Name:
Taxodium distichum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Quercus laurifolia / Acer rubrum / Saururus cernuus Floodplain Forest
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This forest of bald-cypress and mixed hardwoods occurs in sloughs, alluvial flats, and other alluvial settings in the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States, especially on soils with a percentage of silt. This type was originally documented in the Atlantic Coastal Plain but also occurs in the Gulf Coastal Plain as well. Examples of this association are dominated by <i>Taxodium distichum</i>, but differ from most other bald-cypress forests in the diversity of other hardwoods present (stands codominated by <i>Nyssa</i> are accommodated by other associations). A number of other tree species may be present in the canopy and/or subcanopy, some of which are indicative of less inundated conditions typically found in well developed slough and backswamps. These species include <i>Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, Quercus michauxii, Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Planera aquatica, Fraxinus caroliniana, Celtis laevigata, Ulmus americana, Platanus occidentalis</i>, and <i>Acer negundo</i>. The canopy is closed and the subcanopy layer generally is well-developed. The shrub layer is sparse and the herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense depending upon duration of flooding. <i>Acer rubrum</i> is the strong dominant in the subcanopy with <i>Planera aquatica, Carpinus caroliniana, Ulmus alata, Ilex decidua</i>, and <i>Celtis laevigata</i> typical in this stratum as well. <i>Itea virginica</i> and <i>Cephalanthus occidentalis</i> are typical in the shrub layer. A variety of vines are possible within occurrences of this community. These include <i>Vitis rotundifolia, Vitis aestivalis, Bignonia capreolata, Campsis radicans, Berchemia scandens, Trachelospermum difforme</i>, and <i>Mikania scandens</i>. The most commonly occurring herbs are <i>Asclepias perennis, Boehmeria cylindrica, Pilea pumila, Saururus cernuus, Commelina virginica, Justicia ovata, Phanopyrum gymnocarpon, Carex lupulina, Leersia lenticularis, Ludwigia alternifolia</i>, and <i>Chasmanthium latifolium</i>. This forest type is documented in North Carolina and South Carolina; global distribution needs assessment.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35908-{D36E73CE-BDD5-4382-A63B-C3386CBAA67A}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
56
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