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A3713 Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Tilia americana - Quercus spp. Mesic Floodplain Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This bur oak - hardwoods bottomland forest alliance occurs in the central midwestern United States and possibly southern Ontario, Canada. The tree canopy contains Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus bicolor, and Carya laciniosa.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Green Ash - American Basswood - oak spp. Mesic Floodplain Alliance

Colloquial Name: Midwest Mesic Floodplain Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This bur oak - swamp white oak hardwoods bottomland forest alliance occurs in the central midwestern United States and possibly southern Ontario, Canada. The tree canopy may be closed to moderately open. The dominant tree species include Quercus macrocarpa and Quercus bicolor. Carya laciniosa is often found in stands of this alliance, along with species such as Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus shumardii, Carya illinoinensis, Populus deltoides, and Ulmus americana. Understory species include Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex spp., Cinna spp., Leersia spp., Toxicodendron radicans, and Uvularia sessilifolia. Stands of this alliance are found on slackwater deposits with moderately well-drained to poorly drained soils. In Kentucky, the dominant tree species are indicators of less acidic soils with a higher base status.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Floodplain forests dominated by Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus bicolor, and Carya laciniosa.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The alliance includes a number of oak-dominated wet-mesic terrace floodplain associations. See description in the Minnesota (FFs59b) and Missouri state classifications (Wet-Mesic Bottomland Woodland). The type is not known to occur in Iowa. See also ~Quercus bicolor - (Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus stellata) Woodland (CEGL005181)$$ and ~Quercus macrocarpa - Quercus bicolor - (Celtis occidentalis) Woodland (CEGL002140)$$, placed in ~Quercus alba - Quercus macrocarpa - Quercus bicolor Woodland Alliance (A3324)$$, which may have some relation to the associations in this alliance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The tree canopy is dominated by broadleaf deciduous trees, and varies from closed to moderately open.

Floristics: The dominant tree species include Quercus macrocarpa and Quercus bicolor. Carya laciniosa is often found in stands of this alliance, along with species such as Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus shumardii, and Ulmus americana. Understory species include Boehmeria cylindrica, Carex spp., Cinna spp., Leersia spp., Toxicodendron radicans, and Uvularia sessilifolia.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands of this alliance are found on slackwater deposits with moderately well-drained to poorly drained soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges across the central midwestern U.S. from Oklahoma and Missouri east to Ohio and Kentucky, and northwest to southeast Minnesota.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AR, IL, IN, KS, KY, MN, MO, OH, OK, ON, WI


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.a Silver Maple - Green Ash - American Sycamore Floodplain Forest Group G652 1.B.3.Na.1.a
Alliance A3713 Green Ash - American Basswood - oak spp. Mesic Floodplain Alliance A3713 1.B.3.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002081 Green Ash - Common Hackberry - American Basswood - (Bur Oak) Floodplain Forest CEGL002081 1.B.3.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002098 Bur Oak - Swamp White Oak - Shellbark Hickory / Cutgrass species - Woodreed species Floodplain Forest CEGL002098 1.B.3.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002140 Bur Oak - Swamp White Oak - (Common Hackberry) Woodland CEGL002140 1.B.3.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004544 Bur Oak - Shumard Oak - Bitternut Hickory / Indian Woodoats Floodplain Forest CEGL004544 1.B.3.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004797 Pin Oak - Pecan / Possum-haw Floodplain Forest CEGL004797 1.B.3.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: This alliance includes the association from A.293 that occurs within the Midwest.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Moderately Wet Forest (Campbell and Grubbs 1992)
>< Wet Forest (Campbell and Grubbs 1992)
Concept Author(s): S. Menard and D. Faber-Langendoen, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Campbell, J. J. N., and J. Grubbs. 1992. Natural plant communities of Hopkins County, Kentucky. Transactions of the Kentucky Academy of Science 53:29-38.
  • 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.
  • Shelford, V. E. 1954. Some lower Mississippi Valley flood plain biotic communities: Their age and elevation. Ecology 35:1-14.