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The Natural Communities of Virginia
Classification of Ecological Community Groups
SECOND APPROXIMATION (Version 2.5)

Information current as of February, 2012

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Piedmont / Mountain Small-Stream Alluvial Forests
Forests in this group occupy temporarily flooded habitats along smaller-order streams, where distinct alluvial landforms (e.g ., levees, terraces, backswamps) occur at very small scales. These communities are found along many small rivers and streams throughout the Piedmont and mountain-region valleys; forests occurring along relatively high-gradient small rivers and large streams in the mountains were formerly recognized as a distinct group ("montane alluvial forests") but have now been merged into a broader treatment. Soils, flooding regimes, and floristic composition are diverse. Habitats generally consist of narrow floodplains with fine to coarse alluvial soils; bouldery or cobbly alluvium and rocky streambeds are typical in and at the foot of the mountains.

Characteristic trees in the Piedmont and larger mountain valleys include sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo), American elm (Ulmus americana), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), river birch (Betula nigra), red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava; southwestern Virginia only), black walnut (Juglans nigra), tulip-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and black willow (Salix nigra). Shrubs include spicebush (Lindera benzoin var. benzoin), black haw (Viburnum prunifolium), American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana), and American hazelnut (Corylus americana). Herbaceous composition varies greatly with site conditions and geography, but generally includes such characteristic species as mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum), hollow joe-pye-weed (Eupatorium fistulosum), thin-leaved sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), great lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica var. siphilitica), American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus), Virginia bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus), fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), fall phlox (Phlox paniculata), bristly hedgenettle (Stachys hispida), tall meadowrue (Thalictrum pubescens), and wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) .

Along montane floodplains, most of the lower, streamside terraces are probably flooded briefly at least annually. More powerful, catastrophic floods occur at irregular intervals and may be very destructive to stream channels and vegetation. The forests of these habitats are characterized by a mixture of bottomland and mesophytic species. Among the most common trees are sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), white oak (Quercus alba), birches (Betula alleghaniensis and Betula lenta), and tulip-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Other trees that may be locally important are American beech (Fagus grandifolia), yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava), red maple (Acer rubrum), American elm (Ulmus americana) and, in southwestern Virginia only, sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), (Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana), great-laurel (Rhododendron maximum), smooth alder (Alnus serrulata), willows (Salix sericea and Salix nigra), and witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Montane floodplain habitats are relatively well drained and support a great variety of mostly mesophytic herbaceous species such as hog-peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum ssp. triphyllum), green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum var. virginianum), and golden ragwort (Packera aurea = Senecio aureus). More frequently flooded and hydric microhabitats along the stream channels, however, usually support some wetland species, e.g ., twisted sedge (Carex torta), mountain fringed sedge (Carex gynandra), fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata), hooked buttercup (Ranunculus recurvatus), and marsh blue violet (Viola cucullata).

Compared to Piedmont / Mountain Floodplain Forests, communities of this group occupy smaller, more topographically heterogeneous floodplains and contain a lower diversity of vegetation. They are poorly documented in Virginia and are mostly in degraded condition because of extensive past clearing, grazing, catastrophic flooding, and invasive introduced weeds.

References: Coulling (1999), Fleming (2002a), Fleming (2007), Fleming and Coulling (2001), Fleming and Moorhead (2000), Gemborys (1974), Hupp (1982), Hupp (1986), Olson and Hupp (1986), Rawinski et al . (1994), Rawinski et al . (1996).

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Click on the images below to open a larger image in a separate window.

	Lush graminoid vegetation in a floodplain forest along Long Branch, in the western Piedmont of Patrick County. Photo: Irvine Wilson / © DCR Natural Heritage.
	Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) characterize a narrow floodplain forest along the Cowpasture River south of Williamsville in Bath County (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests). Photo © Gary P. Fleming.
	A montane alluvial forest along the headwaters of the Jackson River in Hidden Valley, Bath County (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests). The forest contains sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), birches (Betula spp.), and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), with an understory of American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) and smooth alder (Alnus serrulata). Photo: Gary P. Fleming / © DCR Natural Heritage.

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REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY TYPES:
Limited quantitative data (51 plots) have been collected from stands belonging to this diverse group (map). Of the four community types classified to date, only the Central Appalachian Montane Alluvial Forest (Tuliptree - White Pine Type) is considered somewhat robust. Much additional work is needed statewide, although relatively undisturbed stands in decent condition are hard to find. Click on any highlighted CEGL code below to view the global USNVC description provided by NatureServe Explorer.

• Liriodendron tulipifera - Acer (rubrum, negundo) - (Platanus occidentalis) / Carpinus caroliniana / Polygonum virginianum Forest
  Northern Piedmont Small-Stream Floodplain Forest
  USNVC: = CEGL006492
  Global/State Ranks: G4/S3?
  
  
• Liriodendron tulipifera - Platanus occidentalis - Betula lenta / Lindera benzoin / Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis Forest
  Northern Blue Ridge Montane Alluvial Forest
  USNVC: = CEGL006255
  Global/State Ranks: G3?/S3
  
  
• Liriodendron tulipifera - Pinus strobus - (Tsuga canadensis) / Carpinus caroliniana / Amphicarpaea bracteata Forest
  Central Appalachian Montane Alluvial Forest (Tuliptree - White Pine Type)
  USNVC: = CEGL008405
  Global/State Ranks: G3/S3
  
  
• Betula alleghaniensis / (Rhododendron maximum) / Thelypteris noveboracensis - Viola macloskeyi ssp. pallens - Scutellaria lateriflora Forest (Provisional)
  High Allegheny Montane Alluvial Forest
  USNVC: no equivalent
  Global/State Ranks: -/SU
  
  
  
  

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