Print Report
A0581 Pinus serotina Swamp Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These saturated woodlands dominated by Pinus serotina, called pocosins or pond pine woodlands, occur on peats or organic-rich coarse sands in the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pond Pine Swamp Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Pond Pine Swamp Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These are saturated woodlands dominated by Pinus serotina, often termed pocosins or pond pine woodlands. The canopy coverage of individual stands tends to vary in space and time from sparse woodland (less than 25% canopy cover), through woodland (25-60% canopy cover), to forest (more than 60% canopy cover). The average stand structure of most of these communities (with a fire regime of infrequent, high-intensity fire) is sparse woodland. Shrub densities can also be highly variable, with cover from 100% to less than 50%. Some common and typical shrubs (which vary from association to association) include Clethra alnifolia, Cyrilla racemiflora, Gaylussacia frondosa, Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Kalmia carolina, Kalmia cuneata, Eubotrys racemosa, Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora, Lyonia lucida, Morella caroliniensis, Morella cerifera, Persea palustris, Aronia arbutifolia, Smilax laurifolia, Toxicodendron vernix, Vaccinium formosum, and Viburnum nudum var. nudum. The three bay species Gordonia lasianthus, Persea palustris, and Magnolia virginiana are present in most examples, and Gordonia lasianthus is a codominant canopy species in some associations. This alliance can cover very large areas in Outer Coastal Plain peat domes and large peat-filled Carolina bays of southeastern Virginia, eastern North Carolina, and northeastern South Carolina, where it can form the landscape matrix in unbroken blocks of up to 100 square miles. In other landscapes, such as the Fall-line Sandhills of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, it occurs as relatively narrow bands along streams. Soils are generally peats or organic-rich coarse sands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Saturated woodlands dominated by Pinus serotina with a significant evergreen shrub stratum.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is the same as old alliance Pinus serotina Saturated Woodland Alliance (A.581).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The canopy coverage of individual stands tends to vary in space and time from sparse woodland (less than 25% canopy cover), through woodland (25-60% canopy cover), to forest (more than 60% canopy cover). The average stand structure of most of these communities (with infrequent fire) is open woodland. Shrub densities can also be highly variable, with cover from 100% to less than 50%.
Floristics: These saturated woodlands are dominated by Pinus serotina, and often termed pocosins or pond pine woodlands. Some common and typical shrubs (variable from association to association) include Clethra alnifolia, Cyrilla racemiflora, Gaylussacia frondosa (= var. frondosa), Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Kalmia carolina, Kalmia cuneata, Eubotrys racemosa (= Leucothoe racemosa), Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora, Lyonia lucida, Morella caroliniensis (= Myrica heterophylla), Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera var. cerifera), Persea palustris, Aronia arbutifolia, Smilax laurifolia, Toxicodendron vernix, Vaccinium formosum, and Viburnum nudum var. nudum. The three bay species Gordonia lasianthus, Persea palustris, and Magnolia virginiana are present in most examples, and Gordonia lasianthus is a codominant canopy species in some associations.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Soils are generally peats or organic-rich coarse sands. This alliance can cover very large areas in Outer Coastal Plain peat domes and large peat-filled Carolina bays of southeastern Virginia, eastern North Carolina, and northeastern South Carolina, where it can form the landscape matrix in unbroken blocks of up to 100 square miles. In other landscapes, such as the Fall-line Sandhills of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, it occurs as relatively narrow bands along streams.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from Virginia, Delaware, and possibly southern New Jersey, south to Florida and Alabama. It can cover very large areas in Outer Coastal Plain peat domes and large peat-filled Carolina bays of southeastern Virginia, eastern North Carolina, and northeastern South Carolina, where it can form the landscape matrix in unbroken blocks of up to 100 square miles. In other landscapes, such as the Fall-line Sandhills of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and the Lake Wales Ridge in Florida, it occurs as relatively narrow bands along streams.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, DE, FL, GA, NC, NJ?, SC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899001
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This is the same as old alliance A.581. (pasted in from A.581 with a few edits in track changes)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? IIB2b. Pond Pine Woodland (Allard 1990)
>< IIC1b. High Pocosin (Allard 1990)
>< Pond Pine: 98 (Eyre 1980)
>< IIC1b. High Pocosin (Allard 1990)
>< Pond Pine: 98 (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.
- Chafin, L. 2011. Georgia''s natural communities and associated rare plant and animal species: Thumbnail accounts. Based on "Guide to the Natural Communities of Georgia," by Edwards et al. 2013. University of Georgia Press. Georgia Nongame Conservation Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 125 pp.
- Christensen, N., R. Burchell, A. Liggett, and E. Simms. 1981. The structure and development of pocosin vegetation. Pages 43-61 in: C. J. Richardson, editor. Pocosin wetlands: An integrated analysis of Coastal Plain freshwater bogs in North Carolina. Hutchinson Ross Publishing Company, Stroudsburg, PA.
- Clewell, A. F. 1981. Natural setting and vegetation of the Florida Panhandle: An account of the environments and plant communities of northern Florida west of the Suwannee River. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mobile, AL. 773 pp.
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- Kologiski, R. L. 1977. The phytosociology of the Green Swamp, North Carolina. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Bulletin No. 250. 101 pp.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- 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.
- Sharitz, R. R., and J. W. Gibbons. 1982. The ecology of southeastern shrub bogs (pocosins) and Carolina bays: A community profile. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Service. FWS/OBS-82/O4. Washington, DC. 93 pp.