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G653 Acer saccharinum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Fraxinus nigra Floodplain Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: The group includes hardwood floodplain forests in the Laurentian-Acadian areas of the northeastern and midwestern U.S. and southern Canada, and is typically dominated by Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Acer saccharum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Tilia americana, or Ulmus americana. Northward stands with Picea glauca or Populus balsamifera may occur.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silver Maple - Green Ash - Black Ash Floodplain Forest Group
Colloquial Name: Laurentian-Acadian Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group occurs in the northeastern U.S. and temperate regions of eastern Canada, west to the upper Great Lakes region of Minnesota and Ontario. Forest canopy dominants can vary but typically are a combination of Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus nigra, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra, and Ulmus americana. Northward stands with Picea glauca or Populus balsamifera may occur. Shrub layer ranges from dense in patches to sparse. The herbaceous layer is typically diverse. Some common species include Boehmeria cylindrica, Matteuccia struthiopteris, and Onoclea sensibilis. It occurs along small and large rivers on slightly elevated alluvial terraces and active floodplains, along streams with small watersheds (<2 square miles), high-gradient or submontane portions of major rivers, and beside lakes. Soils range from alluvial sands to sand and alluvial loams to silt loams. Flooding occurs during spring runoff periods and during other peak floods.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Deciduous floodplain forests found dominated by Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Acer saccharum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Tilia americana, or Ulmus americana with closed to somewhat open canopy and a rich, well-developed herb layer.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The separation of this group with others to the south was determined partially by biogeography, with those alliances south of the Laurentian-Acadian region contained within ~Silver Maple - Green Ash - Sycamore Floodplain Forest Group (G652)$$. Further review is needed to ascertain if this is the correct way to separate these floodplain groups and alliances. Also, there are some alliances in this group that occur on mesic terraces in floodplains and may better be treated as uplands in a mesic group.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Deciduous broad-leaved hardwood floodplain forests with closed to somewhat open canopy and a rich, well-developed herb layer.
Floristics: Forest canopy dominants can vary but typically are a combination of Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus nigra, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra, and Ulmus americana. Northward stands with Picea glauca or Populus balsamifera may occur. Other common associations can include Betula alleghaniensis, Carpinus caroliniana, Carya ovata, Fraxinus nigra, Juglans cinerea, Quercus bicolor, Quercus macrocarpa, and Pinus strobus. Shrubs are occasional to locally dense and can include Carpinus caroliniana, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Cornus spp., Corylus americana, Ilex verticillata, Lindera benzoin, Prunus virginiana, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Viburnum spp. Vine species such as Parthenocissus spp., Toxicodendron radicans, and Vitis spp. can occur on some examples. The herbaceous layer is diverse and varies seasonally with spring ephemerals giving way to taller ferns, graminoids, and forbs. Some common species include Ageratina altissima (= Eupatorium rugosum), Allium spp., Arisaema triphyllum, Asarum canadense, Asclepias incarnata, Athyrium filix-femina, Boehmeria cylindrica, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Carex spp., Cinna spp., Danthonia spicata, Elymus spp., Eupatorium spp., Galium spp., Impatiens capensis, Laportea canadensis, Lycopus uniflorus, Matteuccia struthiopteris, Onoclea sensibilis, Osmunda spp., Phalaris arundinacea, Pilea pumila, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Solidago spp. Non-native and invasive species are often present.
Dynamics: Forests are flooded during spring runoff periods and during other peak floods.
Environmental Description: Stands occur along slightly elevated to higher alluvial terraces and active floodplains, streams with small watersheds (<2 square miles), high-gradient or submontane portions of major rivers. It often occurs as a linear band within terraces, backwaters, bars, and islands of minor rivers and smaller tributaries, creeks, and drainages. Soils are typically well-drained to imperfectly drained and range from alluvial sands to sand and alluvial loams to silt loams. Soils can be temporarily inundated during spring floods, although some examples tend to be more mesic and may be considered uplands rather than wetlands.
Geographic Range: This group occurs across the northern U.S., from northern Minnesota and southern Manitoba eastward to New England and from temperate regions of northwest Ontario to Atlantic Canada. It possibly extends somewhat further south in some parts of its range. The core of its range is in Ecoprovince 212 and extreme northern 251 (Cleland et al. 2007).
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, DE, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, NB, ND, NH, NJ, NS, NY, ON, PA, QC, RI, SD, VT, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.877318
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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.3 <i>Tsuga canadensis - Fraxinus nigra - Larix laricina</i> Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M504 | 1.B.3.Na.3 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.3.a Silver Maple - Green Ash - Black Ash Floodplain Forest Group | G653 | 1.B.3.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A3714 Sugar Maple - American Basswood Mesic Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3714 | 1.B.3.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A3715 Silver Maple - Red Maple - American Elm Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3715 | 1.B.3.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: G040 split into G673, G652 & G653 (DFL 7-23-12)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Cleland, D. T., J. A. Freeouf, J. E. Keys, Jr., G. J. Nowacki, C. Carpenter, and W. H. McNab. 2007. Ecological subregions: Sections and subsections for the conterminous United States. A. M. Sloan, cartographer. General Technical Report WO-76. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. [1:3,500,000] [CD-ROM].
- 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]