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CEGL004719 Scirpus cyperinus - Panicum rigidulum - Rhynchospora corniculata - (Dulichium arundinaceum) Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Woolgrass - Redtop Panicgrass - Short-bristle Horned Beaksedge - (Threeway Sedge) Marsh
Colloquial Name: Highland Rim Pond (Woolgrass Bulrush - Threeway Sedge Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a component of emergent zones in upland depression ponds of the Interior Low Plateau of Kentucky, Tennessee, and possibly Indiana, as well as in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and Piedmont ecoregions of Alabama. Stands may have a pronounced seasonal fluctuation in water level, becoming saturated to ponded in the winter and often drying completely in the summer. The vegetation is typically dominated by patches or zones of Scirpus cyperinus, possibly with thick mats of Dulichium arundinaceum. In addition to these, various Carex spp., Juncus coriaceus, Juncus effusus, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Panicum rigidulum, Rhynchospora spp., and scattered Itea virginica and Cephalanthus occidentalis are often found. Floristics and gradient expression vary with context and management. Some examples may have additional small trees and shrubs, such as Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Alnus serrulata, Hibiscus moscheutos, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa biflora, Pinus taeda, Quercus phellos, and Rosa palustris scattered within. On drier ground (either surrounding the pond center or scattered about on hummocks), Scirpus cyperinus may share dominance with Panicum rigidulum var. elongatum and Rhynchospora corniculata. Some other herbaceous species which are present may include Andropogon virginicus, Carex bullata, Carex gigantea, Carex lurida, Calamagrostis coarctata, Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum, Dichanthelium longiligulatum, Dichanthelium scoparium, Eleocharis sp., Leersia hexandra, Ludwigia alternifolia, Ludwigia leptocarpa, Ludwigia palustris, Lycopus sp., Proserpinaca pectinata, Rhexia mariana, Rhynchospora chalarocephala, Rhynchospora corniculata, Rhynchospora glomerata, Rhynchospora perplexa, Saccharum baldwinii, Triadenum virginicum, Xyris laxifolia var. iridifolia, and Xyris smalliana. The vegetation may consist of monospecific clumps of the component species, which are present around the pond margin, or scattered on hummocks within. Zones or areas of deeper water may support floating aquatics, including Nymphaea odorata and Utricularia gibba.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community provides important breeding habitat for amphibians. Originally described from the Eastern Highland Rim of Coffee and DeKalb counties, Tennessee. On Arnold Air Force Base, Coffee County, Tennessee, an example is known from a depression pond located on the former airfield. Mingo Pond, in Franklin County, Tennessee, is presumed to be an exemplary occurrence of this type. This type includes a sample from Talladega National Forest Survey (Oakmulgee Ranger District; 231Bc) August 2000 Survey (sample: 715 Beaver Ponds #1 and Pondville Butterfly Site #1).
In Indiana see ~Carex comosa - Carex decomposita - Dulichium arundinaceum - Lycopus rubellus Marsh (CEGL002413)$$, a semipermanently flooded community of deeper sinkhole ponds; however, there is a pond that might fit the description of this type, though it has increased in woody cover somewhat in recent years, and would take some management to revert and fit the type, as it once did (M. Homoya pers. comm. 2000).
In Indiana see ~Carex comosa - Carex decomposita - Dulichium arundinaceum - Lycopus rubellus Marsh (CEGL002413)$$, a semipermanently flooded community of deeper sinkhole ponds; however, there is a pond that might fit the description of this type, though it has increased in woody cover somewhat in recent years, and would take some management to revert and fit the type, as it once did (M. Homoya pers. comm. 2000).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is typically dominated by patches or zones of Scirpus cyperinus, possibly with thick mats of Dulichium arundinaceum. In addition to these, various Carex spp., Juncus coriaceus, Juncus effusus, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Panicum rigidulum, Rhynchospora spp., and scattered Itea virginica and Cephalanthus occidentalis are often found. Floristics and gradient expression vary with context and management. Some examples (Interior Low Plateau of Tennessee) may have additional small trees and shrubs, such as Hibiscus moscheutos, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus phellos, and Rosa palustris scattered within. The Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain (Alabama) example has Nyssa biflora, Alnus serrulata, Itea virginica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Pinus taeda and Acer rubrum var. trilobum as scattered woody plants. Scirpus cyperinus may share dominance with Panicum rigidulum var. elongatum and Rhynchospora corniculata on drier ground surrounding the pond center, or scattered about on hummocks. Zones or areas of deeper water may support floating aquatics, including Nymphaea odorata and Utricularia gibba. In more open examples (Tennessee), some other species present may include Xyris laxifolia var. iridifolia, Carex bullata, Carex gigantea, Carex lurida, Calamagrostis coarctata, Leersia hexandra, Rhynchospora corniculata, Rhynchospora glomerata, Rhynchospora perplexa, Andropogon virginicus, Dichanthelium scoparium, Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum (= Dichanthelium dichotomum var. ramulosum), Dichanthelium longiligulatum, Saccharum baldwinii, and Proserpinaca pectinata. Some additional herbaceous species seen in the Alabama occurrence include Eleocharis sp., Ludwigia alternifolia, Ludwigia leptocarpa, Ludwigia palustris, Lycopus sp., Rhexia mariana, Rhynchospora chalarocephala, Triadenum virginicum, and Xyris smalliana. The vegetation may consist of monospecific clumps of the component species, which are present around the pond margin, or scattered clumps in examples with less clear zonation.
Dynamics: Some examples of this association have a pronounced seasonal fluctuation in water level, becoming saturated to ponded in the winter and often drying completely in the summer. This community provides important breeding habitat for amphibians.
Environmental Description: This association is a component of emergent zones in upland depression ponds of the Interior Low Plateau of Kentucky, Tennessee, and possibly Indiana, and in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and Piedmont ecoregions of Alabama (where it is documented from a beaver pond on the Talladega National Forest and a temporarily flooded swale at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park). It may have a pronounced seasonal fluctuation in water level, becoming saturated to ponded in the winter and often drying completely in the summer.
Geographic Range: This herbaceous pond vegetation is found in the Interior Low Plateau region of the United States (Kentucky, Tennessee, and possibly Indiana), and in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and Piedmont ecoregions of Alabama.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, IN, KY, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683099
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D323 | 2.C.4.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nd.90 Common Rush - Purple Loosestrife - Reed Canarygrass Eastern North American Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M303 | 2.C.4.Nd.90 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.90.a Bushy Bluestem - Common Rush Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group | G557 | 2.C.4.Nd.90.a |
| Alliance | A3412 Common Rush - Bushy Bluestem - Giant Plumegrass Ruderal Marsh Alliance | A3412 | 2.C.4.Nd.90.a |
| Association | CEGL004719 Woolgrass - Redtop Panicgrass - Short-bristle Horned Beaksedge - (Threeway Sedge) Marsh | CEGL004719 | 2.C.4.Nd.90.a |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Scirpus cyperinus - Panicum rigidulum - Rhynchospora corniculata - (Dulichium arundinaceum) Herbaceous Vegetation (TNC 1998a)
= Scirpus cyperinus - Panicum rigidulum var. elongatum - Rhynchospora corniculata - (Dulichium arundinaceum) Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Scirpus cyperinus - Panicum rigidulum var. elongatum - Rhynchospora corniculata - (Dulichium arundinaceum) Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- Ellis, W. H., and E. W. Chester. 1989. Upland swamps of the Highland Rim of Tennessee. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 64(3):97-101.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Homoya, M. A., J. Aldrich, J. Bacone, L. Casebere, and T. Post. 1988. Indiana natural community classification. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indianapolis, IN. Unpublished manuscript.
- Homoya, Michael. Personal communication. Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center. Division of Nature Preserves, Department of Natural Resources, Indianapolis, IN.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Nordman, C., M. Russo, and L. Smart. 2011. Vegetation types of the Natchez Trace Parkway, based on the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe Central Databases (International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications). Arlington, VA. Data current as of 11 April 2011. 548 pp.
- Russo, M. J. 1997. Arnold Engineering Development Center preliminary community classification. Appendix to draft report to The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Field Office, Nashville. 23 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.
- TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1998a. An investigation and assessment of the vegetation of Arnold Air Force Base. Coffee and Franklin counties, Tennessee. The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Field Office, Nashville. 37 pp. plus appendices.