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A0060 Magnolia virginiana - Persea palustris Swamp Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are saturated forests of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains which have tree canopies dominated by Magnolia virginiana and Persea palustris. They are found at the base of steepheads, on stream-associated flats and isolated peaty wetlands, on peaty soils only slightly above sea level, and in swales and seepage-fed areas.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetbay - Swamp Bay Swamp Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Bay Swamp Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These are saturated forests of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains which have canopies typically dominated by Magnolia virginiana and/or Persea palustris. Both species are generally present; one or the other may dominate. Dominance of these species may be shared with Gordonia lasianthus, or this species may dominate. In addition, the trees Acer rubrum, Pinus serotina, and Pinus elliottii var. elliottii may also occur. Associated shrubs may include Clethra alnifolia, Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Illicium floridanum, Itea virginica, Lyonia lucida, Pinckneya bracteata, and Viburnum nudum var. nudum. Vines may also occur. Herbs include Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea, Drosera intermedia, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Peltandra sagittifolia, Peltandra virginica, Pinguicula pumila, Rhynchospora spp., Sarracenia purpurea, Viola x primulifolia, and Woodwardia areolata. Sphagnum is common to scattered in examples of this alliance. This alliance is known from the Atlantic Coastal Plain from North Carolina south to Florida, and in the Florida Gulf Coastal Plain. Occurrences in subtropical Florida have subtropical plants. This alliance includes seepage-fed saturated forests found at the base of steepheads, with cool microclimates, also stream-associated flats and isolated peaty wetlands, as well as peaty soils only slightly above sea level, in swales and seepage-fed areas, including those adjacent to sand dunes.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are saturated forests of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains which have canopies typically dominated by Magnolia virginiana and/or Persea palustris sometimes with or dominated by Gordonia lasianthus.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This bay forest is sometimes with or dominated by Gordonia lasianthus. The old alliance Magnolia virginiana - Persea palustris Saturated Forest Alliance (A.60) was originally described as lacking substantial dominance by Gordonia lasianthus, this species being present only in small amounts, but the former Gordonia lasianthus Saturated Forest Alliance was merged in with old alliance A.60, which this alliance is based upon. The (sub)tropical component of this alliance from southern Florida may eventually need to join with associations in former alliance Magnolia virginiana - Persea palustris - Chrysobalanus icaco Seasonally Flooded Woodland Alliance (A.474) in a tropical equivalent to this alliance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are broad-leaved evergreen forests which have a shrub layer of mostly broad-leaved evergreen shrubs.

Floristics: These are saturated forests of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains which have canopies typically dominated by Magnolia virginiana and/or Persea palustris. Both species are generally present; one or the other may dominate. In some stands and associations now assigned here, dominance of these species may be shared with Gordonia lasianthus, or this species may dominate. In addition to these species, Acer rubrum, Pinus serotina, and Pinus elliottii var. elliottii may also occur. Associated shrubs may include Clethra alnifolia, Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Illicium floridanum, Itea virginica, Lyonia lucida, Pinckneya bracteata, and Viburnum nudum var. nudum. In addition, Cephalanthus occidentalis may occur in wetter examples. Vines (Smilax laurifolia, Smilax glauca, Vitis rotundifolia) may also occur. Herbs include Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea, Drosera intermedia, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Peltandra sagittifolia, Peltandra virginica, Pinguicula pumila, Rhynchospora spp., Sarracenia purpurea, Viola x primulifolia, and Woodwardia areolata. Sphagnum is common to scattered in examples of this alliance. A maritime forest dominated by Persea palustris is included here; in this example Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) is common in the shrub layer. The herb layer has Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Woodwardia virginica, and Woodwardia areolata. Occurrences in subtropical Florida have subtropical components, such as Acrostichum danaeifolium, Annona glabra, Blechnum serrulatum, Chrysobalanus icaco, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Dicliptera sexangularis, Ficus aurea, Habenaria odontopetala, Melothria pendula, Myrsine cubana (= Myrsine floridana), Nephrolepis exaltata, Psychotria tenuifolia, Rivina humilis, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (= Sambucus simpsonii), and Thelypteris kunthii.

Dynamics:  Canopy coverage can vary, depending on disturbance; some maritime associations are subject to flooding, hurricanes, or storms which can create canopy openings. An example of this alliance (CEGL007049) burned in a high-intensity wildfire in 1998 at Bradwell Bay, Apalachicola National Forest.
Environmental Description:  This alliance includes seepage-fed saturated forests of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains with cool microclimates found at the base of steepheads and other slopes, also stream-associated flats and isolated peaty wetlands, as well as peaty soils only slightly above sea level, in swales and seepage-fed areas, including those adjacent to sand dunes. This includes streamhead pocosins and other peaty streamhead situations such as large peat dome pocosins and peat-filled Carolina bays.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and may occur in Alabama and Louisiana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL?, FL, GA, LA?, MS, NC, SC


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 A0060 Sweetbay - Swamp Bay Swamp Forest Alliance A0060 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL004410 Loblolly-bay / Virginia Chainfern - Royal Fern Swamp Forest CEGL004410 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL007044 Loblolly-bay - Sweetbay - Swamp Bay / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest CEGL007044 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL007049 Sweetbay - Swamp Bay / Shining Fetterbush Swamp Forest CEGL007049 1.B.3.Nb.3.a
Concept Lineage: This is the same as old alliance A.60. (pasted in from A.60, without edits)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Baygall (FNAI 2010a)
? Bayhead (Olmsted and Loope 1984)
? Bayhead/Swamp Forests (Gunderson and Loftus 1993)
>< IIA2d. Bay Forest (Allard 1990)
>< IIB2a. Bay Forest (Allard 1990)
= Seepage slope swamps (Edwards et al. 2013)
? Shark Slough Bayhead Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
? South Florida Bayhead Swamp Forest (Loope et al. 1994)
>< Sweetbay - Swamp Tupelo - Redbay: 104 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): S. Landaal, A.S. Weakley and M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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