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A3633 Quercus phellos Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These floodplain swamp forests are found in the Piedmont and adjacent Atlantic Coastal Plain and Chesapeake Bay regions from New Jersey to Mississippi; their canopies are typically dominated by one or more of the following species: Quercus laurifolia (in the coastal plains) Quercus palustris (only from Virginia to New Jersey), and/or Quercus phellos.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Willow Oak Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Piedmont Willow Oak Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is found in the Piedmont and adjacent Atlantic Coastal Plain and Chesapeake Bay regions from New Jersey to Mississippi. Depending on the location of an example within this range, canopies are typically dominated by one or more of the following species: Quercus laurifolia (in the coastal plains) Quercus palustris (only from Virginia to New Jersey), and/or Quercus phellos. Other tree species characteristic of forests in this alliance include Acer rubrum, Betula nigra, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, and Ulmus americana. Acer rubrum and Liquidambar styraciflua may increase with disturbance. Stands occur in seasonally flooded portions of active floodplains that periodically receive overbank flooding and hold water into the growing season.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
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: These are generally closed-canopy floodplain swamp forests. The subcanopy layer is often well-developed; the shrub and herbaceous layers usually are sparse.
Floristics: Depending on the location of an example within this large range, canopies are typically dominated by one or more of the following species: Quercus laurifolia (in the coastal plains) Quercus palustris (only from Virginia to New Jersey), and/or Quercus phellos. Other tree species characteristic of forests in this alliance include Acer rubrum, Betula nigra, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus pagoda, and Ulmus americana, and (to the south) Fraxinus caroliniana, Nyssa biflora, Quercus nigra, and Taxodium distichum. The subcanopy layer is often well-developed; Carpinus caroliniana is common. Vines are prominent and species include Apios americana, Bignonia capreolata, Campsis radicans, Parthenocissus quinquefolia (= var. quinquefolia), Smilax bona-nox, Smilax glauca (= var. glauca), Smilax rotundifolia, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, and Vitis rotundifolia. The usually sparse shrub and herbaceous layers include Asimina triloba, Ilex decidua, Itea virginica, Justicia ovata, Proserpinaca pectinata, Sabal minor, and Saururus cernuus. The exotics Ligustrum sinense, Lonicera japonica, and Microstegium vimineum may be common in examples of this alliance.
Dynamics: Some of the vegetation placed here may have had its composition affected by the planting or spread from plantings of Pinus taeda.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in seasonally flooded portions of active floodplains that periodically receive overbank flooding. It is fairly common on small stream floodplains and creek bottoms.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Piedmont and adjacent Atlantic Coastal Plain and Chesapeake Bay regions from New Jersey to Mississippi.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, DC, DE, GA, MD, NC, NJ, PA, SC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899691
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.287 (1/ ); A.327 (2/ ); A.437 (1/ ). This is primarily the Piedmont portion of A.327 with two additional associations.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.
- Beckett, S., and M. S. Golden. 1982. Forest vegetation and vascular flora of Reed Brake Research Natural Area, Alabama. Castanea 48:368-392.
- 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.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- 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.