Print Report
A3625 Liquidambar styraciflua - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Acer rubrum Flooded & Swamp Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This bottomland forest vegetation is dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with or without some combination of Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Acer rubrum as codominants. These are communities of a range of hydrologies, from temporarily flooded to seasonally flooded, found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Virginia to Georgia and west to Arkansas and possibly Louisiana, and north in the interior to the Ouachita Mountains and Ozarks of Arkansas.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sweetgum - Green Ash - Red Maple Flooded & Swamp Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southeast Coastal Sweetgum - Green Ash Flooded & Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Stands of this southeastern bottomland forest alliance are dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with or without some combination of Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Acer rubrum as codominants. Some examples will contain Liriodendron tulipifera, Ulmus americana, or other mesic hardwoods. Canopy and subcanopy associates vary with geography and substrate, but may include Acer floridanum, Aesculus sylvatica, Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Carya cordiformis, Cornus florida, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Morus rubra var. rubra, Nyssa sylvatica, Ostrya virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Pinus echinata, Platanus occidentalis, Prunus serotina var. serotina, Quercus alba, Quercus nigra, Ulmus alata, and Ulmus rubra. Longer hydroperiod examples will probably contain Fraxinus pennsylvanica, along with Cornus foemina, Planera aquatica, Quercus lyrata, Quercus palustris, Quercus phellos, and Salix nigra. This alliance includes communities of a range of hydrologies, from temporarily flooded to seasonally flooded, found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Virginia to Georgia and west to Arkansas and possibly Louisiana, and north in the interior to the Ouachita Mountains and Ozarks of Arkansas.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These are bottomland and floodplain communities found across the southeastern United States, dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and Acer rubrum, and possibly with Liriodendron tulipifera, Ulmus americana, etc. This is in contrast to other alliances in this group which are Quercus-dominated.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The alliance includes communities of a range of hydrologies, from temporarily flooded to seasonally flooded, but with similar species composition.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands are dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with or without some combination of Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Acer rubrum as codominants. Some examples will contain Liriodendron tulipifera, Ulmus americana, or other mesic hardwoods. Canopy and subcanopy associates vary with geography and substrate, but may include Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum), Aesculus sylvatica, Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Carya cordiformis, Cornus florida, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Morus rubra var. rubra, Nyssa sylvatica, Ostrya virginiana (= var. virginiana), Oxydendrum arboreum, Pinus echinata, Platanus occidentalis, Prunus serotina var. serotina, Quercus alba, Quercus nigra, Ulmus alata, and Ulmus rubra. Longer hydroperiod examples will probably contain Fraxinus pennsylvanica, along with Cornus foemina, Planera aquatica, Quercus lyrata, Quercus palustris, Quercus phellos, and Salix nigra.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Habitats include maritime forests (forested basin swamps of dune swales on barrier islands), marl forests, as well as regular bottomlands, primarily in the coastal plains. These include somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained silty clay loam soils in temporarily flooded sloughs, low natural levees along brownwater rivers, depressions scattered in low oak flats, as well as along small or intermittent streams in the Ouachita Mountains and Ozarks.
Geographic Range: Vegetation of this alliance is found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Virginia to Georgia and west to Arkansas and possibly Louisiana, and north in the interior to the Ozarks and Ouachitas of Arkansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899683
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This alliance includes mostly members from the old A.287 (2/ ) and A.321 (3/ ), as well as one each from A.316 and A.328.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.