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A3592 Acer rubrum - Gleditsia aquatica - Fraxinus profunda Swamp Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This bottomland forest vegetation is found in the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain of the United States and adjacent riverine areas, on seasonally flooded bottomlands along rivers and large streams; examples are dominated by a combination of Acer rubrum, Gleditsia aquatica, and Fraxinus profunda.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Maple - Water-locust - Pumpkin Ash Swamp Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Maple - Ash Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This bottomland forest vegetation is found in the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain of the United States and adjacent riverine areas. Stands are dominated by a combination of Acer rubrum, Gleditsia aquatica, and Fraxinus profunda. In addition, Acer saccharinum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus bicolor, Quercus lyrata, and Ulmus rubra may occur as well. The shrub layer can include a diverse mixture, including Cephalanthus occidentalis, Forestiera acuminata, and Ilex decidua, but Itea virginica is characteristic. The herbaceous layer is usually well-developed, displaying a preponderance of plant species of bottomland habitats, including Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex spp., Glyceria spp., Juncus spp., Laportea canadensis, Leersia spp., and Pilea pumila. Vitis spp. are characteristic vines of this community, but Toxicodendron radicans and Campsis radicans are also prominent. Stands occur on the seasonally flooded bottomlands along rivers and large streams. Soils which support this forest are predominantly medium- and fine-textured, level or nearly level soils that formed in water-deposited clayey, slowly permeable, alluvial sediments in slackwater areas of floodplains. The water regime is characterized by seasonal shallow flooding, although hydrologic conditions are often extremely variable.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These forests of the south-central United States have Gleditsia aquatica and Fraxinus profunda as characteristic and usually dominant components.
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: These are closed-canopy forests that can develop considerable stature (over 40 m in height), with generally well-developed understory and shrub strata, and well-developed herbaceous strata dominated by plant species of bottomland habitats.
Floristics: Stands are dominated by a combination of Acer rubrum, Gleditsia aquatica, and Fraxinus profunda. In addition Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus bicolor, Quercus lyrata, and Ulmus rubra may occur as well. Populus heterophylla is an uncommon associate and Quercus texana may occur within its range. Carya aquatica is more likely to be abundant or dominant in the wetter sites. Other canopy species commonly encountered include Acer saccharinum, Celtis laevigata, Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus profunda, Liquidambar styraciflua, Planera aquatica, Quercus bicolor, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus palustris, Quercus phellos, Taxodium distichum, and Ulmus americana. The individuals of Quercus spp. are generally of medium height, while Liquidambar styraciflua may reach 45 m in height with tall, straight trunks which are clear of branches for much of their height. The understory is well-developed (75-100%) and dominated by Crataegus viridis and Ulmus americana. Other common understory and shrub associates include Carpinus caroliniana, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Cornus foemina (= Cornus stricta), Crataegus viridis, Forestiera acuminata, Ilex decidua, and Itea virginica, with Itea virginica being characteristic. Vines are often quite dense and include Brunnichia ovata (= Brunnichia cirrhosa), Campsis radicans, Toxicodendron radicans, and Vitis palmata. Species composition and density of the herbaceous stratum vary with geography and frequency of flooding. Commonly encountered herbaceous species include Acmella oppositifolia var. repens (= Spilanthes americana), Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex intumescens, Carex joorii, Diodia virginiana, Gratiola virginiana, Justicia ovata, Laportea canadensis, Leersia lenticularis, Lobelia cardinalis, Ludwigia palustris, Mikania scandens, Onoclea sensibilis, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Penstemon alluviorum, Pilea pumila, Saururus cernuus, and Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (= Aster lateriflorus).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Sites which support stands of this alliance have level or nearly level soils that formed in water-deposited clayey or loamy sediments on low, wet, seasonally flooded floodplains of the Mississippi and other rivers, as well as large perennial streams in the Gulf Coastal Plain. These soils are deep, fine- to very fine-textured (clays) of the Orders Ultisol and Vertisol and have excessive moisture available for vegetation during the growing season (hydric). Sites are flooded or saturated for a significant portion of the growing season, and water may be ponded for most of the year in shallow depressions. Flooding can reach 1 m (Robertson et al. 1984). Flooding occurs during the winter and spring and often extends into the growing season. Occasional prolonged deep flooding causes increased tree mortality, creating openings which are quickly recolonized after the water recedes (Johnson and Bell 1976).
Geographic Range: Vegetation of this alliance is found primarily in the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain from Illinois south to Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as in riverine areas of the Interior Low Plateau of Kentucky, the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri, and possibly the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN?, KY, LA, MO, MS, TN?, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899650
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.4 Swamp Chestnut Oak - Bald-cypress - Pecan Southern Floodplain Forest Macrogroup | M031 | 1.B.3.Nb.4 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo Floodplain Forest Group | G033 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
| Alliance | A3592 Red Maple - Water-locust - Pumpkin Ash Swamp Forest Alliance | A3592 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
| Association | CEGL002422 Red Maple - Water-locust - Planertree - Pumpkin Ash Swamp Forest | CEGL002422 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
| Association | CEGL007229 Red Maple - (Pumpkin Ash) / Dwarf Palmetto Swamp Forest | CEGL007229 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
| Association | CEGL007426 Water-locust - Water Hickory Swamp Forest | CEGL007426 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.c |
Concept Lineage: A.316, A.328
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Acer rubrum - Nyssa aquatica forest (Robertson et al. 1984)
? Acer rubrum forest alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
? Floodplain Forest (FNAI 1992a)
? Floodplain Forest, Overcup Oak/Water Hickory Flat subtype (FNAI 1992b)
? IIA5a. Overcup Oak - Water Hickory Bottomland Forest (Allard 1990)
>< Overcup Oak - Water Hickory: 96 (Eyre 1980)
? Overcup Oak / Justicia Clayey/Loamy Seasonally Flooded Low River Floodplains (Turner et al. 1999)
>< P1B3cI. Quercus lyrata (Foti et al. 1994)
? P1B3cI4a. Quercus lyrata - Quercus nuttallii (= Q. texana) - Liquidambar styraciflua (Foti et al. 1994)
? P1B3cVII14b. Quercus phellos - Quercus palustris - Quercus lyrata (Foti et al. 1994)
? Red maple-green ash (Wharton et al. 1982)
? Acer rubrum forest alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
? Floodplain Forest (FNAI 1992a)
? Floodplain Forest, Overcup Oak/Water Hickory Flat subtype (FNAI 1992b)
? IIA5a. Overcup Oak - Water Hickory Bottomland Forest (Allard 1990)
>< Overcup Oak - Water Hickory: 96 (Eyre 1980)
? Overcup Oak / Justicia Clayey/Loamy Seasonally Flooded Low River Floodplains (Turner et al. 1999)
>< P1B3cI. Quercus lyrata (Foti et al. 1994)
? P1B3cI4a. Quercus lyrata - Quercus nuttallii (= Q. texana) - Liquidambar styraciflua (Foti et al. 1994)
? P1B3cVII14b. Quercus phellos - Quercus palustris - Quercus lyrata (Foti et al. 1994)
? Red maple-green ash (Wharton et al. 1982)
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