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A3342 Taxodium ascendens / Rhynchospora careyana - Panicum rigidulum Swamp Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This Southeastern Coastal Plain alliance is dominated by Taxodium ascendens, but sometimes with lesser amounts of Pinus serotina, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, or Nyssa biflora. Ilex myrtifolia may be common in the understory, which occurs in seasonally flooded depressional wetlands, including dome swamps, swales near the coast and clay-based Carolina bays.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pond-cypress / Broad-fruit Horned Beaksedge - Redtop Panicgrass Swamp Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Pond-cypress Depression Swamp Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: The canopy is open (to closed, or scattered) and dominated by Taxodium ascendens, but sometimes with lesser amounts of Pinus serotina, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii or Nyssa biflora. Ilex myrtifolia may be common in the understory. The herbaceous stratum is normally dense, and is extremely variable in dominance from site to site, spatially within each site, and from year to year (depending on hydrologic conditions). Typical dominants include Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum, Andropogon capillipes, Andropogon glaucopsis, Andropogon virginicus, Aristida palustris, Boltonia asteroides, Coelorachis rugosa, Coreopsis nudata, Dichanthelium erectifolium, Dichanthelium scoparium, Dichanthelium wrightianum, Eriocaulon compressum, Eupatorium leucolepis, Euthamia caroliniana, Hypericum myrtifolium, Juncus polycephalos, Lachnanthes caroliana, Leersia hexandra, Lobelia floridana, Ludwigia pilosa, Oxypolis filiformis, Panicum hemitomon, Panicum rigidulum var. combsii, Panicum verrucosum, Pinguicula planifolia, Pluchea rosea, Polygala cymosa, Rhexia aristosa, Rhexia virginica, Rhynchospora careyana, Rhynchospora corniculata, Rhynchospora filifolia, Rhynchospora filifolia, Rhynchospora perplexa, Sabatia bartramii, Scleria baldwinii, Scleria georgiana, Scleria reticularis, and Xyris spp. This community type occurs in seasonally flooded depressional wetlands, including dome swamps, swales near the coast and clay-based Carolina bays.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are depressions which are prone to longer periods of flooding, and perhaps deeper water depths than some of the other pond-cypress swamps (G036). Many examples are dominated by graminoid plants, which tolerate variable durations of flooding.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance has an open-canopy woodland structure and species-rich herbaceous layer. It requires fire and grades into vegetation of wetter and more fire-protected sites.

Floristics: The canopy is open (to closed, or scattered) and dominated by Taxodium ascendens, but sometimes with lesser amounts of Pinus serotina, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii or Nyssa biflora. Ilex myrtifolia may be common in the understory. The herbaceous stratum is normally dense, and is extremely variable in dominance from site to site, spatially within each site, and from year to year (depending on hydrologic conditions). Typical dominants include Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum, Andropogon capillipes, Andropogon glaucopsis, Andropogon virginicus, Aristida palustris, Boltonia asteroides, Coelorachis rugosa, Coreopsis nudata, Dichanthelium erectifolium, Dichanthelium scoparium, Dichanthelium wrightianum, Eriocaulon compressum, Eupatorium leucolepis, Euthamia caroliniana, Hypericum myrtifolium, Juncus polycephalos, Lachnanthes caroliana, Leersia hexandra, Lobelia floridana, Ludwigia pilosa, Oxypolis filiformis, Panicum hemitomon, Panicum rigidulum var. combsii, Panicum verrucosum, Pinguicula planifolia, Pluchea rosea, Polygala cymosa, Rhexia aristosa, Rhexia virginica, Rhynchospora careyana, Rhynchospora corniculata, Rhynchospora filifolia, Rhynchospora filifolia, Rhynchospora perplexa, Sabatia bartramii, Scleria baldwinii, Scleria georgiana, Scleria reticularis, and Xyris spp.

Dynamics:  A frequent fire regime will maintain the open herbaceous layer and reduce hardwood trees and shrubs as well. Large year-to-year variations in the amount and duration of flooding serve to promote herbaceous cover and diversity, and limit the survival of tree seedlings, which helps maintain the open woodland physiognomy.
Environmental Description:  This community type occurs in seasonally flooded depressional wetlands, including dome swamps, swales near the coast and clay-based Carolina bays. These sites are found in relatively flat basins where woodland structure is favored.
Geographic Range: Occurs in the Southeastern Coastal Plain from eastern North Carolina to Florida and west to southern Mississippi.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC


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.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F026 1.B.3
Division 1.B.3.Nb Southeastern North American Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D062 1.B.3.Nb
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Nb.1 Pond-cypress - Slash Pine Swamp Macrogroup M161 1.B.3.Nb.1
Group 1.B.3.Nb.1.a Pond-cypress / Holly species Basin Swamp Group G036 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3342 Pond-cypress / Broad-fruit Horned Beaksedge - Redtop Panicgrass Swamp Forest Alliance A3342 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL003733 Pond-cypress / Maidencane - Tall Pinebarren Milkwort Swamp Woodland CEGL003733 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004090 Pond-cypress / Longleaf Three-awn Swamp Woodland CEGL004090 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004768 Slash Pine - Pond-cypress Swamp Woodland CEGL004768 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004959 Pond-cypress / Myrtle Dahoon / Myrtleleaf St. John''s-wort - Florida Lobelia - Tall Pinebarren Milkwort Swamp Woodland CEGL004959 1.B.3.Nb.1.a
Concept Lineage: A.651 in part

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Cypress Forests (Gunderson and Loftus 1993)
? Cypress Prairie (Gunderson and Loftus 1993)
? Dwarf Cypress (Gunderson and Loftus 1993)
? Hatrack Cypress (Gunderson and Loftus 1993)
? IIB2a. Pond Cypress Savanna (Allard 1990)
? Open-canopy ("Hatrack") Cypress Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
>< Pondcypress: 100 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman and A.S. Weakley

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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