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A0323 Nyssa biflora - Nyssa aquatica Floodplain Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These blackwater or brownwater floodplain forests are dominated by some combination of Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, or Nyssa ogeche without a substantial Taxodium distichum component. Examples are found in seasonally flooded floodplains, sloughs, and backswamps.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Tupelo - Water Tupelo Floodplain Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Tupelo Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes both blackwater and brownwater floodplain forests dominated by some combination of Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, or Nyssa ogeche without a substantial Taxodium distichum component. This vegetation occurs in seasonally flooded floodplains, sloughs, and backswamps. Some other characteristic canopy species include Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, and Ulmus americana. The canopy layer in these forests often is dense, but strata below are sparse to very sparse. Common understory species include Fraxinus caroliniana, Itea virginica, and Ditrysinia fruticosa. Common herbaceous species of forests in this alliance include Carex bromoides, Carex gigantea, Leersia lenticularis, Phanopyrum gymnocarpon, Pleopeltis polypodioides, Pluchea sp., Proserpinaca pectinata, and Rhynchospora corniculata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These are riverine swamp forests dominated by Nyssa aquatica and/or Nyssa biflora.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: We have retained the convention of separating Nyssa-dominated forests from mixed Nyssa-Taxodium forests, but are not strictly separating them by flooding regime (temporary, seasonal, semipermanent). Description information is primarily from the old alliance Nyssa (aquatica, biflora, ogeche) Floodplain Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance (A.323).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These forests are dominated by some combination of Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, or Nyssa ogeche without a substantial Taxodium distichum component. Some other characteristic canopy species include Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, and Ulmus americana. Some examples may include Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ilex opaca, and Magnolia virginiana. Following timber removal or natural disturbance, Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Liriodendron tulipifera may become more abundant. Common understory species include Fraxinus caroliniana, Itea virginica, and Ditrysinia fruticosa (= Sebastiania fruticosa). Some characteristic shrubs include Clethra alnifolia, Itea virginica, Ilex verticillata, Leucothoe axillaris, Eubotrys racemosa (= Leucothoe racemosa), Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora, Lyonia lucida, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), and Persea palustris. Some typical vines include Nekemias arborea (= Ampelopsis arborea), Berchemia scandens, Decumaria barbara, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax laurifolia, and Toxicodendron radicans. Common herbaceous species of forests in this alliance include Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex bromoides, Carex gigantea, Carex seorsa, Carex stipata var. maxima, Commelina virginica, Dulichium arundinaceum, Justicia ovata, Leersia lenticularis, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Peltandra virginica, Phanopyrum gymnocarpon (= Panicum gymnocarpon), Pleopeltis polypodioides, Pluchea sp., Proserpinaca pectinata, Rhynchospora corniculata, Saururus cernuus, and Woodwardia areolata.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests occur in seasonally flooded floodplains, sloughs, and backswamps. This includes seasonally flooded low areas (stream channels) along small streams with intermittent flow in regions of very subdued topographic relief.
Geographic Range: These forests are found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Virginia (possibly Delaware) south and west to Texas. Apparently with one association ranging north into the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, DE?, FL, GA, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.898981
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: All members are from the old A.323 (8/10).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Basin Swamp (FNAI 1992a)
? Basin Swamp, Blackgum Swamp subtype (FNAI 1992b)
>< IIA4d. Tupelo Swamp (Allard 1990)
>< Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo: 103 (Eyre 1980)
? Basin Swamp, Blackgum Swamp subtype (FNAI 1992b)
>< IIA4d. Tupelo Swamp (Allard 1990)
>< Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo: 103 (Eyre 1980)
- 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.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1992a. Natural communities. Unpublished document. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 6 pp.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1992b. Natural community classification. Unpublished document. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 16 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.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Wharton, C. H. 1978. The natural environments of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. 227 pp.
- Whipple, S. A., L. H. Wellman, and B. J. Good. 1981. A classification of hardwood and swamp forests on the Savannah River Plant, SC. USDE Savannah River Plant National Environmental Research Park Program. SRO-NERP-6. 36 pp.