I.A. Evergreen forest
I.A.4.N.e.1 Live Oak Temporarily Flooded Forest Alliance (A.57)
QUERCUS VIRGINIANA TEMPORARILY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE
Alliance Concept
Summary: This alliance includes temporarily and infrequently flooded forests dominated by Quercus virginiana occurring on older and more recent natural levee ridges and terraces within antecedent and current floodplain systems of large Coastal Plain rivers of both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Hydrology is variable, including temporarily flooded areas within current floodplains and very infrequently flooded areas within antecedent floodplains. Species composition is also variable depending on hydrology and geographic location. A poorly described type with a broad geographic range includes Pinus taeda as a codominant with Quercus virginiana. This alliance may contain disparate elements that have been grouped together primarily on landscape position and the predominance of Quercus virginiana in the overstory. Additional evaluation and inventory of these associations are needed.
Synonymy:
Coastal Plain lowland broad-leaved evergreen forest (Ambrose 1990a)
Hydric Hammock, in part (FNAI 1992a)
Live Oak: 89, in part (Eyre 1980)
Comments: In the South Atlantic Coastal Plain, this vegetation occurs along the St. Mary's, Altamaha, and Aucilla rivers. This alliance may contain disparate elements that have been grouped together primarily on landscape position and the predominance of Quercus virginiana in the overstory. Further evaluation and inventory are needed to fully described this alliance (JT 1-01).
Alliance Distribution
Range: This alliance is found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina (?), and Texas. It occurs in coastal and near-coastal areas from the South Atlantic Coastal Plain to the West Gulf Coastal Plain.
States: AL FL GA LA MS SC? TX
USFS Ecoregions: 231E:P, 231F:P, 232B:C, 232C:C, 232D:C, 232E:C, 232G:?, 234A:C, 255D:C
Federal Lands: DOD (Eglin); USFS (Apalachicola, Conecuh, De Soto?, Ocala, Osceola); USFWS (Attwater's Prairie Chicken, San Bernard, Trinity River?)
Alliance Sources
References: Ambrose 1990a, Duever and Brinson 1984b, Eyre 1980, FNAI 1990, FNAI 1992a, FNAI 1992b, Stalter et al. 1981
I.A.4.N.g. Saturated temperate seasonal evergreen forest
I.A. Evergreen forest
I.A.4.N.g.1 Black Titi Saturated Forest Alliance (A.58)
CLIFTONIA MONOPHYLLA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE
Alliance Concept
Summary: This alliance consists of peaty wetland forests dominated by Cliftonia monophylla. Communities of this alliance may be extensive wetlands (up to 300 or more hectares), generally with a longer hydroperiod than other baygall associations; such large occurrences have developed over peat at least 1-2 m deep. Other communities in the alliance occur over nutrient-poor saturated mineral soils. The canopy is often nearly pure Cliftonia monophylla, 10-15 m tall; a sparse supercanopy of Pinus serotina or Pinus elliottii var. elliottii is sometimes present, especially near the transition to wet flatwoods. The open to dense shrub layer may contain Cliftonia monophylla, Morella inodora (= Myrica inodora), Gaylussacia mosieri, Lyonia lucida, Ilex coriacea, and Nyssa biflora. Herbs are infrequent and may occur in small patches; they may include Peltandra sagittifolia, Sarracenia rubra ssp. gulfensis, Utricularia subulata, Drosera capillaris, Eriocaulon decangulare, Rhynchospora sp., Balduina uniflora, and Cleistes bifaria. Sphagnum spp. are common. Catastrophic fire may have been a rare type of disturbance in the past. This is a naturally occurring vegetation type, though possibly increased in occurrence by logging and subsequent fire suppression.
Synonymy:
Baygall, in part (FNAI 1992a)
Comments:
Alliance Distribution
Range: This alliance is found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi.
States: AL FL GA MS
USFS Ecoregions: 232B:C, 232C:C, 232D:C
Federal Lands: DOD (Eglin, Fort Stewart); USFS (Apalachicola, Conecuh); USFWS (Okefenokee)
Alliance Sources
References: Clewell 1971, Clewell 1981, FNAI 1992a
I.A. Evergreen forest
I.A.4.N.g.2 Loblolly-bay Saturated Forest Alliance (A.59)
GORDONIA LASIANTHUS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE
Alliance Concept
Summary: This alliance consists of bay forests dominated by Gordonia lasianthus, with closed or moderately open canopy. This alliance occurs in streamhead pocosins, other peaty streamhead situations, large peat dome pocosins, peat-filled Carolina bays, and seeps at slope bases. The closed, broad-leaved evergreen canopy is dominated by Gordonia lasianthus, though other bays (Magnolia virginiana and Persea palustris), Acer rubrum, Pinus serotina, and Pinus elliottii var. elliottii may occur. This alliance presumably can occur as a mosaic with the Magnolia virginiana - Persea palustris Saturated Forest Alliance (A.60), as well as with other pocosin/baygall vegetation types. Associated shrubs include Cyrilla racemiflora, Clethra alnifolia, Itea virginica, Lyonia lucida, Ilex glabra, and Cephalanthus occidentalis. Vines (Smilax laurifolia, Smilax glauca, Vitis rotundifolia) and ferns (Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, and Woodwardia areolata) also occur. Peltandra virginica is a characteristic herbaceous species.
Synonymy:
IIA2d. Bay Forest, in part (Allard 1990)
Baygall, in part (FNAI 1992a)
Bay Forest, in part (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
Baygall, Loblolly Baygall subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Sweetbay - Swamp Tupelo - Redbay: 104, in part (Eyre 1980)
Comments:
Alliance Distribution
Range: This alliance is found in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
States: FL GA NC SC
USFS Ecoregions: 232B:C, 232C:C, 232D:C
Federal Lands: DOD (Fort Stewart); USFS (Apalachicola, Croatan, Francis Marion?, Ocala, Osceola)
Alliance Sources
References: Allard 1990, Christensen et al. 1981, Clewell 1971, Eyre 1980, FNAI 1990, FNAI 1992a, FNAI 1992b, Huck 1987, Jones 1981, Kologiski 1977, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Weakley and Schafale 1991, Wolfe 1990
I.A. Evergreen forest
I.A.4.N.g.3 Sweetbay - Swampbay Saturated Forest Alliance (A.60)
MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - PERSEA PALUSTRIS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE
Alliance Concept
Summary: Saturated forests with the canopy dominated by Magnolia virginiana and/or Persea palustris, with both species generally present; one or the other may dominate. A small component of Gordonia lasianthus may be present in some associations but only in small amounts; communities with substantial amounts of Gordonia are treated in the I.A.4.N.g Gordonia lasianthus Saturated Forest Alliance (A.59). ^This alliance includes seepage-fed saturated forests found at the base of steepheads, with cool microclimates; also stream-associated flats and isolated peaty wetlands; as well as peaty soils only slightly above sea level, in swales and seepage-fed areas adjacent to sand dunes. Shrubs may include Illicium floridanum (which may be abundant and characteristic of some associations), Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Clethra alnifolia, Itea virginica, Pinckneya bracteata, and Lyonia lucida. Herbs include Rhynchospora spp., Peltandra sagittifolia, Sarracenia purpurea, Drosera intermedia, Pinguicula pumila, Viola X primulifolia, Athyrium filix-femina ssp. asplenioides, Woodwardia areolata, and Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea. Sphagnum is common to scattered in examples of this alliance. Some examples occur in association with Cliftonia monophylla Forest, in slightly drier (though still saturated) situations. Canopy coverage can vary, depending on disturbance; some maritime associations are subject to flooding, hurricanes, or storms which can create canopy openings. A maritime forest dominated by Persea palustris is included here; in this example Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) is common in the shrub layer. The herb layer has Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Woodwardia virginica, and Woodwardia areolata. This alliance is known from the Atlantic Coastal Plain from North Carolina south to Florida, and in the Florida Gulf Coastal Plain. Occurrences in subtropical Florida have subtropical components, such as Chrysobalanus icaco, Ficus aurea, Annona glabra, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (= Sambucus simpsonii), Myrsine floridana, Psychotria tenuifolia, Dicliptera sexangularis, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense, Acrostichum danaeifolium, Blechnum serrulatum, Nephrolepis exaltata, Thelypteris kunthii, Rivina humilis, Habenaria odontopetala, and Melothria pendula.
Synonymy:
IIB2a. Bay Forest, in part (Allard 1990)
Baygall, in part (FNAI 1992a)
Bog, in part (FNAI 1992a)
Floodplain Swamp, in part (FNAI 1992a)
Strand Swamp. in part? (FNAI 1992a)
Forest, Carolina bay/Okefenokee swamp (Ambrose 1990a)
Bay Forest, in part (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
Maritime Shrub Swamp, Red Bay Variant (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
Floodplain Swamp, Sweet Bay Swamp subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Baygall, Sweetbay Baygall subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Bog, Everglades Bayhead subtype, in part (FNAI 1992b)
Strand Swamp, Everglades Bay Swamp subtype. ? (FNAI 1992b)
Bayhead/Swamp Forests (Gunderson and Loftus 1993)
Bayhead (Olmsted and Loope 1984)
South Florida Bayhead Swamp Forest (Loope et al. 1994)
Shark Slough Bayhead Forest (Hilsenbeck et al. 1979)
Tropical Hardwoods: 105, in part (Eyre 1980)
Sweetbay - Swamp Tupelo - Redbay: 104, in part (Eyre 1980)
Comments:
Alliance Distribution
Range: This alliance is found in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and may occur in Alabama. This alliance is known from the Atlantic Coastal Plain from North Carolina south to Florida and the Florida Gulf Coastal Plain.
States: AL? FL GA NC SC
USFS Ecoregions: 232B:C, 232C:C, 232D:C, 232G:C, 411A:C
Federal Lands: DOD (Eglin, Fort Gordon?); NPS (Everglades); USFS (Apalachicola, Croatan?, Ocala, Osceola)
Alliance Sources
References: Allard 1990, Ambrose 1990a, Eyre 1980, FNAI 1992a, FNAI 1992b, Gunderson and Loftus 1993, Hillestad et al. 1975, Hilsenbeck et al. 1979, Hosier 1975, Kindell et al. 1997, Loope et al. 1994, Olmsted and Loope 1984, Rayner 1984, SCWMRD 1984, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Schomer and Drew 1982, Wharton 1978
I.A. Evergreen forest
I.A.4.N.g.4 Cabbage Palmetto - Live Oak Saturated Forest Alliance (A.61)
SABAL PALMETTO - QUERCUS VIRGINIANA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE
Alliance Concept
Summary: This alliance encompasses wet palmetto - live oak forests, occurring throughout central and southern Florida; these are sometimes known as low hammocks or hydric hammocks. Sabal palmetto and Quercus virginiana generally share dominance, and few other trees except Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola are commonly encountered. Sabal palmetto or the other two primary canopy species may strongly dominate local patches. Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) is a typical shrub or small tree. A related alliance encompasses more diverse-canopied hydric hammocks, occurring in more inland situations (or at least away from immediate coastal influence) and with enough admixture of deciduous and tardily deciduous trees to be placed in a mixed forest subclass (see below). This alliance generally occurs on sands, shell hash, or limestone, with either a substantial calcareous component or influence (past or present) of brackish water. Occurrences in North Carolina and South Carolina are of small size and are marginally attributable to this alliance.
Synonymy:
Hydric Hammock, in part (FNAI 1992a)
Prairie Hammock (FNAI 1992a)
Coastal Plain lowland broad-leaved evergreen forest (Ambrose 1990a)
Maritime Evergreen Forest, in part (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
Prairie Hammock, Palm/Oak Hammock subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Prairie Hammock, Cabbage Palm Hammock subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Prairie Hammock, Live Oak Hammock subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Low hammock (Richardson 1977)
Cabbage Palmetto: 74, in part (Eyre 1980)
Comments: In North Carolina, this alliance occurs only as small inclusions in or adjacent to upland maritime forests. There may be some difficulty in distinguishing examples of the various saturated alliances which involve Sabal palmetto (Sabal palmetto - Quercus virginiana Saturated Forest Alliance (A.61), Sabal palmetto - Quercus laurifolia - Quercus virginiana - Magnolia virginiana - Ulmus americana Saturated Forest Alliance (A.380), and Sabal palmetto Saturated Woodland Alliance (A.488)). These all represent, at least in part, various kinds of hydric hammocks.
Alliance Distribution
Range: This alliance is found in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Occurrences in North Carolina and South Carolina are of small size and are marginally attributable to this alliance.
States: FL GA NC SC
USFS Ecoregions: 232B:C, 232C:C, 232D:C, 232G:C, 411A:C
Federal Lands: DOD (Cape Canaveral); NPS (Big Cypress); USFS (Ocala); USFWS (Merritt Island)
Alliance Sources
References: Ambrose 1990a, Duever and Brinson 1984b, Eyre 1980, FNAI 1990, FNAI 1992a, FNAI 1992b, Harshberger 1914, Johnson and Barbour 1990, Richardson 1977, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Stalter et al. 1981, Vince et al. 1989
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