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A3635 Nyssa biflora Swamp Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These forests are codominated by Nyssa biflora and Acer rubrum occurring on extensive peat flats in the southeastern coastal plains, in seepage-fed edges of floodplains or on slopes wet by nearly constant seepage. In these types, the acidic and organic soils are constantly saturated.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Tupelo Swamp Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Tupelo Nonriverine Seepage Flat Swamp Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These are forests codominated by Nyssa biflora and Acer rubrum occurring on extensive peat flats in the southeastern coastal plains, in seepage-fed edges of floodplains or on slopes wet by nearly constant seepage. Liriodendron tulipifera is a common woody species in these forests, as are Acer rubrum, Carpinus caroliniana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Persea palustris, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus michauxii, Pinus taeda, and Ulmus rubra. Some common dominants in the shrub layer include Ilex coriacea, Leucothoe axillaris, Lyonia lucida, Morella caroliniensis, and Toxicodendron vernix, with Arundinaria gigantea, Clethra alnifolia, Ilex glabra, Itea virginica, and Rhododendron flammeum also often present. Sphagnum spp. are common in the ground layer, as well as Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea, Carex bromoides ssp. bromoides, Hydrocotyle verticillata var. verticillata, Ludwigia palustris, Macbridea caroliniana, Mitchella repens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Sagittaria fasciculata, Saururus cernuus, and Woodwardia areolata. The hydrology is constantly saturated, and soils are acidic and organic. In the East Gulf Coastal Plain, these forests are found on slopes in a longleaf pine-dominated upland. Examples of forests in this alliance are known from the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Virginia to Georgia, the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama, the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi, and likely other adjacent states as well.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Description is largely based on the old alliance Nyssa biflora - Acer rubrum - (Liriodendron tulipifera) Saturated Forest Alliance (A.351).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Stands are typically codominated by Nyssa biflora and Acer rubrum. In addition, Liriodendron tulipifera is a common woody species in these forests, as are Acer rubrum, Carpinus caroliniana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Magnolia virginiana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Persea palustris, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus michauxii, Pinus taeda, and Ulmus rubra. Some common dominants in the shrub layer include Ilex coriacea, Leucothoe axillaris, Lyonia lucida, Morella caroliniensis (= Myrica heterophylla), and Toxicodendron vernix, with Arundinaria gigantea, Clethra alnifolia, Ilex glabra, Itea virginica, and Rhododendron flammeum also often present. Sphagnum spp. are common in the ground layer, as well as Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea, Carex bromoides ssp. bromoides, Hydrocotyle verticillata var. verticillata, Ludwigia palustris, Macbridea caroliniana, Mitchella repens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Sagittaria fasciculata, Saururus cernuus, and Woodwardia areolata. More inland/northerly stands (e.g., those in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama) may lack some of the more southerly distributed species listed.

Dynamics:  This vegetation is found in seepage-fed edges of floodplains or on slopes kept wet by nearly constant seepage. The hydrology is constantly saturated, and soils are acidic and organic. Some of these forests, particularly those on peat flats, may result from logging of former Chamaecyparis thyoides-dominated swamps.
Environmental Description:  These forests occur on extensive peat flats in the southeastern coastal plains, in seepage-fed edges of floodplains or on slopes kept wet by nearly constant seepage. The hydrology is constantly saturated, and soils are acidic and organic.
Geographic Range: Examples of forests in this alliance are known the southeastern coastal plains from Virginia south to Mississippi and possibly Louisiana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, GA, LA?, MS, NC, SC, VA


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.2 Swamp Tupelo - Swamp Chestnut Oak - Bald-cypress Basin Swamp & Flatwoods Macrogroup M033 1.B.3.Nb.2
Group 1.B.3.Nb.2.a Swamp Tupelo - Ogeechee Tupelo - Bald-cypress Basin Swamp Group G038 1.B.3.Nb.2.a
Alliance A3635 Swamp Tupelo Swamp Forest Alliance A3635 1.B.3.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL004427 Swamp Tupelo - (Red Maple) / American Holly / Coastal Doghobble / Prickly Bog Sedge Swamp Forest CEGL004427 1.B.3.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL004428 Swamp Tupelo - Carolina Red Maple - Tuliptree / Sweetbay / Coastal Sweet-pepperbush Swamp Forest CEGL004428 1.B.3.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL004429 Bald-cypress - Swamp Tupelo / Alabama Supplejack - Eastern Poison-ivy / Netted Chainfern Swamp Forest CEGL004429 1.B.3.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL004679 Swamp Tupelo - Sweetgum - Carolina Red Maple / Coastal Sweet-pepperbush Swamp Forest CEGL004679 1.B.3.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL004734 Swamp Tupelo - Tuliptree - (Pond Pine, Loblolly Pine) / Shining Fetterbush Swamp Forest CEGL004734 1.B.3.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL004754 Laurel Oak - Swamp Tupelo East Gulf Coastal Plain Swamp Forest CEGL004754 1.B.3.Nb.2.a
Concept Lineage: This alliance includes associations from three old alliances: A.351 (4/8), A.352 (1/2), and A.355 (1/3). These are all from the old Saturated cold-deciduous forest Formation (I.B.2.N.g.). It has undergone a major revision following review; many associations have been moved between A3635 and A3636 (but the collective membership of these two alliances has remained the same).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by A.S. Weakley.

Version Date: 03-14-14
  • 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.
  • 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. 1981a. Composition and density-diameter pattern of an old-growth forest stand of the Boiling Springs Natural Area, South Carolina. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 108:347-353.
  • 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.