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A3701 Platanus occidentalis - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Liriodendron tulipifera Central Appalachian-Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are high-energy floodplain forests of rocky streambeds and alluvial deposits, found in the Appalachian and Piedmont regions, typically dominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Platanus occidentalis with Liquidambar styraciflua and/or Liriodendron tulipifera.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Sycamore - Green Ash - Tuliptree Central Appalachian-Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian-Piedmont Sycamore - Green Ash - Tuliptree Floodplain Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Stands are typically dominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Platanus occidentalis with Liquidambar styraciflua and/or Liriodendron tulipifera. Other canopy and understory species that may be present include Acer rubrum, Aesculus sylvatica (within its range), Alnus serrulata, Asimina triloba, Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida, Fagus grandifolia, Fraxinus americana, and Ulmus americana, in the non-montane part of the distribution. Species present in the montane occurrences include Betula alleghaniensis, Betula lenta, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Platanus occidentalis, with Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana, Fraxinus americana, Hamamelis virginiana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Pinus strobus, Pinus virginiana, and Tsuga canadensis. Euonymus americanus is a typical shrub species in the lower elevation occurrences, while Leucothoe fontanesiana and Rhododendron maximum are common at higher elevations. These are high-energy floodplain forests of the Appalachian and Piedmont regions from Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut south to Tennessee and Georgia. They typically occur on rocky streambeds and alluvial deposits of relatively high-gradient rivers.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are high-energy floodplain forests of the Appalachian and Piedmont regions typically dominated by Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Platanus occidentalis with Liquidambar styraciflua and/or Liriodendron tulipifera. This combination of environment, floristics and biogeography should be 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: These are broad-leaved deciduous forests, with canopy trees typically averaging 20 m in height. The shrub and herbaceous layers range from sparse to relatively lush. There is often an abundance of woody vines.

Floristics: These forests are typically dominated by some combination of Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Platanus occidentalis with Liquidambar styraciflua and/or Liriodendron tulipifera. Other woody species that may be present include Acer negundo, Acer saccharinum, Carya cordiformis, Celtis laevigata, Celtis occidentalis, Juglans nigra, Salix nigra, and Ulmus americana In addition, Asimina triloba, Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus viridis, and Lindera benzoin may be fairly dense in the understory. Herbaceous species that may be present include Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex abscondita, Carex grayi, Carex lupulina, Chasmanthium latifolium, Elymus virginicus, Leersia lenticularis, Pilea pumila, Polygonum virginianum, and others.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  These are high-energy floodplain forests of rocky streambeds and alluvial deposits.
Geographic Range: Stands of this alliance are found in the Appalachian and Piedmont regions from Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut south to Tennessee and Georgia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DC, DE, KY, MA, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, WV


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.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D011 1.B.3.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Na.1 Silver Maple - American Sycamore - Hackberry species Floodplain Forest Macrogroup M029 1.B.3.Na.1
Group 1.B.3.Na.1.b <i>Acer saccharinum - Platanus occidentalis - Liquidambar styraciflua</i> Floodplain Forest Group G673 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Alliance A3701 American Sycamore - Green Ash - Tuliptree Central Appalachian-Piedmont Floodplain Forest Alliance A3701 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004073 American Sycamore - Box-elder - Black Walnut / Pawpaw / Virginia Bluebells Floodplain Forest CEGL004073 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006036 American Sycamore - Green Ash Floodplain Forest CEGL006036 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006218 Swamp White Oak - Green Ash - (American Sycamore) / Indian Woodoats - Golden Alexanders Floodplain Forest CEGL006218 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006255 Tuliptree - American Sycamore - Sweet Birch / Northern Spicebush / Broadleaf Enchanter''s-nightshade Floodplain Forest CEGL006255 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006445 Bitternut Hickory - Black Cherry / White Snakeroot Forest CEGL006445 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006458 American Sycamore - Green Ash / American Hornbeam / Wingstem Floodplain Forest CEGL006458 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006459 Sugar Maple - White Ash / American Hornbeam / Mayapple Forest CEGL006459 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006462 (Northern Red Oak, White Oak) / American Hornbeam - (Mountain Silverbell) / Feathery False Lily-of-the-Valley Forest CEGL006462 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006466 American Sycamore / Yellow Buckeye Floodplain Forest CEGL006466 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006473 Sugar Maple - Tuliptree / Shining Bedstraw - Spreading Sedge Forest CEGL006473 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006475 American Sycamore - Green Ash - Box-elder / Clustered Black-snakeroot - Virginia Wildrye Floodplain Forest CEGL006475 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006476 American Sycamore - Silver Maple - Green Ash / Small-spike False Nettle - Emory''s Sedge Floodplain Forest CEGL006476 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006492 Tuliptree - Box-elder - (American Sycamore) / American Hornbeam / Jumpseed Floodplain Forest CEGL006492 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006495 Northern Red Oak - Shumard Oak / Eastern Redbud Floodplain Forest CEGL006495 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006575 Green Ash - (Black Walnut, American Sycamore) Floodplain Forest CEGL006575 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006620 Eastern Hemlock - Northern Red Oak - American Sycamore / Great Laurel / Wood Anemone Forest CEGL006620 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006624 Virginia Pine - (Pitch Pine) - Blackgum / Yellowroot / Flowering Spurge Forest CEGL006624 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL006901 American Sycamore - Green Ash - American Elm / Red-osier Dogwood Floodplain Forest CEGL006901 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL008405 Tuliptree - Eastern White Pine - (Eastern Hemlock) / American Hornbeam / American Hog-peanut Forest CEGL008405 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Concept Lineage: These associations come from a wide variety of old alliances: A.286 (1/13); A.288 (4/12); A.289 (4/8); A.297 (1/6); A.299 (1/8); A.316 (2/ ); A.633 (1/5).

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: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • 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.