Print Report
A3712 Platanus occidentalis - Betula nigra Floodplain Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This sycamore - river birch floodplain forest alliance occurs along riverfronts in calcareous areas of the central midwestern United States and southern Ontario. Stands are dominated by Platanus occidentalis or Betula nigra with a mixture of other species, including Acer negundo, Acer saccharinum, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Juglans nigra, Ulmus americana, and Ulmus rubra.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Sycamore - River Birch Floodplain Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Midwest Sycamore - River Birch Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This sycamore - river birch floodplain forest alliance occurs along riverfronts in calcareous areas of the central midwestern United States and southern Ontario, Canada, but its overall distribution is uncertain. It also includes forests along small streams. These floodplain forests vary from small-statured (5-15 m tall) stands to taller (15-25 m) mature stands. Stands are dominated by Platanus occidentalis or Betula nigra with a mixture of other species, including Acer negundo, Acer saccharinum, Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Juglans nigra, Ulmus americana, and Ulmus rubra.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is typically dominated by Platanus occidentalis or Betula nigra within the central midwestern United States, but limits of its distribution eastward are unclear.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Both associations within this alliance need further review. This alliance is intended to include floodplain forests within east-central U.S. and adjacent Canada, and its northern limit is set by the distribution and abundance of Platanus occidentalis. Betula nigra has a similar northward limit, but its distribution and abundance are much more patchy The associations have a broader range and likely need to be split. Until these associations are resolved, this alliance remains low confidence.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These floodplain forests are dominated by broadleaf deciduous trees that vary from small-statured (5-15 m tall) stands to taller (15-25 m) mature stands.
Floristics: This alliance occurs on riverfronts in areas with repeated, frequent, natural disturbance in the form of flooding. A wide range of canopy species are present, but Betula nigra and Platanus occidentalis are prevalent. Betula nigra tends to have a greater number of stems but Platanus occidentalis may be more conspicuous because of its larger size (Fowells 1965). Along with common bottomland species, such as Ulmus americana, Acer rubrum, Acer negundo, Quercus spp., and Celtis laevigata, mesophytic species from nearby uplands and terraces, such as Liriodendron tulipifera, occur. Commonly encountered herbaceous species include Arisaema dracontium, Symphyotrichum ontarionis (= Aster ontarionis), Impatiens capensis, Pilea pumila, and Saururus cernuus. This forest harbors a number of ubiquitous species and tends to extend into and mix with adjacent communities, resulting in numerous transitional variants. Occurrences may have a rather high percentage of standing dead trees, including remnant snags from earlier successional communities.
Dynamics: Occurrences may have a rather high percentage of standing dead trees, including remnant snags from earlier successional communities. A layer of sand is often deposited at the surface when streams overflow their banks during flash floods. Little or no clay is present in soils which support stands of this alliance. Flooding is seasonal and/or occasional and shallow, but never prolonged. Most of the short-duration flooding takes place in early spring.
Environmental Description: Stands of this alliance usually are found on the natural levees of watercourses and, therefore, are slightly elevated from the flats behind the levee. They are more common along small streams and blackwater streams than along alluvial floodplains, mostly because of the higher sustained flow rates of these larger rivers. The soils are deep, nearly level, well-drained, and moderately well-drained on bottomlands along streams. They have low organic matter content, moderate permeability, and moderate to high available water capacity. A layer of sand is often deposited at the surface when streams overflow their banks during flash floods. Little or no clay is present in soils which support stands of this alliance. Flooding is seasonal and/or occasional and shallow, but never prolonged. Most of the short-duration flooding takes place in early spring.
Geographic Range: This sycamore - river birch floodplain forest alliance occurs along riverfronts in the central midwestern United States and southern Ontario, Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MO, MS, OH, OK, ON?, PA, TN, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899764
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.a Silver Maple - Green Ash - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest Group | G652 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A3712 American Sycamore - River Birch Floodplain Forest Alliance | A3712 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002086 River Birch - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest | CEGL002086 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL007334 American Sycamore - Silver Maple - Black Walnut - Slippery Elm Floodplain Forest | CEGL007334 | 1.B.3.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: This alliance includes the north-central associations from A.280 and A.288.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Betula nigra forest alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
? R1B3cII4a. Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis (Foti et al. 1994)
? R1B3cII4a. Betula nigra - Platanus occidentalis (Foti et al. 1994)
- 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.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., and Midwest State Natural Heritage Program Ecologists. 1996. Terrestrial vegetation of the midwest United States. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the United States. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Foti, T., M. Blaney, X. Li, and K. G. Smith. 1994. A classification system for the natural vegetation of Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:50-53.
- Foti, T., compiler. 1994b. Natural vegetation classification system of Arkansas, draft five. Unpublished document. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock. 8 pp.
- Foti, Tom. Personal communication. Ecologist [retired]. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock.
- Fowells, H. A, compiler. 1965. Silvics of the forest trees of the United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 271. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC. 762 pp.
- Hoagland, B. W. 1998a. Classification of Oklahoma vegetation types. Working draft. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 43 pp.