Print Report
A1011 Cephalanthus occidentalis Shrub Swamp Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance, which occurs throughout the southeastern third of the United States, contains seasonally and semipermanently flooded shrub swamp vegetation dominated by Cephalanthus occidentalis.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Buttonbush Coastal Plain Shrub Swamp Alliance
Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Buttonbush Shrub Swamp
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance, which occurs throughout the southeastern third of the United States, in the coastal plains and adjacent regions, contains seasonally and semipermanently flooded shrub swamp vegetation dominated by Cephalanthus occidentalis. Stands vary from dense, tall-shrub thickets to open shrub swamps. Tree canopy cover may reach 25% in some stands, including Acer saccharinum and Quercus palustris in the cool-temperate climatic zone and Taxodium distichum in the warm-temperate climatic zone. Standing water may cover the ground layer. Cephalanthus occidentalis is often the sole dominant in stands of this alliance, particularly in deeper (>0.5 m depth) zones of groundwater basins or lake borders on deep organic soils. Occasional shrub associates in the northern parts of its range include Cornus sericea, Cornus amomum, Ilex verticillata, Rosa palustris, Salix spp.,Vaccinium corymbosum, and Viburnum dentatum. Floating aquatic herbs such as Lemna spp. can be common in deepwater habitats, whereas a variety of forbs and graminoids are associates under less flooded conditions. These include Bidens tripartita, Boehmeria cylindrica, a wide variety of Carex spp., Glyceria spp., Leersia oryzoides, Polygonum spp., Scutellaria lateriflora, and Sium suave. This shrub swamp vegetation occupies shallow-water depressions, oxbow ponds, sinkhole ponds, and backwater sloughs of stream and river floodplains throughout swampy areas in the southeastern United States. Inundation may be continuous throughout the year, but these sites can become dry in mid or late summer or during periods of drought. Cephalanthus occidentalis appears to be very tolerant of extended periods of inundation which, by slowing canopy closure of trees and maintaining higher light levels, may favor this shrub. Soils can vary in texture from clays to sands, with organic horizons overlying these soils.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Wet shrub swamp dominated or codominated by Cephalanthus occidentalis. This vegetation occurs in a wide variety of wet depressions, such as ponds, oxbows, and beaver-impounded streams.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance unites the old alliances A.988 and A.1011, both Cephalanthus occidentalis shrublands.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This seasonally flooded, cold-deciduous shrub swamp forms a continuous to open canopy less than 10 m in height. The herbaceous layer is sparse and/or dominated by graminoids. Many examples lack trees, but a sparse canopy of wetland trees (up to 25% cover) may be present.
Floristics: This alliance contains semipermanently flooded shrub swamps dominated by Cephalanthus occidentalis. Stands vary from dense tall-shrub thickets to open shrub swamps. Tree canopy may reach 25% cover in some stands and includes Acer saccharinum, various wetland Quercus species, and Taxodium distichum in the warm-temperate climatic zone. Standing water may flood the herb layer. Cephalanthus occidentalis is often the sole dominant in stands of this alliance, particularly in deeper (>0.5 m depth) zones of groundwater basins or lake borders on deep organic soils. Occasional shrub associates in the northern parts of its range include Cornus sericea, Cornus amomum, Ilex verticillata, Rosa palustris, Salix spp., and Viburnum dentatum. Floating aquatic plants such as Lemna spp. can be common in more flooded habitats, whereas a variety of forbs and graminoids are more common under less flooded conditions. These include Bidens tripartita, Boehmeria cylindrica, a wide variety of Carex spp., Glyceria spp., Leersia oryzoides, Polygonum spp., and Scutellaria lateriflora.
Dynamics: Sites where this vegetation occurs are prone to seasonal flooding, including areas which have hydric soils, but also in riparian areas which may lack hydric soils but have become impounded (e.g., by beavers).
Environmental Description: This shrub swamp occupies shallow-water depressions, oxbow ponds, sinkhole ponds, and backwater sloughs of stream and river floodplains throughout swampy forested areas in the southeastern United States. Inundation is usually continuous throughout the year, but these sites can become dry in mid or late summer or during periods of prolonged drought. Cephalanthus occidentalis is very tolerant of extended periods of inundation which, by slowing canopy closure of trees and maintaining higher light levels, may favor this shrub (Conner et al. 1981). Soils can vary in texture from clays to sands, with organic horizons overlying these soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the southeastern United States, in the coastal plains and adjacent provinces, from Delaware south to Georgia and west to Oklahoma and Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, SC, TN, TX, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.871088
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This alliance joins old alliances A.988 and A.1011, both Cephalanthus occidentalis shrublands. (pasted in from old A.1011, with minor edits in track changes) [updated proto-alliance A1011]
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Cephalanthus occidentalis shrubland alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
? L4B3cI1a. Cephalanthus occidentalis (Foti et al. 1994)
? P4B3cII4a. Cephalanthus occidentalis (Foti et al. 1994)
? L4B3cI1a. Cephalanthus occidentalis (Foti et al. 1994)
? P4B3cII4a. Cephalanthus occidentalis (Foti et al. 1994)
- 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.
- Chafin, L. 2011. Georgia''s natural communities and associated rare plant and animal species: Thumbnail accounts. Based on "Guide to the Natural Communities of Georgia," by Edwards et al. 2013. University of Georgia Press. Georgia Nongame Conservation Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 125 pp.
- Conner, W. H., J. G. Gosselink, and R. T. Parrondo. 1981. Comparison of the vegetation of three Louisiana swamp sites with different flooding regimes. American Journal of Botany 68:320-331.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., and P. F. Maycock. 1989. Community patterns and environmental gradients of buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis, ponds in lowland forests of southern Ontario. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 103(4):479-485.
- Foti, T., M. Blaney, X. Li, and K. G. Smith. 1994. A classification system for the natural vegetation of Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:50-53.
- Foti, T., compiler. 1994b. Natural vegetation classification system of Arkansas, draft five. Unpublished document. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock. 8 pp.
- Hoagland, B. W. 1998a. Classification of Oklahoma vegetation types. Working draft. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 43 pp.