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A4085 Taxodium ascendens / Annona glabra / Rhynchospora spp. Subtropical Swamp Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of wet woodlands and savannas dominated by the deciduous needle-leaved tree Taxodium ascendens with graminoids or shrubs which are found in subtropical areas of southern Florida, especially the Big Cypress region.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pond-cypress / Pond-apple/ Beaksedge species Subtropical Swamp Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Subtropical Pond-cypress Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of woodlands and savannas dominated by the deciduous needle-leaved tree Taxodium ascendens. Herbaceous ground cover is dominated by graminoids on extensive wet flats, or there is an evergreen shrub stratum in depressions or along flooded linear strands. The sites flood for parts of the growing season and generally dry down during the dry season in the late winter and early spring. They occur in depressions and on poorly drained wet flats which may have marl at or near the surface. The Big Cypress area of southwest Florida contains the most extensive areas of this vegetation, both in depressions and on the poorly drained wet flats.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Open woodlands dominated by Taxodium ascendens with graminoid or evergreen shrub understory, occurring in subtropical areas of south Florida, especially the Big Cypress region.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: These are subtropical, occurring in southern Florida, and are distinguished from other woodlands dominated by Taxodium ascendens by the climatic, floristic and environmental site differences.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Open woodlands dominated by Taxodium ascendens with graminoid or evergreen shrub understory. Some examples may have trees shorter than 5 m, especially around the margins of cypress domes in shallower water and thinner soil, but all are classified here.
Floristics: On extensive wet flats in southern subtropical Florida, open woodlands are characterized by a stunted, scattered canopy (1.7-6 m tall) of the deciduous needle-leaved tree Taxodium ascendens. Herbaceous ground cover is dominated by graminoids; characteristic species include Bacopa caroliniana, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Eleocharis cellulosa, Eupatorium leptophyllum, Ludwigia microcarpa, Muhlenbergia filipes, Pluchea rosea, Rhynchospora divergens, Rhynchospora inundata, Rhynchospora microcarpa, Rhynchospora tracyi, Sagittaria lancifolia, Schizachyrium sp., and Setaria parviflora (= Setaria geniculata).
On wetter sites with longer hydroperiods, such as dome swamp depressions and shallower parts of cypress strands, a shrub stratum occurs under the canopy of Taxodium ascendens. Overstory density ranges from quite open to approximately 80% canopy closure. These sites are prone to less frequent fire than the graminoid-dominated examples. Characteristic species include Annona glabra, Ilex cassine, and Magnolia virginiana. Epiphytes (bromeliads, orchids, ferns) may be abundant, including Thelypteris reticulata and Campyloneurum latum, along with a diverse understory that includes a number of taxa with tropical affinities. Tropical shrubs and epiphytes are more common in these wetter sites which are prone to less frequent wildland fire.
On wetter sites with longer hydroperiods, such as dome swamp depressions and shallower parts of cypress strands, a shrub stratum occurs under the canopy of Taxodium ascendens. Overstory density ranges from quite open to approximately 80% canopy closure. These sites are prone to less frequent fire than the graminoid-dominated examples. Characteristic species include Annona glabra, Ilex cassine, and Magnolia virginiana. Epiphytes (bromeliads, orchids, ferns) may be abundant, including Thelypteris reticulata and Campyloneurum latum, along with a diverse understory that includes a number of taxa with tropical affinities. Tropical shrubs and epiphytes are more common in these wetter sites which are prone to less frequent wildland fire.
Dynamics: The dynamics of these habitats are influenced by flooding, hurricane-force wind, and fire.
Environmental Description: This alliance consists of pond-cypress woodlands and savannas that flood for parts of the growing season and generally dry down during the dry season in the late winter and early spring. They occur in depressions and on poorly drained wet flats which may have marl at or near the surface. The Big Cypress area of southwest Florida contains the most extensive areas of this vegetation, both in depressions and on the poorly drained wet flats.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in southern Florida, but not in the Florida Keys. It is common in the Big Cypress area of southwestern Florida.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.905730
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.336 & A.651, in parts.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Cypress Dome (Olmsted et al. 1980b)
> Cypress Dome Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
> Cypress Domes or Strands (Craighead 1971)
>< Cypress Forests (Davis 1943)
? Cypress Forests (Gunderson and Loftus 1993)
>< Cypress Strand Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
> Dwarf Cypress (Craighead 1971)
> Dwarf or scrub cypress forests (Duever et al. 1984)
> Open-canopy ("Hatrack") Cypress Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
> Pond cypress forests (cypress domes and smaller strands) (Duever et al. 1984)
>< Pondcypress: 100 (Eyre 1980)
> Cypress Dome Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
> Cypress Domes or Strands (Craighead 1971)
>< Cypress Forests (Davis 1943)
? Cypress Forests (Gunderson and Loftus 1993)
>< Cypress Strand Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
> Dwarf Cypress (Craighead 1971)
> Dwarf or scrub cypress forests (Duever et al. 1984)
> Open-canopy ("Hatrack") Cypress Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
> Pond cypress forests (cypress domes and smaller strands) (Duever et al. 1984)
>< Pondcypress: 100 (Eyre 1980)
- Brown, S. 1981. A comparison of the structure, primary productivity, and transpiration of cypress ecosystems in Florida. Ecological Monographs 51:403-427.
- Craighead, F. C., Jr. 1971. The trees of south Florida. Volume I. The natural environments and their succession. University of Miami Press, Coral Gables. 212 pp.
- Davis, J. H., Jr. 1943. The natural features of southern Florida, especially the vegetation, and the Everglades. Florida Department of Conservation, Geologic Survey. Geologic Bulletin No. 25. Tallahassee, FL.
- Duever, M. J., J. F. Meeder, and L. C. Duever. 1984. Ecosystems of the Big Cypress Swamp. Pages 294-303 in: K. C. Ewel and H. T. Odum, editors. Cypress swamps. University of Florida Press, Gainesville.
- Ewel, K. C., and H. T. Odum, editors. 1984a. Literature cited. Pages 445-468 in: K. C. Ewel and H. T. Odum, editors. Cypress swamps. University of Florida Press, Gainesville.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 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.
- Gunderson, L. H., and W. F. Loftus. 1993. The Everglades. Pages 199-255 in: W. H. Martin, S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. Biodiversity of the southeastern United States: Lowland terrestrial communities. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 502 pp.
- Hilsenbeck, C. E., R. H. Hofstetter, and T. R. Alexander. 1979. Preliminary synopsis of major plant communities in the East Everglades area: Vegetation map supplement. Unpublished document. Metropolitan Dade County Planning Department, Miami, FL.
- Huck, R. B. 1987. Plant communities along an edaphic continuum in a central Florida watershed. Florida Scientist 50:111-128.
- Olmsted, I. C., L. L. Loope, and R. E. Rintz. 1980b. A survey and baseline analysis of aspects of the vegetation of Taylor Slough, Everglades National Park. USDI National Park Service, Everglades National Park, South Florida Resource Center. Report T-586. Homestead, FL. 71 pp.