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A3343 Acer rubrum - Liriodendron tulipifera Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These successional bottomland, floodplain and ruderal wetland forests are dominated by trees such as Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, and on wetter sites Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Salix nigra, and even Taxodium distichum in areas which have long hydroperiods. It occurs in the south-central and southeastern United States.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Maple - Tuliptree Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Native Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These broad-leaved deciduous forests are successional or ruderal and occur in wetlands, bottomlands, and temporarily or seasonally flooded riparian areas. They are dominated by trees such as Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, and on wetter sites Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Salix nigra, and even Taxodium distichum in areas which have long hydroperiods. Exotic trees can be present, but are not dominant in these ruderal wetlands, including Albizia julibrissin, Melia azedarach, Morus alba, and in the Gulf Coastal Plain Triadica sebifera. A shrub midstory is typical, mostly of broad-leaved, deciduous shrubs. In general there are more broad-leaved, evergreen shrubs further south and closer to the coast. Morella cerifera is a very common nitrogen-fixing shrub in the Southern Coastal Plain. Herbaceous species are sparse, but can include certain ferns, graminoids and forbs. Understory exotic plants (of various growth forms) such as Ligustrum sinense, Lonicera japonica, and Microstegium vimineum commonly occur in forests of this alliance. This alliance occurs in the south-central and southeastern United States. The many different kinds of sites have varied duration and depth of flooding.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These wetland and bottomland ruderal successional forests are broad-leaved deciduous and are dominated by trees such as Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, and on wetter sites Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Salix nigra, and even Taxodium distichum in areas which have long hydroperiods.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These deciduous forests are separated from wetland and floodplain pine - mixed hardwood ruderal forests.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are broad-leaved deciduous forests.

Floristics: These ruderal successional forests are broad-leaved deciduous and are dominated by trees such as Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, and on wetter sites Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Salix nigra, and even Taxodium distichum in areas which have long hydroperiods. Other common tree species include Acer negundo, Arundinaria gigantea (= ssp. gigantea), Betula nigra, Cornus florida, Ilex opaca, Magnolia virginiana, Morus rubra, Platanus occidentalis, Populus deltoides, Populus heterophylla, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, and Salix caroliniana. Exotic trees can be present, but are not dominant in these ruderal wetlands, including Albizia julibrissin, Melia azedarach, Morus alba, and in the Gulf Coastal Plain Triadica sebifera. A shrub midstory is typical, mostly of broad-leaved deciduous shrubs. In general there are more broad-leaved evergreen shrubs further south and closer to the coast. Morella cerifera is a very common nitrogen-fixing shrub in the Southern Coastal Plain. Other shrubs of this alliance include Asimina triloba, Clethra alnifolia, Lindera benzoin, Persea palustris, Vaccinium elliottii, Vaccinium formosum, and Vaccinium fuscatum. Native lianas include Bignonia capreolata, Campsis radicans, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax rotundifolia, Smilax glauca, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, and Vitis spp. Herbaceous species are sparse, but can include the ferns Asplenium platyneuron, Botrychium virginianum, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Polystichum acrostichoides, and Woodwardia virginica. Graminoids and forbs may also be present and are more abundant in canopy gaps or following disturbance such as windthrow or logging. Understory exotic plants (of various growth forms) such as Ligustrum sinense, Lonicera japonica, and Microstegium vimineum commonly occur in forests of this alliance.

Dynamics:  These forests are successional or ruderal and occur in wetlands, bottomlands, and temporarily or seasonally flooded riparian areas. The sites where it occurs have a history of disturbance, such as bottomland old fields, bottomlands and floodplains that have been cut over in the past, former impoundments, and other successional bottomland or floodplain sites. Beaver activity may be a driver of the vegetation dynamics at sites where beavers occur, especially outside the range of alligators.
Environmental Description:  These forests are successional or ruderal and occur in wetlands, bottomlands, and temporarily or seasonally flooded riparian areas. The many different kinds of sites have varied duration and depth of flooding.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in warm temperate areas in the south-central and southeastern United States, from New Jersey south to Florida, and west to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OK, SC, TN, VA, WV


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

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.90 Red Maple - Tuliptree - Sugarberry Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup M310 1.B.3.Nb.90
Group 1.B.3.Nb.90.a Red Maple - Loblolly Pine - Sweetgum Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Group G553 1.B.3.Nb.90.a
Alliance A3343 Red Maple - Tuliptree Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Alliance A3343 1.B.3.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL007330 Sweetgum - (Tuliptree) Ruderal Wet Forest CEGL007330 1.B.3.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL007411 Black Willow / (Coastal Sweet-pepperbush, Wax-myrtle) / Water Tupelo Ruderal Wet Forest CEGL007411 1.B.3.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL007437 Black Willow / Wax-myrtle Ruderal Wet Forest CEGL007437 1.B.3.Nb.90.a
Association CEGL007445 Carolina Red Maple - (Swamp Tupelo) / Coastal Sweet-pepperbush - (Swamp Bay) Ruderal Wet Forest CEGL007445 1.B.3.Nb.90.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sweetgum - Yellow Poplar 87 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: This alliance is similar to the Society of America Foresters concept applied by F.H. Eyre in 1980, whose work is gratefully acknowledged.

Version Date: 03-14-14
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
  • 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.