Print Report
A3628 Quercus laurifolia - Quercus phellos - Pinus taeda Coastal Plain Riparian Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These are mixed hardwood floodplain forests dominated by Quercus laurifolia, Quercus nigra, and/or Quercus phellos, with Liquidambar styraciflua and/or Pinus taeda, found in blackwater and similar rivers of the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States and related small stream floodplains west of the Mississippi River.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Laurel Oak - Willow Oak - Loblolly Pine Coastal Plain Riparian Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southeat Coastal Plain Oak - Pine Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance covers mixed hardwood floodplain forests primarily of blackwater and similar rivers of the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States and related small stream floodplains west of the Mississippi River. Stands are dominated by any combination of Quercus laurifolia, Quercus nigra, and/or Quercus phellos, possibly with Liquidambar styraciflua and/or Pinus taeda. Other tree species that may be found in examples include Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Chamaecyparis thyoides, Crataegus aestivalis, Ilex opaca, Nyssa biflora, Persea palustris, Pinus glabra, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus virginiana, Taxodium ascendens, and Taxodium distichum. Shrubs and herbs that may be present include Arundinaria gigantea, Justicia ovata, Sabal minor, and Vaccinium elliottii.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The coastal plain mixed oak-hardwood associations of this alliance seem to be united by their composition, which tends to have dominance by Quercus species, particularly Quercus laurifolia, with Pinus taeda codominance in some cases. Nyssa species are generally a minor component.
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 are dominated by any combination of Quercus laurifolia, Quercus nigra, and/or Quercus phellos, possibly with Liquidambar styraciflua and/or Pinus taeda. Other tree species that may be found in examples include Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Chamaecyparis thyoides, Crataegus aestivalis, Ilex opaca, Nyssa biflora, Persea palustris, Pinus glabra, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus virginiana, Taxodium ascendens, and Taxodium distichum. Shrubs that may be present include Arundinaria gigantea, Crataegus marshallii, Cyrilla racemiflora, Hypericum galioides, Hypericum hypericoides, Eubotrys racemosa (= Leucothoe racemosa), Rhododendron canescens, Sabal minor, Ditrysinia fruticosa (= Sebastiania fruticosa), Styrax americanus, and Vaccinium elliottii. Vines include Berchemia scandens and Vitis rotundifolia. Herbs may include Carex joorii, Chasmanthium laxum, Justicia ovata, Mitchella repens, Osmunda cinnamomea, and Saccharum baldwinii.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Vegetation in this alliance occurs on natural levees and on infrequently flooded flats in floodplains of coastal plain streams, both blackwater and brownwater.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found primarily in the Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains from North Carolina (and possibly Virginia) south and west to Louisiana, also in the West Gulf Coastal Plain from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as in the adjacent Piedmont and in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Plain. It appears to be more well-distributed in the Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TX, VA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899686
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: Unifies associations from many alliances A. 280 (1/ ); A.292 (3/ ); A.323 (1/ ); A.327 (2/ ); A.431 (1/ ); A.437 (4/ );
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Floodplain Forest (FNAI 1992a)
? Floodplain Forest, Diamondleaf Oak/Spruce Pine Flat subtype (FNAI 1992b)
>< IIA8c. Lowland Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
? Swamp chestnut oak-cherrybark oak-spruce pine (Wharton et al. 1982)
? Floodplain Forest, Diamondleaf Oak/Spruce Pine Flat subtype (FNAI 1992b)
>< IIA8c. Lowland Pine - Oak Forest (Allard 1990)
? Swamp chestnut oak-cherrybark oak-spruce pine (Wharton et al. 1982)
- 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.
- Ewel, K. C. 1990a. Multiple demands on wetlands. BioScience 40:660-666.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1992a. Natural communities. Unpublished document. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 6 pp.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1992b. Natural community classification. Unpublished document. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 16 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.
- Wharton, C. H., W. M. Kitchens, E. C. Pendleton, and T. W. Sipe. 1982. The ecology of bottomland hardwood swamps of the Southeast: A community profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services. FWS/OBS-81/37. Washington, DC.