Name:
A.378
Reference:
EcoArt 2002
Description:
Forests of floodplain flats and small blackwater stream headwaters. Canopies are diverse, but various combinations of ~Magnolia virginiana, Nyssa biflora$, and ~Quercus laurifolia$ often strongly dominate the canopy stratum. In the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Louisiana and Mississippi, this alliance includes ~Quercus laurifolia$ bayheads, over sticky clay soils, which are less acid and shrubby than most other bayhead types; as well as small ravine-bottom bayheads with seepage. In the former, the canopy is dominated by ~Quercus laurifolia, Nyssa biflora, Magnolia virginiana$, and ~Acer rubrum var. rubrum$. In addition, the subcanopy contains ~Fraxinus caroliniana$. The open shrub stratum may contain ~Cyrilla racemiflora, Vaccinium elliottii, Leucothoe racemosa, Rhododendron viscosum, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Toxicodendron radicans, Chionanthus virginicus$, and ~Lyonia lucida$. In the latter case, the canopy is dominated by ~Magnolia virginiana, Nyssa biflora, Magnolia grandiflora$, and ~Liriodendron tulipifera$. The shrub layer is dominated by ~Ilex coriacea$ and ~Viburnum nudum var. nudum$; also ~Illicium floridanum, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Morella caroliniensis (= Myrica heterophylla), Leucothoe racemosa$, and ~Lyonia lucida$. In the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Louisiana and Texas (and possibly Arkansas and Oklahoma), this alliance is expressed in at least two broad types which vary geographically along a north-south gradient. These broad-leaved mixed evergreen-deciduous forests are dominated by ~Magnolia virginiana$ and ~Nyssa biflora$, with ~Liquidambar styraciflua$ codominant in some occurrences. Associated canopy species may include ~Quercus laurifolia, Magnolia grandiflora, Quercus alba, Quercus nigra, Fagus grandifolia, Taxodium distichum, Pinus palustris$, and ~Pinus taeda$. The subcanopy may include ~Persea palustris, Acer rubrum, Ilex opaca var. opaca$, and occasionally ~Chionanthus virginicus$ and ~Fraxinus pennsylvanica$. Tall shrubs include ~Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Morella caroliniensis, Rhododendron canescens, Persea palustris, Morella cerifera, Ilex coriacea, Alnus serrulata, Photinia pyrifolia (= Aronia arbutifolia), Styrax americanus$, and ~Rhododendron oblongifolium$. The short-shrub stratum includes seedlings of overstory and tall-shrub species, plus ~Itea virginica, Berchemia scandens, Rubus$ spp., and ~Hypericum$ spp. ~Smilax laurifolia$ and ~Decumaria barbara$ are conspicuous vines. Herb species may include ~Woodwardia areolata, Osmunda regalis, Osmunda cinnamomea, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Chasmanthium latifolium, Chasmanthium laxum, Carex leptalea, Carex atlantica, Carex lonchocarpa (= Carex folliculata var. australis), Eleocharis tortilis$, and ~Saururus cernuus$, as well as ~Onoclea sensibilis, Elephantopus carolinianus, Boehmeria cylindrica, Juncus$ spp., and ~Fimbristylis$ spp. This manifestation of the alliance occurs on deep, very acidic silt loams, fine sandy loam, and loamy fine sand soils with high organic content, primarily on floodplain flats and along small blackwater streams of low velocity.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.2051.A378
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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