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A0943 Alnus serrulata Rocky Floodplain Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes temporarily flooded shrub thickets in the Appalachians and Interior Highlands characterized by high-energy flooding events along rivers and streams on rocky shoals and gravel bars. Alnus serrulata is characteristic.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Hazel Alder Rocky Floodplain Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Hazel Alder Rocky Riverine Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes temporarily flooded shrub thickets characterized by high-energy flooding events along rivers and streams on rocky shoals and gravel bars in the Appalachians and Interior Highlands. Alnus serrulata is characteristic; other common species include Cephalanthus occidentalis, Cornus amomum, Cornus obliqua, Cornus foemina, Hypericum prolificum, Lyonia ligustrina, Viburnum nudum, Physocarpus opulifolius, Amorpha fruticosa, Xanthorhiza simplicissima, and others.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Alnus serrulata occurring on high-energy rivershores, often flood-battered.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is broadly defined and highly variable in composition due to the dynamic processes influencing it.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands are dominated by tall broadleaf deciduous shrubs.

Floristics: Stands of this alliance are dominated by Alnus serrulata. Other common species include Cephalanthus occidentalis, Cornus amomum, Cornus obliqua (= Cornus amomum ssp. obliqua), Cornus foemina, Hypericum prolificum, Lyonia ligustrina, Viburnum nudum, Physocarpus opulifolius, Amorpha fruticosa, Xanthorhiza simplicissima, and others. Some herbaceous associates may include Osmunda regalis, Decodon verticillatus, Utricularia spp., Limnobium spongia, Oxypolis rigidior, Chelone glabra, and Cicuta bulbifera.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands of this alliance are found along rivers and streams on rocky shoals and gravel bars.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Southern Blue Ridge, Ozarks, Ouachitas, Cumberland Plateau, High Allegheny and Western Allegheny plateaus, and the northern Ridge and Valley.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC, NH, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.3 Eastern North American Wet Shoreline Vegetation Macrogroup M880 2.C.4.Nd.3
Group 2.C.4.Nd.3.a Eastern North American Riverine Wetland Vegetation Group G755 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Alliance A0943 Hazel Alder Rocky Floodplain Shrubland Alliance A0943 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL003894 Hazel Alder Interior Wet Shrubland CEGL003894 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL003895 Hazel Alder - Yellowroot Wet Shrubland CEGL003895 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL006251 Hazel Alder - Common Ninebark Wet Shrubland CEGL006251 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL008494 Bushy St. John''s-wort - Hazel Alder / Alabama Warbonnet - Tennessee Yellow-eyed-grass Wet Shrubland CEGL008494 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL008495 Bushy St. John''s-wort - Hazel Alder / Eastern Gamagrass Wet Shrubland CEGL008495 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Concept Lineage: Essentially the same description as A.943 except for removal of coastal plain from the range.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Alnus/Xanthorhiza rocky stream margin (Newell and Peet 1995)
? IIE3a. Riverside Shoal and Stream Bar Complex (Allard 1990)
>< Mountain River (Wharton 1978)
Concept Author(s): D.J. Allard, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: L. Sneddon and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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