Print Report
A3626 Liriodendron tulipifera - Quercus alba - Liquidambar styraciflua Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These are bottomland communities of moderately wet floodplains of the lower Piedmont, extending north and west into the Chesapeake Bay region, the Cumberland Plateau and the southern Ridge and Valley, which typically contain some combination of Quercus alba, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Liquidambar styraciflua.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tuliptree - White Oak - Sweetgum Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Tuliptree - Oak - Sweetgum Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This southeastern alliance includes a variety of bottomland communities of moderately wet floodplains of the lower Piedmont, extending north and west into the Chesapeake Bay region, the Cumberland Plateau and the southern Ridge and Valley. Stands typically contain some combination of Quercus alba, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Liquidambar styraciflua. Canopy and subcanopy associates vary with geography and substrate, but may include Acer floridanum, Acer rubrum, Aesculus sylvatica, Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Carya cordiformis, Cornus florida, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Juglans nigra, Morus rubra var. rubra, Nyssa sylvatica, Ostrya virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Platanus occidentalis, Prunus serotina var. serotina, Quercus nigra, Quercus rubra var. rubra, Ulmus americana, and Ulmus rubra. Some characteristic shrubs include Arundinaria gigantea, Asimina triloba, Ilex opaca, and Lindera benzoin. Characteristic herbs include Arisaema triphyllum and Polystichum acrostichoides.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These are bottomland and floodplain communities found in the Piedmont and adjacent interior regions, dominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Liriodendron tulipifera. Some examples will have abundant Acer rubrum.
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: No Data Available
Floristics: This alliance includes a variety of bottomland communities dominated by Liquidambar styraciflua with or without some combination of Liriodendron tulipifera and Acer rubrum as codominants. 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, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Morus rubra var. rubra, Nyssa sylvatica, Ostrya virginiana (= var. virginiana), Oxydendrum arboreum, Pinus echinata, Platanus occidentalis, Prunus serotina var. serotina, Quercus alba, Quercus nigra, Quercus rubra var. rubra, Ulmus alata, Ulmus americana, and Ulmus rubra. The shrub layer often is well-developed and species include Arundinaria gigantea (= ssp. gigantea), Asimina triloba, Corylus americana, Euonymus americanus, Hamamelis virginiana, Ilex decidua, Ilex opaca, Lindera benzoin var. benzoin, Viburnum acerifolium, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Viburnum prunifolium, and Viburnum rufidulum, among others. Vines are prominent and species include Apios americana, Aristolochia serpentaria, Bignonia capreolata, Campsis radicans, Dioscorea quaternata, Gelsemium sempervirens, Parthenocissus quinquefolia (= var. quinquefolia), Passiflora lutea, Smilax bona-nox, Smilax glauca (= var. glauca), Smilax hugeri, Smilax rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, and Vitis rotundifolia. The herbaceous layer can be species-rich and will typically contain several Carex species. Common species in this layer include Arisaema triphyllum ssp. triphyllum, Asplenium platyneuron var. platyneuron, Botrychium virginianum, Carex impressinervia, Carex striatula, Carex spp., Galium circaezans, Geum canadense, Polystichum acrostichoides, Scutellaria integrifolia, Thalictrum thalictroides, and Trillium cuneatum, among many others. The exotics Ligustrum sinense, Lonicera japonica, and Microstegium vimineum may be common in examples of this alliance.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alliance includes a variety of bottomland communities of moderately wet floodplains. Soils are relatively acidic.
Geographic Range: These bottomland communities are found in the lower Piedmont, extending north and west into the Chesapeake Bay region, the Cumberland Plateau and the southern Ridge and Valley, from West Virginia south to Georgia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: DC, GA, MD, NC, SC?, TN, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899684
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.a Swamp Chestnut Oak - Laurel Oak - Sweetgum Floodplain Forest Group | G034 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Alliance | A3626 Tuliptree - White Oak - Sweetgum Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3626 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Association | CEGL004418 Sweetgum - Tuliptree / Northern Spicebush / Jack-in-the-Pulpit Floodplain Forest | CEGL004418 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
| Association | CEGL004900 Tuliptree - White Oak - (Sweetgum) / American Holly / Christmas Fern Piedmont Floodplain Forest | CEGL004900 | 1.B.3.Nb.4.a |
Concept Lineage: This is the Piedmont portion of A.287 (2/ ), with one member from A.236.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Yellow-Poplar: 57 (Eyre 1980)
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