Name:
Nyssa biflora - Nyssa aquatica - Taxodium distichum / Saururus cernuus Forest
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This association represents swamp forests along upper tidal reaches of rivers in portions of the outer Atlantic Coastal Plain ranging from southeastern Virginia and North Carolina to South Carolina, in which Nyssa biflora, Nyssa aquatica, and Taxodium distichum may dominate singly, codominate in various combinations, or share dominance with Acer rubrum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and/or Liquidambar styraciflua. Typical subcanopy trees are Nyssa biflora, Acer rubrum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ulmus americana, and Quercus laurifolia. Woody vines are frequent and climb into the canopy; they include Decumaria barbara, Toxicodendron radicans ssp. radicans, Campsis radicans, Smilax walteri, and Berchemia scandens. Shrub and herb layers are variable but generally contain a mixture of species characteristic of both marshes and swamps. Typical shrubs are Fraxinus caroliniana, Itea virginica, Amelanchier canadensis, Leucothoe racemosa, Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora, Alnus serrulata, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera var. cerifera). Characteristic herbaceous species include Saururus cernuus, Peltandra virginica, Triadenum walteri, Boehmeria cylindrica, Lycopus rubellus, Bidens discoidea, Carex seorsa, Carex stipata var. maxima, Cicuta maculata, Glyceria septentrionalis, Ranunculus sceleratus, Lobelia cardinalis, Sphenopholis pensylvanica, Decodon verticillatus, Galium obtusum, Polygonum setaceum, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Scutellaria lateriflora, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Cinna arundinacea, and Pilea pumila. Substrates are mucky peats and mucks; nutrient regimes may be enhanced in some examples by rare, wind-tidal inputs. Because of higher nutrient status, this type is more diverse than non-tidal cypress-gum forests. Pronounced hummock/hollow microtopography is usually a prominent feature of this type, with the hollows filled with deep, soupy muck.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.26732.NYSSABIFLORANYS
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
14
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