National Forests in Florida Final Report


Sweetbay - Swampbay / Shining Fetterbush Forest



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Sweetbay - Swampbay / Shining Fetterbush Forest


Element Identifiers

NVCS association: Magnolia virginiana - Persea palustris / Lyonia lucida Forest

Database Code: CEGL007049

Formation: Saturated temperate seasonal evergreen forest

Alliance: MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - PERSEA PALUSTRIS SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (I.A.4.N.g.3)

Element Concept

Summary: This saturated forest of the Outer Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States has a low diversity of vascular plants. The canopy is dominated by Magnolia virginiana and Persea palustris, sometimes one or the other, and rarely also Gordonia lasianthus. The shrub layer is dominated by Lyonia lucida, and can also include Ilex coriacea. Scattered Sphagnum patches occur. This community sometimes occurs in association with Cliftonia monophylla forests, in which case it occurs in slightly drier (though still saturated) situations. Sites include stream-associated flats, stringers and isolated peaty wetlands.

Environment: This community sometimes occurs in association with Cliftonia monophylla forests, in which case it occurs in slightly drier (though still saturated) situations. Sites include stream-associated flats, stringers and isolated peaty wetlands.

Vegetation: The canopy of stands is dominated by Magnolia virginiana and/or Persea palustris (and rarely also Gordonia lasianthus). Additional less important components of the canopy are Nyssa biflora, Taxodium ascendens, Ilex cassine, Acer rubrum, and Cliftonia monophylla. Sometimes there is a very sparse canopy emergent component of Pinus elliottii or Pinus serotina. The shrub layer is dominated by Lyonia lucida, and can also include Ilex coriacea, Morella cerifera, Clethra alnifolia, Serenoa repens, Gaylussacia mosieri, Ilex coriacea, Rhododendron viscosum, Ilex glabra, Hamamelis virginiana, and Leucothoe racemosa. Vines are mainly Smilax laurifolia, but also Vitis rotundifolia and Toxicodendron radicans. Herbaceous flora is sparse to absent, but can include Osmunda cinnamomea and Woodwardia virginica. Tillandsia usneoides can be present as an epiphyte. Scattered Sphagnum patches occur. Stands of this forest typically have a low diversity of vascular plants. A site in Bradwell Bay, Apalachicola National Forest, burned in a high-intensity wildfire in 1998. It was a regenerating stand of Magnolia virginiana with some Pinus elliottii and Pinus serotina. Lyonia lucida was a dominant shrub. The herbaceous flora was sparse but somewhat more diverse than other examples of this association.

Dynamics: This association is subject to flooding, especially following hurricanes. An example of this association burned in a high-intensity wildfire in 1998 at Bradwell Bay, Apalachicola National Forest.

Similar Associations: No information

Synonymy:

  • Floodplain Swamp, Sweet Bay Swamp subtype (FNAI 1992b)

Comments: Examples at Sandy Island, Georgetown County, South Carolina.

Conservation Ranking & Rare Species

GRank: G3? (01-01-31): This bay forest type is limited to acidic peaty soils of the Outer Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. It appears to be uncommon, though additional information is needed on its extent and conservation status. Nearly all examples have been altered by timber harvest.

High-ranked species: No information

Element Distribution

Range: This bay forest type is limited to acidic peaty soils of the Outer Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States from South Carolina Florida and possibly Alabama.

States: AL? FL GA SC

Crosswalk to State Classifications:

  • FL: Floodplain Swamp, in part (FL 1992)

TNC Ecoregions: 53:C, 55:P, 56:C, 57:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Bf:CCC, 232Bg:CCC, 232Bh:CCC, 232Bq:CCP, 232Br:CCC, 232Ca:CCC, 232Cc:CCC, 232Cf:CC?, 232Dc:CCC

Federal Lands: DOD (Eglin, Fort Gordon?); USFS (Apalachicola, Ocala, Osceola)

Element Sources

References: FNAI 1992a, FNAI 1992b

Baygalls and Bayheads


Swamp Blackgum - Sweetbay - (Slash Pine) / (Evergreen Bayberry, Odorless Bayberry) Forest


Element Identifiers

NVCS association: Nyssa biflora - Magnolia virginiana - (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii) / Morella (caroliniensis, inodora) Forest

Database Code: CEGL007156

Formation: Saturated mixed needle-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest

Alliance: PINUS ELLIOTTII - MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - NYSSA BIFLORA - (TAXODIUM ASCENDENS) SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (I.C.3.N.d.1)

Element Concept

Summary: A mixed canopy 'bay forest' dominated by species such as Nyssa biflora and Magnolia virginiana, with Pinus elliottii var. elliottii present in many examples. This is a saturated forest receiving input from groundwater seepage as well as from rainfall events. It often contains small, braided seepage-fed streams, and extends along shallow, fairly narrow drainages; it only occasionally forms broad swamps. The highly organic sandy soils are topped with a thick peat layer. During drought periods, no water may be visible in the headwaters. Pinus elliottii may be a prominent feature of the community, rising above the canopy as large emergents, or it may have been removed by logging. The canopy may also contain Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Pinus taeda. Along with the nominals, shrubs include Lyonia lucida, Cyrilla racemiflora, Viburnum nudum, Itea virginica, Persea palustris, Ilex opaca, Clethra alnifolia, and Smilax laurifolia. The very scattered herbaceous layer contains Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis and Woodwardia areolata. Sphagnum is more common near the edges where the degree of light penetration is higher. This forest occurs in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Florida and Mississippi, and possibly in Alabama and Georgia as well.

Environment: This is a saturated forest receiving input from groundwater seepage as well as from rainfall events. It often contains small, braided seepage-fed streams, and extends along shallow, fairly narrow drainages; it only occasionally forms broad swamps. The highly organic sandy soils are topped with a thick peat layer. During drought periods, no water may be visible in the headwaters. This forest is typically extremely dense; the proportion of Nyssa biflora increases with the volume of water carried by the creek. Soils on which this association is found include poorly drained silt loams (Bibb and Trebloc) as well as very poorly drained 'mucky' organics (Pamlico-Dorovan association).

Vegetation: A mixed canopy 'bay forest' dominated by species such as Nyssa biflora and Magnolia virginiana, with Pinus elliottii var. elliottii present in many examples. This forest is typically extremely dense; the proportion of Nyssa biflora increases with the volume of water carried by the creek. Pinus elliottii may be a prominent feature of the community, rising above the canopy as large emergents, or it may have been removed by logging. The canopy may also contain Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Gordonia lasianthus, Taxodium ascendens, and Pinus taeda. Along with the nominals, shrubs include Lyonia lucida, Cyrilla racemiflora, Viburnum nudum, Itea virginica, Persea palustris, Leucothoe racemosa, Ilex glabra, Ilex opaca, and Clethra alnifolia. Vines are mainly Smilax laurifolia. Smilax walteri, Toxicodendron radicans, and Vitis rotundifolia can also be present. Examples from northeast Florida lack Morella inodora, and Morella cerifera can have low cover values. The very scattered herbaceous layer contains Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis and Woodwardia areolata. Other herbaceous species may include Woodwardia virginica, Osmunda cinnamomea, Mayaca fluviatilis, Viola X primulifolia, Carex glaucescens, Triadenum virginicum, Carex leptalea ssp. harperi, Rhynchospora gracilenta, Rhynchospora capitellata (= Rhynchospora leptocarpa), and Saururus cernuus. In southern Mississippi, Eriocaulon decangulare var. latifolium and Pinguicula primuliflora are characteristic, and examples may contain Melanthium virginicum, Isoetes louisianensis, Peltandra sagittifolia, and Macranthera flammea. Sphagnum is more common near the edges where the degree of light penetration is higher.

Dynamics: This association is subject to heavy flooding following hurricanes.

Similar Associations: No information

Synonymy:

  • Black Gum-Bay-Pine Swamp (Moore pers. comm.)

  • Bayhead (FNAI 1990)

  • Bay Swamp (FNAI 1990)

Comments: None

Conservation Ranking & Rare Species

GRank: G4? (99-12-16): This bay swamp community type is common in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Florida and Mississippi, and possibly extends into Alabama and Georgia. It has also been documented in northeast Florida. This forest is dependent on groundwater seepage and rainfall and is found along shallow, fairly narrow drainages, only occasionally forming broad swamps. Because it often occurs in narrow corridors and small parcels, this community is vulnerable to damage from silvicultural and agricultural activities conducted in adjacent uplands, such as trampling and grazing from cattle, conversion of ecotones and sometimes entire small parcels to pine plantation, and stream channelization that narrows the wetland corridor. Despite this, there are numerous excellent examples of this forest on public lands relatively protected from these activities, and this community is apparently secure globally, although additional survey work is necessary to determine the true extent and quality of this community throughout its range.

High-ranked species: No information

Element Distribution

Range: This bay swamp community type is common in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Florida and Mississippi, and possibly extends into Alabama and Georgia. It has also been documented in northeast Florida.

States: AL? FL GA? MS

Crosswalk to State Classifications:

  • FL: Baygall, in part (FL 1992)

  • MS: Coastal Plain Small Stream Swamp Forest, in part (MS 1994)

TNC Ecoregions: 53:C, 55:C, 56:C

USFS Ecoregions: 232Bj:CCC, 232Ca:CPP, 232Dc:CCC

Federal Lands: DOD (Eglin, Hurlburt Field, Tyndall); USFS (Apalachicola, Conecuh?, De Soto, Ocala, Osceola)

Element Sources

References: FNAI 1990, FNAI 1992b, Moore pers. comm., USFS 1984a, Wieland 1994b

Baygalls and Bayheads




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