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A3627 Quercus laurifolia - Liquidambar styraciflua - Nyssa biflora Coastal Plain Floodplain Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These are small stream floodplain and related forests, dominated by some combination of Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus nigra, and Quercus phellos, possibly with Pinus taeda.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Laurel Oak - Sweetgum - Swamp Tupelo Coastal Plain Floodplain Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Oak - Sweetgum - Tupelo Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: Stands of this stream floodplain alliance are dominated by some combination of Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus nigra, and Quercus phellos, possibly with Pinus taeda. Other tree and shrub taxa that may be present include Betula nigra, Carya aquatica, Quercus texana, and Taxodium distichum. In addition, Asimina triloba may be prominent in the understory with Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus foemina, Crataegus marshallii, Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus viridis, Ilex decidua, Ilex opaca, and other species. Patches of Arundinaria gigantea and Sabal minor are occasional in the shrub layer. Herbaceous taxa may include Carex abscondita, Leersia virginica, and Symphyotrichum lanceolatum. This alliance is found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Virginia to Texas, and north in the interior to Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is best documented in South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The habitats for vegetation of this alliance include small stream floodplains, active floodplains and in relict stream sloughs, narrow floodplains along medium-sized streams, and poorly drained to moderately well-drained silt loam soils of ridges of associated river floodplains.
Diagnostic Characteristics: These coastal plain mixed oak-hardwood associations seem to be united by their composition, which tends to be mixed, lacking strong dominance by either Quercus species or Nyssa species, but being of mixed composition.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There is some possible overlap or confusion between ~Quercus laurifolia - Quercus phellos - Pinus taeda Coastal Plain Riparian Forest Alliance (A3628)$$ and ~Quercus laurifolia - Liquidambar styraciflua - Nyssa biflora Coastal Plain Floodplain Forest Alliance (A3627)$$. The former alliance seems to be more oriented to the East Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains and more likely in "blackwater" habitats, and the latter alliance is more oriented to the West Gulf Coastal Plain. These two may require some review and adjustment in their concepts and memberships.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this stream floodplain alliance are dominated by some combination of Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus nigra, and Quercus phellos, possibly with Pinus taeda. Other tree and shrub taxa that may be present include Betula nigra, Carya aquatica, Quercus texana, and Taxodium distichum. In addition, Asimina triloba may be prominent in the understory with Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus foemina, Crataegus marshallii, Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus viridis, Ilex decidua, Ilex opaca, and other species. Patches of Arundinaria gigantea and Sabal minor are occasional in the shrub layer. Herbaceous taxa may include Carex abscondita, Leersia virginica, and Symphyotrichum lanceolatum.
Dynamics: These forests develop following disturbance, natural and artificial, and may persist.
Environmental Description: These forests are found on slightly elevated ridges of floodplains primarily in the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Virginia to Texas, and north in the interior to Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is best documented in South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, particularly in the West Gulf Coastal Plain.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, FL?, GA, LA, MS?, NC?, OK, SC, TX, VA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899685
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: The components of this alliance come from a variety of old alliances: A.280 (1/ ), A.292 (3/ ), A.316 (1/ ), A.433 (1/ ),A.437 (1/ )
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< IIA8c. Lowland Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
>< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
>< Loblolly Pine - Hardwood: 82 (Eyre 1980)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- 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.
- Jones, S. M., D. H. Van Lear, and S. K. Cox. 1981b. Major forest community types of the Savannah River Plant: A field guide. USDE Savannah River Plant, National Environmental Research Park Program. Report No. SRO-NERP-9. 79 pp. plus 24 illustrations.
- Jones, S. M., and L. A. Churchill. 1987. The use of vegetation in assessing site potential within the upper coastal plain of South Carolina. Castanea 52:1-8.
- Pederson, N., and R. H. Jones. 1994. Disturbance history and establishment of loblolly pine in the Congaree Swamp. Unpublished report. USDI National Park Service, Congaree Swamp National Monument. 42 pp.