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A3702 Platanus occidentalis - Liquidambar styraciflua - Liriodendron tulipifera Southern Appalachian Floodplain Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are diverse floodplain forests with variable composition, typically dominated by some combination of Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis, and Ulmus americana. Examples are found in the Interior Low Plateau, southern Cumberlands/Ridge and Valley, the Piedmont, and the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Sycamore - Sweetgum - Tuliptree Southern Appalachian Floodplain Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Sycamore - Sweetgum - Tuliptree Floodplain Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These are diverse floodplain forests with variable composition, typically dominated by some combination of Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis, and Ulmus americana. Stands also probably include Acer negundo, Carya cordiformis, Celtis occidentalis, Juglans nigra, Salix nigra, and Ulmus alata. The understory may be dense and typically contains Asimina triloba, Crataegus spathulata, and Lindera benzoin. Examples are found in the interior south of the United States, including the Interior Low Plateau, southern Cumberlands/Ridge and Valley, the Piedmont, and the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge from Alabama north to the Carolinas and west to Kentucky and Tennessee. One association known from the Piedmont and the lower elevations of the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge may contain Betula alleghaniensis and/or Betula lenta.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are floodplain forests of the interior south of the United States typically dominated by some combination of Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis, and Ulmus americana. 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: Stands are diverse, and composition is somewhat variable across the range, but they are typically dominated by some combination of Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis, and Ulmus americana. One association known from the Piedmont and the lower elevations of the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge may contain Betula alleghaniensis and/or Betula lenta. Stands also probably include Acer negundo, Carya cordiformis, Celtis occidentalis, Juglans nigra, Salix nigra, and Ulmus alata. The understory may be dense and typically contains Asimina triloba, Crataegus spathulata, and Lindera benzoin.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Forests in this alliance occur on the fronts, terraces, and levees of small, medium and large rivers in the Interior Low Plateau, southern Cumberlands/Ridge and Valley, the Piedmont, and the lower elevations of the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge.
Geographic Range: This is a potentially wide ranging alliance, found in the Interior Low Plateau, southern Cumberlands/Ridge and Valley, the Piedmont, and lower elevations of the adjacent Southern Blue Ridge from Alabama north to the Carolinas and west to Kentucky and Tennessee.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA?


Confidence Level: Low

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 A3702 American Sycamore - Sweetgum - Tuliptree Southern Appalachian Floodplain Forest Alliance A3702 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004031 American Sycamore / Deertongue - Nodding Fescue Floodplain Forest CEGL004031 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004420 Carolina Red Maple - Green Ash / Fringed Sedge - Green Arrow-arum Floodplain Forest CEGL004420 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004626 Black Willow - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest CEGL004626 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004691 American Sycamore - Tuliptree - (Yellow Birch) / Hazel Alder - Highland Doghobble Floodplain Forest CEGL004691 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL007143 Eastern Hemlock - Tuliptree - American Sycamore / Great Laurel - Yellowroot Wet Forest CEGL007143 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL007339 American Sycamore - Green Ash - Shingle Oak Floodplain Forest CEGL007339 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL007340 American Sycamore - Sweetgum / American Hornbeam - Pawpaw Floodplain Forest CEGL007340 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL007880 Sweetgum - Tuliptree - (American Sycamore) / Mountain Silverbell / American Hog-peanut Floodplain Forest CEGL007880 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Association CEGL008429 American Sycamore - Sugarberry - Tuliptree / Northern Spicebush - Giant Cane / American Hog-peanut Floodplain Forest CEGL008429 1.B.3.Na.1.b
Concept Lineage: Descriptive information is taken primarily from old alliances A.288 and A.289.These associations come from a wide variety of old alliances: A.288 (2/12); A.289 (2/8); A.297 (1/6); A.316 (1/17); A.633 (1/5). Proto A0289, A2050 (split up among 3 new alliances).

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.