Name:
Platanus occidentalis - Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Carpinus caroliniana / Verbesina alternifolia Floodplain Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This association represents closed-canopy deciduous floodplain forests along the New River and nearby rivers in West Virginia, occurring in small to medium-sized patches (<0.1-13 ha) on the wider floodplains which are associated with point bars along the inside bends of large river meanders. It also occurs on alluvial fans at the mouths of tributaries, and at knickpoints created by rapids and waterfalls. These positions are temporarily inundated by low- to medium-energy floods which may occur at any time of year but are more frequent in the winter and spring. Substrates are alluvium, including boulders, cobbles, gravel, and sand. Soils are well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral sand and sandy loam. Elevations of mapped stands range from 259 to 476 m. The tree canopy is dominated by <i>Platanus occidentalis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ulmus americana</i>, and <i>Liriodendron tulipifera</i>. Additional important trees in the canopy include <i>Betula nigra, Fraxinus americana, Juglans nigra, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus rubra, Robinia pseudoacacia, Ulmus americana</i>, and <i>Ulmus rubra</i>. The subcanopy includes canopy species and <i>Acer saccharum, Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana, Cercis canadensis, Chionanthus virginicus, Cornus florida, Halesia tetraptera, Sassafras albidum</i>, and <i>Zanthoxylum americanum</i>. Species in the shrub layers not included in the canopy include <i>Asimina triloba, Campsis radicans, Dirca palustris, Hamamelis virginiana, Lindera benzoin, Toxicodendron radicans</i>, and <i>Viburnum recognitum</i>. Cover in the diverse herb layer ranges from 5 to 90% depending on the degree of canopy shading, and includes species typical of mesic forests as well as those of floodplains.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35099-{ED0D9F7A-4E8E-4890-B60F-FCE3AF99C81D}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
40
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