Name:
Chamaecyparis thyoides Saturated Forest Alliance
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
These Chamaecyparis thyoides-dominated forests are found on saturated, peaty substrates. Chamaecyparis thyoides tolerates only brief inundation. The canopy of forests in this alliance may be heavily dominated by Chamaecyparis thyoides, or they may contain pines (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii in Florida basins, Pinus serotina in North Carolina peat domes) or hardwoods (for instance Acer rubrum, Nyssa biflora, and Persea palustris, or Liriodendron tulipifera in one rare example). The subcanopy may contain Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Nyssa biflora, Magnolia virginiana, Nyssa biflora, Persea palustris, and Cliftonia monophylla. Sabal palmetto and Serenoa repens are abundant on hummocks in one Florida association. The shrub stratum ranges from open to dense and may contain Ilex verticillata, Vaccinium corymbosum, Rhododendron viscosum, Ilex laevigata, Ilex glabra, Clethra alnifolia, Gaylussacia frondosa (= var. frondosa), and Ilex coriacea, Cyrilla racemiflora, Lyonia lucida, Magnolia virginiana, Persea palustris, Smilax laurifolia, and Vaccinium formosum in the southern portion of the range. In some examples, Rhododendron maximum forms a nearly impenetrable shrub thicket. The herbaceous stratum is sparse to well-developed and may contain Osmunda cinnamomea, Thelypteris palustris, Woodwardia virginica, Woodwardia areolata, Thelypteris simulata, Gaultheria procumbens, Drosera spp., Sarracenia purpurea, Pogonia ophioglossoides, Mitchella repens, Carex striata, Carex collinsii, Carex atlantica, and Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis. Sphagnum spp., other nonvascular plants, and lichens may be common on exposed peat and rotting wood. Examples of this alliance may be found in poorly-drained basins in the northeastern United States, along small blackwater or spring-fed streams not subject to much flooding or siltation (in Florida and the East Gulf Coastal Plain); along streams or at seepages (in the Fall-line Sandhills); or in Panhandle Florida in large, constantly saturated basins (inundated under several feet of water during the spring) where fire is an infrequent event; as well as peat dome forests of North Carolina and Virginia dominated by Chamaecyparis and Pinus serotina. Soils may be acidic peats but are usually circumneutral sands or sands overlain by peat. Soils are generally organic Histosols, composed of sand and peat, are permanently saturated, and include Histosols (Saprists and Hemists); the pH may be circumneutral or slightly acidic. Fires are infrequent and less destructive than in the northern range of Chamaecyparis thyoides. Gap succession is more important in this community than post-fire regeneration and accounts for the mixed, uneven-aged stands. Lightning strikes are the main cause of mortality in mature white-cedar trees within the range of this association. Atlantic white-cedar communities are early successional but Chamaecyparis thyoides is a long-lived species (250+ years); gap regeneration is hypothesized to be the primary means of reproduction. The community often succeeds to itself following fire or other disturbance. In the absence of fire and adequate gap regeneration, Atlantic White-cedar Forests may be replaced by Bay Forest. Known examples are generally neither flood-prone, nor exposed to frequent fire. One association is thought to become established following fire, with a return time of 25-100+ years.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18083.CHAMAECYPARISTH
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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