Print Report
A4099 Acer negundo - Betula nigra / Alliaria petiolata Ruderal Floodplain Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is composed of heavily disturbed floodplain or, less often, depressional wetlands in the eastern United States dominated by Acer negundo, Betula nigra, or other weedy native trees with an understory strongly dominated by exotic and generalist native species.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Box-elder - River Birch / Garlic Mustard Ruderal Floodplain Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Box-elder - Mixed Hardwood Floodplain Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This semi-open to closed-canopy forest is found on floodplains in the southern, eastern, and midwestern United States. Stands are typically temporarily flooded in the spring. These early-successional forests are dominated by Acer negundo. Other characteristic species include Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana, Carya cordiformis, Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Juglans nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Morus rubra, Platanus occidentalis, Populus deltoides, Robinia pseudoacacia, Ulmus alata, and Ulmus rubra. The shrub and herb layers range from sparse to dense, and the vine component is often heavy. The herb layer consists of a mixture of weedy exotics and native floodplain generalists, including Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum. Stands occur on large rivers in active floodplains and on sandbars and also form farther from the riverfront in disturbed wet areas. Occurrences are mostly on higher floodplain terraces with less rocky soils that were cleared for agriculture or other development.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance consists of forests and woodlands dominated by Acer negundo, often with a number of other generalist native trees typical of floodplains. The understory is heavily disturbed and strongly dominated by exotic species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance can grade into a number of less disturbed floodplain forests, particularly in ~Silver Maple - Green Ash - Sycamore Floodplain Forest Group (G652)$$, ~Silver Maple - Sugarberry - Sweetgum Floodplain Forest Group (G673)$$, ~Silver Maple - Green Ash - Black Ash Floodplain Forest Group (G653)$$, and ~Great Plains Cottonwood - Green Ash Floodplain Forest Group (G147)$$. Stands dominated by Acer negundo in the Great Plains are assumed to be more natural and are placed in a natural alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The tree canopy ranges from open to closed (25-80+%) and is predominantly medium-tall deciduous trees. The shrub and herbaceous layers are often dense in inverse proportion to the tree canopy.
Floristics: These early-successional forests are dominated by Acer negundo. Other characteristic species include Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana, Carya cordiformis, Celtis laevigata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Juglans nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Morus rubra, Platanus occidentalis, Populus deltoides, Robinia pseudoacacia, Ulmus alata, and Ulmus rubra. The shrub and herb layers range from sparse to dense. The herb layer consists of a mixture of weedy exotics and native floodplain generalists, including Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum. There is often a heavy component of vines.
Dynamics: This type is an early-successional community that arises from natural and anthropogenic disturbances on floodplains and wet depressional wetlands. Flooding or human-induced disturbances create open areas where this alliance can form.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs on large rivers in the active floodplains and in depressional wetlands that have been cleared. In floodplains, it usually occurs on higher terraces with sandy or silty soil that were cleared for agriculture or other development. Stands are usually flooded temporarily in the spring or following heavy rains.
Geographic Range: This floodplain forest is found on floodplains and disturbed wetlands in the southern, eastern, and midwestern United States, ranging from New York west to Iowa and Minnesota, south to Louisiana and east to Georgia.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, DC, DE, GA, IA, KY, LA, MD, MN, MO, MS, NJ, NY, OK, PA, QC?, SC, SD?, TN, TX?, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.907223
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Red Maple - Box-elder - American Sycamore Eastern North American Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M302 | 1.B.3.Na.90 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.90.a Red Maple - Green Ash - Box-elder Ruderal Flooded & Swamp Forest Group | G552 | 1.B.3.Na.90.a |
| Alliance | A4099 Box-elder - River Birch / Garlic Mustard Ruderal Floodplain Forest Alliance | A4099 | 1.B.3.Na.90.a |
| Association | CEGL005033 Box-elder Ruderal Floodplain Forest | CEGL005033 | 1.B.3.Na.90.a |
| Association | CEGL006976 River Birch - Red Maple - (Sweetgum) / Nepalese Browntop Ruderal Floodplain Forest | CEGL006976 | 1.B.3.Na.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.