic Maritime Conifer & Hardwood Swamp Group" (Faber-Langendoen and Menard 2006).
The combination of the suite of canopy species with nonriverine hydrology distinguishes vegetation of this group from related riverine/floodplain vegetation. There are differences in nutrient dynamics and other ecosystem process as well. The overall flora is usually distinct and reflects these differences in nutrient status. The invertebrate fauna is likely very distinct. Fire frequency is also an important difference between ~Coastal Plain Mixed Evergreen Swamp Group (G037)$$ and ~Coastal Plain Hardwood Basin Swamp Group (G038)$$, namely that fire is frequent in this group. It is unclear if fire frequency determines the difference in vegetation or if the different flammability of the vegetation determines the fire regime.
The combination of the suite of canopy species with nonriverine hydrology distinguishes vegetation of this group from related riverine/floodplain vegetation. There are differences in nutrient dynamics and other ecosystem process as well. The overall flora is usually distinct and reflects these differences in nutrient status. The invertebrate fauna is likely very distinct. Fire frequency is also an important difference between ~Coastal Plain Mixed Evergreen Swamp Group (G037)$$ and ~Coastal Plain Hardwood Basin Swamp Group (G038)$$, namely that fire is frequent in this group. It is unclear if fire frequency determines the difference in vegetation or if the different flammability of the vegetation determines the fire regime.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands of this group are wetland forests with generally closed canopies and the characteristic presence or dominance of broad-leaved deciduous hardwoods (Nyssa and Quercus spp.), and needle-leaved deciduous conifers (Taxodium spp.). Understory shrubs are mixed broadleaved-evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous shrubs. The herb layer varies from sparse to dense.
Floristics: Canopy dominants are some combination of Nyssa biflora, occasionally Nyssa ogeche and/or Nyssa sylvatica, and Taxodium distichum. Quercus species, when present, include Quercus laurifolia, Quercus michauxii, and Quercus phellos, which are tolerant of longer periods of saturation. Other woody species that may occur are Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Chamaecyparis thyoides, Fraxinus profunda, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus serotina, Pinus taeda, Populus heterophylla, and Taxodium ascendens. Typical species in the moderate to dense understory include Acer rubrum, Clethra alnifolia, Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Lyonia lucida, Magnolia virginiana, Persea palustris, and Smilax laurifolia. Herbaceous species include Carex spp., Woodwardia areolata, Woodwardia virginica, and Sphagnum spp. The woody vines Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Toxicodendron radicans are conspicuous components. Other important woody vines include Smilax smallii, Vitis aestivalis, and Vitis rotundifolia.
Within its range, Nyssa ogeche may be a component. In general, at least in the Carolinas, the lower strata of stands tend to have affinities with broad-leaved evergreen types ("pocosin" or "baygall" communities) rather than with the flora of river floodplain systems to which the canopy components are related. The combination of hardwood/deciduous canopy dominants and nonriverine hydrology distinguishes this vegetation group from floodplain wetland forests. Stands with a high cover of Chamaecyparis thyoides formerly occupied much of the acreage of this group, but are now very rare.
Within its range, Nyssa ogeche may be a component. In general, at least in the Carolinas, the lower strata of stands tend to have affinities with broad-leaved evergreen types ("pocosin" or "baygall" communities) rather than with the flora of river floodplain systems to which the canopy components are related. The combination of hardwood/deciduous canopy dominants and nonriverine hydrology distinguishes this vegetation group from floodplain wetland forests. Stands with a high cover of Chamaecyparis thyoides formerly occupied much of the acreage of this group, but are now very rare.
Dynamics: The predominant ecological processes affecting this vegetation are related to soil texture and moisture and disturbance history. These are wetlands that hold standing water for variable periods during the year after rainfall events. In the wetter Taxodium- and Nyssa-dominated vegetation of this group, fire is probably of little ecological significance because the vegetation is not flammable. Without fire as a major factor, most communities probably occur naturally as old-growth multi-aged forests dominated by gap-phase regeneration. Hurricanes may create larger canopy gaps occasionally. Examples in drowned river valleys are subject to influence by rising sea level and can be expected to evolve into tidal swamp systems, sometimes fairly quickly. Some of the sites where this vegetation is found today were formerly occupied by stands of Chamaecyparis thyoides. These depended on fire for regeneration of the canopy. The occurrence of fires on the time scale of several decades to a century or more may have determined the mosaic of Chamaecyparis forests versus other vegetation types. Some areas may once have been canebrakes, with dominance of Arundinaria determined by more frequent fire.
Environmental Description: Vegetation of this group is found in at least two different habitat types. One group of associations occupies large, seasonally inundated nonriverine basins with peaty substrates, from southeastern Virginia to Texas. These "depression" basins do not receive overbank flooding. Natural fire is infrequent in these examples and varies from a minor to a significant influence on vegetational composition and structure. Under certain conditions (e.g., during a drought), a fire could be a catastrophic replacement event. A separate set of associations is found in flat areas of the outer Atlantic Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia to Texas, in areas where soils are seasonally to nearly semipermanently saturated because of low relief, poor soil drainage, and seasonal high water table. The largest areas are on broad interfluvial flats. Smaller areas may be found near small headwater streams in the coastal plains. Despite being proximal to these small streams, their hydrology is dominated by groundwater seepage, rainfall and sheetflow. Overbank and tidal flooding, if they occur, have little to no influence on the vegetation. Soils may be loamy to clayey, shallow to deep. A distinctive small subset has soils with limestone near the surface, influencing soil chemistry.
Geographic Range: Vegetation of this group ranges from Long Island, New York, to southeastern Virginia, continuing to Mississippi, extending down the Florida peninsula, and possibly to Texas, and may occur in Arkansas and the Missouri "bootheel." The northern range limit needs further investigation.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR?, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.836976
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.a Swamp Tupelo - Ogeechee Tupelo - Bald-cypress Basin Swamp Group | G038 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A0320 May Hawthorn - Riverflat Hawthorn - Rusty Hawthorn Swamp Forest Alliance | A0320 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A3635 Swamp Tupelo Swamp Forest Alliance | A3635 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A3636 Swamp Tupelo - Ogeechee Tupelo Depressional Swamp Forest Alliance | A3636 | 1.B.3.Nb.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Basin Swamp (FNAI 1990)
> Coastal Plain Small Stream Swamp (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
> Nonriverine Swamp Forest (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
> Coastal Plain Small Stream Swamp (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
> Nonriverine Swamp Forest (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1990. Guide to the natural communities of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory and Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee. 111 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Frost, Cecil, Dr. Personal communication. Plant ecologist, North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service, Raleigh.
- 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., 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.