Print Report
A3636 Nyssa biflora - Nyssa ogeche Depressional Swamp Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These are forests dominated by one or more of Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, or Nyssa ogeche that occur in isolated wetlands within an upland matrix, such as ponds and sinkholes.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Tupelo - Ogeechee Tupelo Depressional Swamp Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Tupelo Depression Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These are forests dominated by one or more of Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, or Nyssa ogeche. Other tree species may include Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, and Quercus nigra. The shrub zone may contain Alnus serrulata, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Ilex verticillata, Itea virginica, Eubotrys racemosa, and Viburnum nudum var. nudum. One rare community in this alliance is dominated by Nyssa ogeche and occurs in sinkhole depressions in Georgia and Florida. These communities occur in isolated wetlands within an upland matrix, such as ponds and sinkholes. This includes vegetation of peaty or mucky, acidic, wet depressions in the Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains, as well as similar habitats in interior regions such as the Piedmont and the Interior Low Plateau.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance comprises coastal plain forests dominated by one or more of Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, or Nyssa ogeche that occur in isolated wetlands within an upland matrix. The combination of the environment and the floristics are diagnostic.
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: The vegetation is typically zoned with an outer ring of trees, a more interior ring of shrubs, herbs and vines, and a central area with or without standing water year-round depending on precipitation. Some examples are more-or-less permanently flooded, but water volumes can severely diminish in drought years. The tree canopy is variable, depending on water depth, ranging from 50-90% closure, at times forming a zone around an open pond.
Floristics: These forests are dominated by one or more of Nyssa aquatica, Nyssa biflora, or Nyssa ogeche. Other tree species that may be present include Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Magnolia virginiana, Pinus serotina, Pinus taeda, Quercus nigra, Quercus phellos, Taxodium ascendens, and Taxodium distichum. Shrubs may include Alnus serrulata, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Clethra alnifolia, Cliftonia monophylla (within its range), Itea virginica, Eubotrys racemosa (= Leucothoe racemosa), Lyonia lucida, and Viburnum nudum var. nudum. The herb layer may be sparse to relatively lush. The lianas Berchemia scandens, Smilax laurifolia, and Toxicodendron radicans may be present. Characteristic herbaceous species include Carex crinita, Carex glaucescens, Carex joorii, Carex striata, Carex turgescens, Carex verrucosa, Juncus repens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Panicum virgatum var. virgatum, Rhynchospora spp., Saccharum baldwinii, Woodwardia areolata, and Woodwardia virginica.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These forests occur in isolated wetlands within an upland matrix. Vegetation of peaty or mucky, acidic, wet depressions in the Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains, as well as of isolated ponds in the Interior Low Plateau and other interior provinces is included in this alliance. There is a rare community in this alliance dominated by Nyssa ogeche that occurs in sinkhole depressions in Georgia and Florida. In southeastern Missouri and Arkansas and the Interior Low Plateau of southeastern middle Tennessee, stands occur in sinkholes or other natural depressions associated with karst topography or terraces.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains, as well as the adjacent Piedmont, the Interior Low Plateau, and other interior provinces, as well as possibly the Chesapeake Bay region. One rare community in this alliance is dominated by Nyssa ogeche and occurs in sinkhole depressions in Georgia and Florida.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR?, FL, GA, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899694
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: Description is largely based on the old alliance Nyssa (aquatica, biflora, ogeche) Pond Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance (A.324). This alliance includes associations from two old alliances: A.324 (5/7), A.330 (1/17). These are all from the old Seasonally flooded cold-deciduous forest Formation (I.B.2.N.e.). 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: >< IIA10b. Swamp Tupelo Pond Forest (Allard 1990)
- 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.
- Clewell, A. F. 1971. The vegetation of the Apalachicola National Forest: An ecological perspective. Unpublished document. USDA Forest Service, Tallahassee, FL. 152 pp.
- Clewell, A. F. 1981. Natural setting and vegetation of the Florida Panhandle: An account of the environments and plant communities of northern Florida west of the Suwannee River. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mobile, AL. 773 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.
- 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.
- Smith, Latimore M. Personal communication. Natural Heritage Program Ecologist. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge.