Name:
Nyssa biflora - Quercus michauxii - Taxodium distichum Basin Swamp & Flatwoods Macrogroup
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
These are forests of poorly drained basins and wet flats in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States, including nonriverine wetland hardwood forests, dominated by some combination of <i>Quercus</i> species and <i>Nyssa</i> species, with <i>Chamaecyparis thyoides, Liquidambar styraciflua, Pinus serotina, Pinus taeda, Taxodium distichum</i>, and other trees that tolerate wetland conditions. Basin swamps (G038) tend to experience longer periods of saturation and their dominant flora reflects this, with the <i>Quercus</i> species including <i>Quercus laurifolia, Quercus michauxii</i>, and <i>Quercus phellos</i>, with <i>Nyssa biflora, Nyssa ogeche</i>, and/or <i>Nyssa sylvatica</i>. Wet flatwoods (G130) vary more in their hydroperiod and the associated species sort along this moisture gradient, with more mesic zones including <i>Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus michauxii, Quercus nigra, Quercus pagoda</i>, and <i>Quercus shumardii</i>, with <i>Quercus laurifolia</i> and <i>Quercus phellos</i> in wetter zones. Other woody species that may occur in basin swamps (G038) include <i>Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Fraxinus profunda, Liriodendron tulipifera</i>, and <i>Populus heterophylla</i>. Typical species in the moderate to dense understory include <i>Clethra alnifolia, Cyrilla racemiflora, Ilex opaca var. opaca, Lyonia lucida, Magnolia virginiana, Persea palustris</i>, and <i>Smilax laurifolia</i>. Vines are conspicuous components, with important species including <i>Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Smilax smallii, Toxicodendron radicans, Vitis rotundifolia</i>, and <i>Vitis aestivalis</i>. Herbaceous species in basin swamps are more limited due to the extended hydroperiods, and may include <i>Carex</i> spp., <i>Sphagnum</i> spp., <i>Woodwardia areolata</i>, and <i>Woodwardia virginica</i>. Flatwoods may be more diverse, and their ground layers can include <i>Agrimonia rostellata, Aristolochia serpentaria, Botrychium virginianum, Carex cherokeensis, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Clematis virginiana, Clitoria mariana, Dichanthelium boscii, Dioscorea villosa, Elephantopus carolinianus, Elephantopus tomentosus, Geum canadense, Galium circaezans, Passiflora lutea, Phryma leptostachya, Podophyllum peltatum, Ruellia caroliniensis, Sanicula canadensis, Scleria oligantha, Smallanthus uvedalius</i>, and <i>Spigelia marilandica</i>. The environment for this vegetation encompasses two more-or-less distinct habitats types. Basin swamps (G038) occupy large, seasonally inundated nonriverine basins with peaty substrates, as well as less well-defined broad interfluvial flats and smaller areas near headwater streams in the coastal plains. These flatter areas may have some conceptual overlap with wet flatwoods (G130) in terms of their environment. Wet flatwoods (G130) occur in flat terrain where soils are seasonally to nearly semipermanently saturated because of low relief, poor soil drainage, and the seasonally high water table. The hydrology is dominated by groundwater seepage, rainfall and sheetflow. Overbank and tidal flooding, if they occur, have little to no influence on the vegetation. The available soil moisture fluctuates widely throughout the growing season, from saturated to very dry, a condition sometimes referred to as xerohydric or hydroxeric. The largest areas are on broad interfluvial flats; examples also occur on sites above modern floodplains but with poor internal drainage: nonriverine Pleistocene high terraces, as well as in broad, low flats, in small to large depressions, and along small, ill-defined drainages.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40458-{B0DF5F5B-23FB-4F2D-AC8E-40C1C2A2CDEC}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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