Forest composition of Histic Alluvial Forests is dependent on flooding regime and landscape orientation. Cypress (Taxodium spp.) is generally ubiquitous in the canopy. However, bald cypress (T. distichum) occurs in swamp forests of seasonally flooded alluvial floodplains, usually associated with free flowing streams and rivers. Other canopy trees of floodplain swamp forests include water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), swamp tupelo (N. sylvatica var. biflora), water hickory (Carya aquatica), red maple (Acer rubrum), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), American elm (Ulmus americana), and swamp laurel oak (Q. laurifolia).
Forests of basin swamps are compositionally different. Pond cypress (T. ascendens) is dominant and indicative of still water conditions. Other flood tolerant trees of the canopy and midstory include swamp tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora), red maple (Acer rubrum), dahoon (Ilex cassine), swamp bay (Persea palustris), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus), swamp laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), water oak (Quercus nigra), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), and American elm (Ulmus americana). Depending on the hydrology and fire history, slash pine may be present in the canopy (P. elliottii).
The mid- and under-story of floodplain and basin swamp forests are variable, and depend on small scale variations in hydrology and topography. Common shrub species include: Virginia willow (Itea virginica), swamp dogwood (Cornus foemina), swamp doghobble (Leucothoe racemosa), myrtle dahoon (Ilex cassine var. myrtifolia), fetterbush (Lyonia lucida), wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), and common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Herbaceous ground cover is also variable and usually sparse.
This state describes permanently flooded conditions for this site. Permanent flooding may result from damming, or a natural event causing permanent inundation. Depending on the depth of permanent inundation, cypress will persist in an open water swamp with emergent aquatic vegetation, or all canopy trees will die over time.
This state describes conditions related to land use conversion for community production. Drastic changes in hydrologic regime result from draining and clearing.
State 4 describes a condition where one or several noxious non-native species has invaded and dominated the site.
Model keys
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