Print Report
A0802 Cyrilla racemiflora - Ilex coriacea Wet Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of evergreen shrublands of the Southeastern Coastal Plain, characterized by Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex coriacea, and Cliftonia monophylla, which occur in depressions, on seepage slopes, on poorly drained flats (such as pocosins), along lakeshores and pondshores, and in other wetlands where the water table is maintained in at least a seasonally saturated condition.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Titi - Large Gallberry Wet Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Swamp Titi Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of evergreen shrublands of the Southeastern Coastal Plain (Atlantic Coastal Plain, East Gulf Coastal Plain, and occasionally adjacent provinces). Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex coriacea, and sometimes Cliftonia monophylla (within its range) are characteristic. Other characteristic shrubs (although some are absent in portions of the alliance''s distribution) include Alnus serrulata, Ilex glabra, Ilex myrtifolia, Lyonia lucida, Morella caroliniensis, Morella cerifera, Morella inodora, Persea palustris, Smilax laurifolia, Toxicodendron vernix, and Vaccinium formosum. In some situations, stunted Magnolia virginiana may be a component; emergent Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, Pinus serotina, and/or Taxodium ascendens may be present. Communities in this alliance occur in depressions, on poorly drained flats (such as pocosins) in the Outer Coastal Plain, along lake- or pondshores, where the water table is maintained in at least a seasonally saturated condition by the waterbody, and in seepages in rolling hill landscapes of the coastal plain (often associated with and adjacent to herbaceous seepage bogs), and in saturated wetlands (such as baygalls or bayheads) which may be sloping or flat and occur near coastal plain rivers, streams, and streamheads. Some types occur over peats or other sapric soil types. Occurrences expand or contract in size under different fire regimes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Saturated evergreen shrub wetlands which are found on slopes, lakeshores and pondshores, depressions, and flats, especially pocosins. These shrublands are dominated or codominated by Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex coriacea, and sometimes Cliftonia monophylla (within its range).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Includes vegetation of the Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains. Pocosins are most common in North Carolina, but this alliance also occurs in other wetlands.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Dense evergreen shrubland, with only very widely scattered trees, and sparse patchy herb layer.
Floristics: Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex coriacea, and Cliftonia monophylla (within its range) are characteristic. Other shrubs are characteristic as well (though some are absent in portions of the alliance''s distribution), including Alnus serrulata, Clethra alnifolia, Ilex glabra, Ilex myrtifolia, Lyonia lucida, Morella caroliniensis (= Myrica heterophylla), Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Morella inodora (= Myrica inodora), Persea palustris, Serenoa repens, Smilax laurifolia, Toxicodendron vernix, Vaccinium formosum, and Vaccinium myrsinites. In some situations, stunted Magnolia virginiana may be a component; emergent Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and/or Taxodium ascendens may be present.
Dynamics: This alliance is prone to infrequent high-intensity wildfires. During drought conditions peat may burn, drying out more peat as fires progress.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in the Outer Coastal Plain in seasonally flooded natural depression ponds, along lake- or pondshores, in pocosins on saturated mineral or organic soils, in large poorly drained sandy peat areas (such as in Florida), in seepages in rolling hill landscapes of the coastal plain (often associated with and adjacent to herbaceous seepage bogs) and in saturated wetlands (such as baygalls or bayheads) which may be sloping or flat and occur near coastal plain rivers, streams, and streamheads. Some types occur over peats or other sapric soil types.
Geographic Range: This alliance consists of evergreen shrublands of the Southeastern Coastal Plain (Atlantic Coastal Plain, East Gulf Coastal Plain, and occasionally adjacent provinces). It is found from eastern Louisiana to North Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899022
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: Based on description of old alliance A.802, but does not include all the associations from A.802, and includes two associations which were in other old alliances.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< IIC1b. High Pocosin (Allard 1990)
>< Shrub Bog (Wharton 1978)
>< Sweetbay - Swamp Tupelo / Osmunda Loamy Wet Forested Seeps (Turner et al. 1999)
>< Shrub Bog (Wharton 1978)
>< Sweetbay - Swamp Tupelo / Osmunda Loamy Wet Forested Seeps (Turner et al. 1999)
- 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.
- Christensen, N. L. 1979. Shrublands of the southeastern United States. Pages 441-449 in: R. L. Specht, editor. Ecosystems of the world. Series Publication 9A. Heathlands and related shrublands: Descriptive studies. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, New York.
- 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.
- Kologiski, R. L. 1977. The phytosociology of the Green Swamp, North Carolina. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Bulletin No. 250. 101 pp.
- LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- 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.
- Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. 1999. Ecological classification system for the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX. 95 pp. plus appendices.
- Wharton, C. H. 1978. The natural environments of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. 227 pp.