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G552 Acer rubrum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Acer negundo Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group consists of forested wetlands found throughout much of the eastern half of the United States and southern Canada with weedy native dominant trees such as Acer negundo, Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ostrya virginiana, Populus balsamifera, Prunus serotina, and/or Salix spp. The understory is heavily invaded by exotic or invasive native shrub and herbaceous species.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Maple - Green Ash - Box-elder Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Group
Colloquial Name: Eastern North American Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group consists of forested wetlands throughout much of the eastern half of the United States and southern Canada north of Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas and east of the Great Plains. Sites where these forests are found have been extensively affected by disturbance such as logging, agricultural use, or a large change in the hydrologic regime. Sites are in depressional wetlands or along the edges of ponds, lakes or rivers. Dominant trees are early-successional native species adapted to wet conditions, especially Acer negundo (exotic in some parts of the range), Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ostrya virginiana, Populus balsamifera, Prunus serotina, and Salix spp. Northward Picea glauca is an occasional dominant. The understory is heavily invaded by exotic or invasive native shrub and herbaceous species, including exotics such as Frangula alnus, Rhamnus cathartica, Rosa multiflora (mostly in open floodplains), Berberis thunbergii (mostly in floodplains and temporarily flooded swamps), Ligustrum sinense, and Ligustrum vulgare with occasional generalist native species such as Cornus amomum and Cornus sericea. Herbaceous exotics include Alliaria petiolata (mostly in floodplains), Barbarea vulgaris, Galeopsis spp., Glechoma hederacea, Hesperis matronalis, Hylotelephium telephium, Lysimachia nummularia, Microstegium vimineum (more in floodplains but also basin wetlands), Myosotis scorpioides, Phalaris arundinacea, Phlox paniculata, Phragmites australis, and many others. They may be mixed with very generalist native herbaceous species such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Cirsium spp., Eupatorium spp., Galium spp., Geum canadense, Glyceria striata, Impatiens capensis, Leersia oryzoides, Solidago canadensis, and Solidago rugosa.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This group includes wetland forests in the eastern United States and southern Canada that have experienced significant hydrologic or soil profile disturbance or that have been overtaken by exotic species even in the absence of disturbance. This group is distinguished by having an uneven physiognomy (canopy height, canopy cover) and an understory strongly dominated by exotic and/or invasive native plants. Dominance of these species in the understory is at least 80% relative cover. A few generalist native species dominate the canopy, including Acer rubrum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Acer negundo.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The current nominal species are also common in some natural/ruderal swamps. This group is distinguished by having an uneven physiognomy (canopy height, canopy cover) and an understory strongly dominated by exotic and/or invasive native plants.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are tree-dominated wetland forests, but stands can vary from moderately open to closed (25-100% cover) and from short to tall trees. Most stands have a patchy tree canopy and thickets of shrubs. Sites that are recovering from recent extensive disturbance usually have short, young trees and an open canopy with a denser understory. Sites that have not had recent extensive disturbance will have taller trees and a moderately closed to closed canopy. The understory in these stands usually thins out due to less light availability, but even most older stands in this wetland forest allow substantial light to penetrate the canopy. A moderate to vigorous shrub and tree sapling layer is typical. The herbaceous layer is extremely variable in cover but tends to have at least moderate cover due to the available light reaching the forest floor.
Floristics: This group can have a wide variety of native and non-native species. Species composition varies with time since and nature of disturbance, available seed sources, and habitat characteristics, but common dominants in the tree strata are Acer negundo (exotic in some parts of the range), Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ostrya virginiana, Populus balsamifera, Prunus serotina, and Salix spp. Northward Picea glauca is an occasional dominant. The understory is heavily invaded by exotic or invasive native shrub and herbaceous species, including exotics such as Frangula alnus (= Rhamnus frangula), Rhamnus cathartica, Rosa multiflora (mostly in open floodplains), Berberis thunbergii (mostly in floodplains and temporarily flooded swamps), Ligustrum sinense, and Ligustrum vulgare with occasional generalist native species such as Cornus amomum and Cornus sericea. Herbaceous exotics include Alliaria petiolata (mostly in floodplains), Barbarea vulgaris, Galeopsis spp., Glechoma hederacea, Hesperis matronalis, Hylotelephium telephium, Lysimachia nummularia, Microstegium vimineum (more in floodplains but also basin wetlands), Myosotis scorpioides, Phalaris arundinacea, Phlox paniculata, Phragmites australis, and many others. They may be mixed with very generalist native herbaceous species such as Calamagrostis canadensis, Cirsium spp., Eupatorium spp., Galium spp., Geum canadense, Glyceria striata, Impatiens capensis, Leersia oryzoides, Solidago canadensis, and Solidago rugosa.
Dynamics: These wetland forests are more likely than natural/ruderal forests to be affected by further anthropogenic disturbances. This can include logging or tree clearing of some sort, manipulation of hydrology, continued introduction of seeds of exotic species, etc. In addition, the normal dynamics common to wetland forests can affect examples of this group. Years of higher or lower than normal precipitation, windthrow, and disease can all affect the composition and physiognomy.
Environmental Description: This group is found on mineral soils or shallow peat (<30 cm) that are flooded for some or all of the growing season. Soils range from coarse (often alluvial soils) to fine-textured.
Geographic Range: These forested wetlands are found throughout much of the eastern half of the United States and southern Canada north of a line from Virginia to Arkansas and east of the Great Plains.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NB, NH, NJ, NS, NY, OH, OK, ON, PA, PE, QC, RI, SC, SD?, TN, TX?, VA, VT, WI, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.857627
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.90 Red Maple - Box-elder - American Sycamore Eastern North American Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M302 | 1.B.3.Na.90 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.90.a Red Maple - Green Ash - Box-elder Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Group | G552 | 1.B.3.Na.90.a |
| Alliance | A4099 Box-elder - River Birch / Garlic Mustard Ruderal Floodplain Forest Alliance | A4099 | 1.B.3.Na.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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]