Element Identifiers
NVCS association: Nyssa ogeche - (Nyssa biflora, Taxodium ascendens) Forest
Database Code: CEGL007392
Formation: Seasonally flooded cold-deciduous forest
Alliance: NYSSA (AQUATICA, BIFLORA, OGECHE) FLOODPLAIN SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (I.B.2.N.e.8)
Element Concept
Summary: This association occurs along blackwater streams. Nyssa ogeche is dominant, often admixed with Nyssa biflora and/or Taxodium ascendens. Acer rubrum var. trilobum is often also present, and Quercus laurifolia and Liquidambar styraciflua may also occur. Cyrilla racemiflora may occur as a subcanopy tree.
Environment: This association occurs along blackwater streams.
Vegetation: Nyssa ogeche is dominant, often admixed with Nyssa biflora and/or Taxodium ascendens. Acer rubrum var. trilobum is often also present, and Quercus laurifolia and Liquidambar styraciflua may also occur. Cyrilla racemiflora may occur as a subcanopy tree. A stand from the Apalachicola National Forest tentatively assigned here (from the Ochlockonee River) contains Nyssa ogeche, Nyssa biflora, Betula nigra, and Taxodium distichum in the canopy; Fraxinus caroliniana, Nyssa ogeche, Planera aquatica, and Crataegus phaenopyrum in the subcanopy; Cornus foemina, Leucothoe racemosa, and Sabal minor as shrubs; and the woody vines Campsis radicans and Smilax walteri. The epiphyte Pleopeltis polypodioides ssp. michauxiana (= Polypodium polypodioides var. michauxianum) is also present (NatureServe unpubl. data). This river is not strictly a blackwater river, being described as "sand-bottomed" (Nordlie 1990).
Dynamics: See Summary
Similar Associations: No information
Synonymy: No information
Comments: This forest type occurs along the St. Mary's River, Florida.
Conservation Ranking & Rare Species
GRank: G4 (97-10-09):
High-ranked species: No information
Element Distribution
Range:
States: FL GA SC?
Crosswalk to State Classifications: Not yet cross-referenced to state classifications
TNC Ecoregions: 53:C, 56:C
USFS Ecoregions: 232Br:CCC, 232Ca:CCC, 232Cb:CCC, 232Cc:CCP, 232Cd:CCP, 232Cf:CCC, 232Dc:CCC
Federal Lands: DOD (Fort Stewart); USFS (Apalachicola)
Element Sources
References: NatureServe Ecology - Southeast U.S. unpubl. data, Nordlie 1990
Backswamp/Slough Floodplain Forests
Brownwater Ogeechee Tupelo Swamp
Element Identifiers
NVCS association: Nyssa ogeche - Nyssa aquatica Forest
Database Code: CEGL007393
Formation: Seasonally flooded cold-deciduous forest
Alliance: NYSSA (AQUATICA, BIFLORA, OGECHE) FLOODPLAIN SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (I.B.2.N.e.8)
Element Concept
Summary: This association occurs along large alluvial (brownwater) rivers in the South Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains. Nyssa ogeche normally is the strong dominant species, though there is typically an admixture of Nyssa aquatica. Other typical species include Acer rubrum, Cephalanthus occidentalis, and Tillandsia usneoides.
Environment: This association occurs along large alluvial (brownwater) rivers in the South Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains.
Vegetation: Stands of this association are typically strongly dominated by Nyssa ogeche, although there is typically an admixture of Nyssa aquatica, possibly with Nyssa biflora. Other typical species include Acer rubrum, Cephalanthus occidentalis, and Tillandsia usneoides.
Dynamics: See Summary
Similar Associations: No information
Synonymy: No information
Comments: None
Conservation Ranking & Rare Species
GRank: G3 (97-10-09):
High-ranked species: No information
Element Distribution
Range: This association occurs in the South Atlantic and East Gulf coastal plains of Florida, Georgia, and possibly South Carolina.
States: FL GA SC?
Crosswalk to State Classifications: Not yet cross-referenced to state classifications
TNC Ecoregions: 53:C, 56:C
USFS Ecoregions: 232Ca:CCC, 232Cb:CCC, 232D:CC
Federal Lands: USFS (Apalachicola)
Element Sources
References:
Backswamp/Slough Floodplain Forests
Coastal Plain Planertree Floodplain Swamp Forest
Element Identifiers
NVCS association: Planera aquatica Forest
Database Code: CEGL007394
Formation: Seasonally flooded cold-deciduous forest
Alliance: PLANERA AQUATICA SEASONALLY FLOODED FOREST ALLIANCE (I.B.2.N.e.11)
Element Concept
Summary: This association consists of forests of the southeastern United States Coastal Plain in which Planera aquatica is dominant and may form an essentially monospecific canopy. Relatively few additional species are present in other vegetational strata, although these short-statured forests sometimes have a scattered emergent canopy of other tree species typical of flooded swamps. The herbaceous and vine/liana strata are sparse, and no species are known to be diagnostic of this type relative to other bottomlands. Due in part to extreme periods of inundation, this habitat is typically very low in species diversity.
Environment: These forests are associated with southern Coastal Plain rivers, often in depressions a meter or more lower in elevation than the surrounding bottomland hardwood forests. Fine-textured soils in these areas contribute to long periods of inundation typical of backswamp environments while at the same time allowing for further deposition of fine-textured particles. Relatively low chroma values at these sites probably indicate anaerobic soil conditions (Fanning and Fanning 1989). Soil analyses at plot locations of this type in eastern Texas and western Louisiana document strongly acid pH levels. Mundorff (1998) showed that these soils have higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium than other bottomland community types in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Plots examined in eastern Texas are also fairly high in calcium and magnesium (Turner et al. unpubl. data).
Vegetation: These forests are dominated by Planera aquatica, and in many cases form an essentially monospecific canopy of this species. These short-statured forests sometimes have a scattered emergent canopy of Taxodium ascendens, Taxodium distichum, Nyssa biflora, Populus heterophylla, Acer negundo, Fraxinus caroliniana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Platanus occidentalis, Carya aquatica, Celtis laevigata, Nyssa aquatica, Platanus occidentalis, Quercus lyrata, and Fraxinus pennsylvanica, among others. Quercus lyrata is the second most important overstory tree species documented in this association in eastern Texas. Midstory and shrub species in eastern Texas are Cephalanthus occidentalis and Cornus foemina. The herbaceous and vine/liana strata are sparse, and common species include Lindernia dubia, Commelina diffusa, Triadenum walteri, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Pluchea camphorata, Saururus cernuus, Boehmeria cylindrica, Echinodorus cordifolius, Justicia ovata, Packera glabella (= Senecio glabellus), Ampelopsis arborea, Campsis radicans, Toxicodendron radicans, Vitis rotundifolia, and Parthenocissus quinquefolia.
Dynamics: See Summary
Similar Associations: No information
Synonymy:
Floodplain Swamp, Water Elm Slough subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Floodplain Swamp, Water Elm/Pop Ash Slough subtype (FNAI 1992b)
Water Elm / Justicia Clayey Intermittently Exposed Swamps (Turner et al. 1999) B
Water Elm Pond (Wharton et al. 1982)
Comments: Possible Kentucky occurrences are only a few hectares in size.
Conservation Ranking & Rare Species
GRank: G4? (97-12-01):
High-ranked species: No information
Element Distribution
Range:
States: AL AR FL GA KY? LA MS NC OK SC TN? TX
Crosswalk to State Classifications:
FL: Floodplain Swamp, in part (FL 1992)
TNC Ecoregions: 40:C, 41:C, 42:C, 43:?, 53:C, 56:P, 57:C
USFS Ecoregions: 231:?, 232Bs:CCC, 232Cb:CCC, 232Dc:CCC, 234A:CC
Federal Lands: NPS (Congaree Swamp); USFS (Angelina, Apalachicola, Davy Crockett, Sabine?, Sam Houston?); USFWS (Reelfoot?)
Element Sources
References: FNAI 1992a, FNAI 1992b, Fanning and Fanning 1989, Mundorff 1998, TNC 1998?b, Turner et al. 1999, Turner et al. unpubl. data, Wharton et al. 1982
Backswamp/Slough Floodplain Forests
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