Name:
Quercus lyrata - (Quercus phellos, Taxodium distichum) / Carex intumescens - Lycopus virginicus Semipermanently Saturated Overflow Bottom Forest
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This hydric forest community of overflow bottoms occurs in areas of deep inundation with standing water and saturated soils through mid-summer on the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of southern Arkansas. The canopy is very much dominated by <i>Quercus lyrata</i> (90% canopy cover). The canopy is moderately tall (80+ feet) and can be moderately closed or have an open woodland appearance. Relatively large gaps are common. This community often covers hundreds of acres. This community is typically flooded deeper and longer than the <i>Quercus phellos</i> flats. The soils are level and poorly drained. The dominant overstory tree is <i>Quercus lyrata</i> with <i>Carya aquatica, Quercus phellos</i>, and <i>Taxodium distichum</i> occurring as occasional trees. <i>Liquidambar styraciflua</i> is not present. The understory is often minimal but may comprise <i>Acer rubrum var. drummondii, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ilex decidua</i>, and <i>Planera aquatica</i>. There is minimal woody vegetation in the understory with <i>Cornus obliqua (= Cornus amomum ssp. obliqua)</i> occurring as an occasional. The shrub layer is usually sparse but may include <i>Cephalanthus occidentalis, Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. lasiocarpos (= Hibiscus lasiocarpos)</i>, and <i>Itea virginica</i>. Woody vines are nearly absent but may include <i>Smilax rotundifolia</i> and <i>Smilax smallii</i>. The herbaceous layer is dominated by sedges. Herbaceous species include <i>Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (= Aster lanceolatus), Bidens aristosa, Boehmeria cylindrica, Brunnichia ovata, Carex frankii, Carex intumescens, Carex joorii, Carex louisianica, Carex lupulina, Carex tribuloides, Commelina virginica, Eleocharis</i> sp., <i>Iris virginica, Juncus effusus</i> (common), <i>Leersia oryzoides, Leersia virginica, Lobelia cardinalis, Lycopus virginicus, Panicum anceps, Pluchea camphorata, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Saururus cernuus</i>, and <i>Triadenum tubulosum</i>. The herbaceous layer can be sparse or dense with thick meter-high vegetation. There is little leaf litter or duff due to flooding, although the soils can be partially organic. These forests occur on annually, deeply flooded, nearly level, poorly-drained, low fertility, acidic, silt-loams of the Guyton Series. This is a characteristic community of overflow bottoms on the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain. The community forms a mosaic with <i>Quercus phellos / Cornus obliqua - Amorpha fruticosa / Carex intumescens - Hymenocallis liriosme</i> Seasonally Saturated Overflow Bottom Forest. [?This community also may form in shallow sloughs or abandoned overflow tributaries that are not dominated by <i>Taxodium distichum - (Carya aquatica, Nyssa aquatica) / Planera aquatica / Boehmeria cylindrica - Saururus cernuus</i> Semipermanently Flooded Floodplain Slough Forest.] Examples are known from Big Cypress Unique Area, Cattail Lake tract 'overcup oak woodland,' Oine Bluff Arsenal, and Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge. The type location is in Dallas County. This community is also known from Jefferson, Little River, and Sevier counties, Arkansas.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.35168.CEGL007989
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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