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A3594 Taxodium distichum - Nyssa aquatica - Nyssa biflora Floodplain Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These floodplain forests are dominated by Taxodium distichum and usually one or more of the following: Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, and/or Nyssa ogeche, occurring in the Southeastern Coastal Plain from Virginia south to Florida, west to eastern Texas, and in the Mississippi River alluvial valley north to southern Illinois.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bald-cypress - Water Tupelo - Swamp Tupelo Floodplain Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southern Bald-cypress - Tupelo Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Examples of this alliance are floodplain forests, with a variety of hydrologic flooding regimes. Stands occur in the Southeastern Coastal Plain from Virginia south to Florida, west to eastern Texas, and in the Mississippi River alluvial valley north to southern Illinois. These forests are dominated by Taxodium distichum and usually one or more of the following: Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, and/or Nyssa ogeche. Other characteristic woody species include Acer rubrum, Carya aquatica, Forestiera acuminata, Fraxinus caroliniana, Ilex decidua, Liquidambar styraciflua, Planera aquatica, Populus heterophylla, Quercus laurifolia, and Quercus lyrata. Herbaceous and vine species that may be present include Nekemias arborea, Boehmeria cylindrica, Campsis radicans, Carex bromoides, Carex intumescens, Commelina communis, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Justicia ovata, Leersia lenticularis, Ludwigia palustris, Mikania scandens, Onoclea sensibilis, Phanopyrum gymnocarpon, Pilea pumila, Saururus cernuus, and Smilax tamnoides. Stands dominated by Planera aquatica and Forestiera acuminata are included here rather than being placed in a separate alliance, despite their slightly different stature.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These are primarily coastal plain floodplain forests dominated by Taxodium distichum and usually one or more of the following: Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, and/or Nyssa ogeche. Examples dominated by Planera aquatica and Forestiera acuminata are also included.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Nyssa-dominated forests are separated from mixed Nyssa-Taxodium forests, but are not strictly separated by flooding regime (temporary, seasonal, semipermanent). Description information is primarily from the old alliance Taxodium distichum - Nyssa (aquatica, biflora, ogeche) Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance (A.337). Stands dominated by Planera aquatica and Forestiera acuminata are included here rather than being placed in a separate alliance, despite their slightly different stature.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The canopy layer in these forests often is dense. The subcanopy, shrub and herbaceous layers range from sparse to moderate. Vines will typically be present and may be abundant. Some stands dominated by Planera aquatica and Forestiera acuminata are included as well.
Floristics: These forests are dominated by Taxodium distichum and usually one or more of the following: Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, and/or Nyssa ogeche. Other characteristic woody species include Acer rubrum, Betula nigra, Carya aquatica, Forestiera acuminata, Fraxinus caroliniana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ilex decidua, Liquidambar styraciflua, Planera aquatica, Populus heterophylla, Quercus laurifolia, and Quercus lyrata. Stands dominated by Planera aquatica and Forestiera acuminata are included here rather than being placed in a separate alliance, despite their slightly different stature. Herbaceous and vine species that may be present include Nekemias arborea (= Ampelopsis arborea), Boehmeria cylindrica, Campsis radicans, Carex bromoides, Carex intumescens, Commelina communis, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Justicia ovata, Leersia lenticularis, Ludwigia palustris, Mikania scandens, Onoclea sensibilis, Phanopyrum gymnocarpon (= Panicum gymnocarpon), Pilea pumila, Saururus cernuus, and Smilax tamnoides (= Smilax hispida).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Examples of this alliance are floodplain forests, with a variety of hydrologic flooding regimes.
Geographic Range: These forests are found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Delaware and Virginia south and west to Texas, with some associations ranging north in the interior to the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri and the Interior Low Plateau of southern Indiana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899652
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: Members are from a variety of old alliances, but primarily from A.337 (7/7) as well as A.280 (1/10), A.345 (3/5), A.346 (2/3), A.355 (1/2). "Shrub" alliances A.326 (1/1) and A.1012 (1/1) also contributed members.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Forestiera acuminata - Cephalanthus occidentalis shrubland alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
>< Baldcypress / Ceratophyllum Semi-Permanently Flooded Swamps (Turner et al. 1999)
>< IIA4b. Bald Cypress - Water Tupelo Swamp (Allard 1990)
? Water Elm / Justicia Clayey Intermittently Exposed Swamps (Turner et al. 1999)
>< Baldcypress / Ceratophyllum Semi-Permanently Flooded Swamps (Turner et al. 1999)
>< IIA4b. Bald Cypress - Water Tupelo Swamp (Allard 1990)
? Water Elm / Justicia Clayey Intermittently Exposed Swamps (Turner et al. 1999)
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