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A0369 Fagus grandifolia - Magnolia grandiflora Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: In this alliance Magnolia grandiflora and Fagus grandifolia are characteristic or codominant trees of mixed broad-leaved evergreen-deciduous hardwood forests, occurring in a variety of mesic to dry-mesic, fire-sheltered situations, including slopes and ravines on sandy, clayey, or calcareous substrates in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beech - Southern Magnolia Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Beech - Magnolia Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes mixed broad-leaved evergreen-deciduous hardwood forests in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Magnolia grandiflora and Fagus grandifolia are characteristic species, and may be codominant in less species-rich associations. In more species-rich associations, canopy composition is very diverse and mixed, with no tree species dominating. These habitats have among the highest diversity of woody plants of any North American forest. Species composition is variable and dependent on geography, topographic position, and soil chemistry. Typical canopy species in this alliance include Acer floridanum, Carya tomentosa, Carya glabra, Carya pallida, Celtis laevigata, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, Ilex opaca, Juglans nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia macrophylla, Oxydendrum arboreum, Persea borbonia, Pinus glabra, Pinus taeda, Quercus alba, Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii, Quercus virginiana, Sabal palmetto, Sapindus saponaria, Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Ulmus alata, and Ulmus americana. Subcanopy trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are also diverse. Tillandsia usneoides and Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana are frequent and typical epiphytes. Vegetation which represents the drier phase of this alliance may contain more Pinus glabra, Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, and possibly also Pinus taeda than more mesic examples. These forests occur in a variety of mesic to dry-mesic, fire-sheltered situations, including slopes and ravines on sandy, clayey, or calcareous substrates in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Generally codominated by Fagus grandifolia and Magnolia grandiflora; shrubs include evergreen or semi-evergreen species, in addition to deciduous species. These forests mostly occur on slopes, or sometimes on stream and river terraces which are only rarely subject to flooding. Usually these are in areas of moderated microclimate, protected from extremes of temperature. Examples on richer soils may have spring ephemeral wildflowers typical or forests further north.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is very close to the old Fagus grandifolia - Magnolia grandiflora Forest Alliance (A.369).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance includes mixed broad-leaved evergreen-deciduous hardwood forests, with shrubs also including evergreen or semi-evergreen species, in addition to deciduous species. Vines are diverse and common. Spring ephemeral wildflowers are typical among the herbaceous species.

Floristics: Magnolia grandiflora and Fagus grandifolia are characteristic species, and may be codominant in less species-rich associations. In more species-rich associations, canopy composition is very diverse and mixed, with no species dominating. Typical canopy species in this alliance include Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya glabra, Carya pallida, Celtis laevigata, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, Ilex opaca, Juglans nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia macrophylla, Oxydendrum arboreum, Persea borbonia, Pinus glabra, Pinus taeda, Quercus alba, Quercus hemisphaerica, Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, Quercus shumardii, Quercus virginiana, Sabal palmetto, Sapindus saponaria (= Sapindus marginatus), Tilia americana var. caroliniana, Ulmus alata, and Ulmus americana. Typical subcanopy species may include Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Cornus florida, Halesia carolina, Halesia diptera (= var. diptera, = var. magniflora), Ilex opaca var. opaca, Magnolia acuminata, Magnolia ashei, Magnolia macrophylla, Magnolia pyramidata, Nyssa sylvatica, Ostrya virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Persea borbonia, Prunus caroliniana, Quercus hemisphaerica, Taxus floridana (very rare and restricted), and Torreya taxifolia (very rare and restricted). Typical shrubs and woody vines include Asimina parviflora, Chionanthus virginicus, Clethra alnifolia, Halesia diptera, Hamamelis virginiana, Hydrangea quercifolia, Ilex vomitoria, Illicium floridanum (East Gulf Coastal Plain only), Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron austrinum, Ditrysinia fruticosa (= Sebastiania fruticosa), Stewartia malacodendron, Styrax grandifolius, Symplocos tinctoria, Toxicodendron radicans, and Vaccinium elliottii. Vines are usually conspicuous and may include Berchemia scandens, Bignonia capreolata, Campsis radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax spp., Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, and Vitis rotundifolia. Typical herbaceous stratum species may include Arisaema triphyllum, Aristolochia serpentaria, Asplenium platyneuron, Athyrium filix-femina, Chasmanthium latifolium, Chasmanthium laxum, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Elephantopus carolinianus, Hexastylis arifolia, Lobelia cardinalis, Mitchella repens, Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. setarius (= Oplismenus setarius), Polygonum spp., Polystichum acrostichoides, Pteridium aquilinum var. pseudocaudatum, Sanicula canadensis var. canadensis (= var. floridana), and Smilax pumila. Tillandsia usneoides and Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana are frequent and typical epiphytes. Species composition is variable and dependent on geography, topographic position, and soil chemistry. Vegetation which represents the drier phase of this alliance may contain more Pinus glabra, Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, and possibly also Pinus taeda than more mesic examples.

Dynamics:  Natural disturbance occurs in canopy gaps from wind, insect pests, tree senescence, or very limited flooding in the lowest areas this forest vegetation occurs, near creeks and rivers. The very long-term stable and moderate microclimate of these forests in ravines and along sheltered slopes of rivers has helped maintain the habitat for many rare and disjunct plants.
Environmental Description:  This alliance includes a variety of mesic to dry-mesic, mixed broad-leaved evergreen-deciduous hardwood forests occurring in fire-sheltered situations, on sandy, clayey, or calcareous substrates in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Some examples (formerly in the Fagus grandifolia - Liquidambar styraciflua - Pinus taeda - (Magnolia grandiflora) Temporarily Flooded Forest Alliance (A.1989)) are found within the average annual floodplain of small streams in central and western Louisiana and eastern Texas, generally on acidic sandy loams and silt loams on both Pleistocene and Tertiary formations. Hydrologically, these are characterized by short-duration flood events, on the order of 1-3 days per event, occurring a few times in an average year. This flooding is limited in duration, and its effect on the flora of these stands is deemed to be highly limited.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the southeastern United States from South Carolina to the northern Florida Peninsula, and west to eastern Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, SC, TX


Confidence Level: Low

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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F018 1.B.1
Division 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division D006 1.B.1.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.1.Na.3 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - White Oak Forest Macrogroup M008 1.B.1.Na.3
Group 1.B.1.Na.3.a American Beech - Southern Magnolia - Oak species Forest Group G007 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Alliance A0369 American Beech - Southern Magnolia Forest Alliance A0369 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004963 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - Cherrybark Oak - Southern Sugar Maple - Loblolly Pine Forest CEGL004963 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004964 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - Water Oak - Spruce Pine / Southern Arrow-wood Forest CEGL004964 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004965 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Water Oak / Mountain Azalea Forest CEGL004965 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL004977 American Beech - Spruce Pine - Southern Magnolia / Saw Palmetto Forest CEGL004977 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007047 Sweetbay / Florida Anisetree Forest CEGL007047 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007320 American Beech - Loblolly Pine - (Sweetgum, Southern Magnolia, White Oak) Small Stream Forest CEGL007320 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007458 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - White Ash / Southern Sugar Maple - Hophornbeam Forest CEGL007458 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007459 American Beech - Southern Magnolia / American Holly - (Redbay) / Partridgeberry Forest CEGL007459 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007460 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - Spruce Pine - (Bigleaf Magnolia) / (Florida Anisetree) Forest CEGL007460 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007461 Cherrybark Oak - Southern Magnolia - American Beech / Oakleaf Hydrangea / Kunth''s Maidenfern Forest CEGL007461 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007712 Cherrybark Oak - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Southern Magnolia - (Carolina Basswood) / Dwarf Palmetto Forest CEGL007712 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007872 American Beech - Southern Magnolia - White Oak / American Hornbeam / Hophornbeam Forest CEGL007872 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007903 Southern Magnolia - American Beech - White Oak - Loblolly Pine Forest CEGL007903 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL007976 American Beech - Sweetbay - (Longleaf Pine) / Longleaf Woodoats Sandhill Streamhead Forest CEGL007976 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008554 American Beech - Southern Magnolia / Hophornbeam / Bottlebrush Buckeye Forest CEGL008554 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008574 American Beech - (Laurel Oak, Water Oak) - Loblolly Pine Forest CEGL008574 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Association CEGL008577 Southern Magnolia / Carolina Laurel Cherry - American Hornbeam / Giant Cane Forest CEGL008577 1.B.1.Na.3.a
Concept Lineage: Cleanly adopted from old alliance A.369, with CEGL008574 and CEGL007712 added in addition to those from A.369.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Nyssa sylvatica - Persea borbonia Community (Whipple et al. 1981)
>< American Beech - White Oak / Mitchella Loamy Moist-Mesic Steep Slopes and Ravines (Turner et al. 1999)
= Beech-Magnolia Forest (Batson et al. 1957)
? Calcareous Coastal Fringe Forest (Schafale 1994)
= IA8e. Beech - Magnolia Forest (Allard 1990)
= Mesic Slope Forests (Edwards et al. 2013)
? Southern Mixed Hardwood Forest (Quarterman and Keever 1962)
Concept Author(s): D.J. Allard, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman and D.J. Allard

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by Alan Weakley, Latimore Smith, and J.E. Mohan.

Version Date: 01-08-14
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