Print Report

A0058 Cliftonia monophylla Baygall Swamp Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of wetland forests on deep peat dominated by the broad-leaved evergreen tree Cliftonia monophylla, with scattered trees of Pinus serotina or Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and with an open to dense broad-leaved evergreen shrub layer which may contain Cliftonia monophylla, Gaylussacia mosieri, Ilex coriacea, Lyonia lucida, Morella inodora, and Nyssa biflora. It occurs from Georgia to Mississippi.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Buckwheat-tree Baygall Swamp Alliance

Colloquial Name: Buckwheat-tree Baygall Swamp Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of peaty wetland forests dominated by Cliftonia monophylla. The canopy is often nearly pure Cliftonia monophylla, 10-15 m tall; a sparse supercanopy of Pinus serotina or Pinus elliottii var. elliottii is sometimes present, especially near the transition to wet flatwoods. The open to dense broad-leaved evergreen shrub layer may contain Cliftonia monophylla, Gaylussacia mosieri, Ilex coriacea, Lyonia lucida, Morella cerifera, Morella inodora, and Nyssa biflora. Herbs are infrequent and may occur in small patches; they may include Balduina uniflora, Cleistes bifaria, Drosera capillaris, Eriocaulon decangulare, Peltandra sagittifolia, Rhynchospora sp., Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis, and Utricularia subulata. Sphagnum spp. are common. Communities of this alliance occur from Georgia to Mississippi and may be extensive wetlands (up to 300 or more hectares), generally with a longer hydroperiod than other baygall-related alliances; such large occurrences have developed over peat at least 1-2 m deep. Other communities in the alliance occur over nutrient-poor saturated mineral soils. Catastrophic fire may have been a rare type of disturbance in the past. This is a naturally occurring vegetation type, though possibly increased in occurrence by logging and subsequent fire suppression.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are extensive wetlands (up to 300 or more hectares in size) characterized by thickets of nearly pure Cliftonia monophylla that often attain exceptional height for this evergreen shrub (10-15 m tall).

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance, based on physiognomy, belongs in ~Coastal Plain Mixed Evergreen Swamp Group (G037)$$ with other forested evergreen coastal plain swamps.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are broad-leaved evergreen forests dominated by Cliftonia monophylla, sometimes with the emergent needle-leaved evergreen trees Pinus serotina or Pinus elliottii var. elliottii. The shrub layer generally is dominated by broad-leaved evergreen shrubs, and the herb layer is sparse.

Floristics: This alliance consists of peaty wetland forests dominated by Cliftonia monophylla. The canopy is often nearly pure Cliftonia monophylla, 10-15 m tall; a sparse supercanopy of Pinus serotina or Pinus elliottii var. elliottii is sometimes present, especially near the transition to wet flatwoods. The open to dense shrub layer may contain Cliftonia monophylla, Gaylussacia mosieri, Ilex coriacea, Lyonia lucida, Morella cerifera, Morella inodora (= Myrica inodora), and Nyssa biflora. Herbs are infrequent and may occur in small patches; they may include Balduina uniflora, Cleistes bifaria, Drosera capillaris, Eriocaulon decangulare, Peltandra sagittifolia, Rhynchospora sp., Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis, and Utricularia subulata. Sphagnum spp. are common.

Dynamics:  This vegetation can burn during drought conditions, if there is a canopy fire. The deep peat can also burn under drought conditions, but is normally saturated. Stand-replacing canopy fire may have been a rare type of disturbance in the past. This is a naturally occurring vegetation type, though it has possibly increased in occurrence by logging of merchantable trees such as Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and subsequent fire suppression.
Environmental Description:  Communities of this alliance may be extensive wetlands (up to 300 or more hectares), generally with a longer hydroperiod than other baygall-related alliances; such large occurrences have developed over peat at least 1-2 m deep. Other communities in the alliance occur over nutrient-poor saturated mineral soils, such as sands.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. Cliftonia monophylla is a dominant component of baygall in the Florida Panhandle, but uncommon in baygall in other areas of Florida (FNAI 2010a).

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA, MS


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.3 Sweetbay - Swamp Bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Macrogroup M032 1.B.3.Nb.3
Group 1.B.3.Nb.3.a Sweetbay - Loblolly-bay - Pond Pine Swamp Forest Group G037 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Alliance A0058 Buckwheat-tree Baygall Swamp Alliance A0058 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL003638 Slash Pine / Buckwheat-tree - Swamp Titi Swamp Woodland CEGL003638 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL003674 Pond Pine - Slash Pine / Buckwheat-tree - Swamp Titi Swamp Woodland CEGL003674 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL007042 Buckwheat-tree / Shining Fetterbush - Laurel Greenbrier Swamp Forest CEGL007042 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Concept Lineage: A.58, which also only included this one association. (pasted in verbatim from A.58 Summary field)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Baygall (FNAI 2010a)
? IIB1a. Slash Pine Flatwoods (Allard 1990)
? IIB2b. Pond Pine Woodland (Allard 1990)
>< IIC1b. High Pocosin (Allard 1990)
>< Pond Pine: 98 (Eyre 1980)
>< Slash Pine: 84 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): C.W. Nordman and A.S. Weakley, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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