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CEGL002255 Calamagrostis stricta - Carex sartwellii - Carex praegracilis - Plantago eriopoda Saline Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Slimstem Reedgrass - Sartwell''s Sedge - Clustered Field Sedge - Redwool Plantain Saline Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: Northern Tallgrass Saline Wet Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This saline wet meadow community is found in the northern tallgrass region of the United States and adjacent Canada. Stands occur on level ground in depressions where the water table is at or near the surface for part of the year. The soil and water are moderately saline. The vegetation cover of this community is moderately dense to dense. Graminoids of medium and short stature are the dominant lifeform, although forbs are common. Shrubs may invade this community in the absence of fire, especially on less saline sites. The most abundant species are Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, Calamagrostis stricta, Carex praegracilis, Carex sartwellii, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Plantago eriopoda, and Bolboschoenus maritimus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Type''s placement in this alliance needs review. Distinction between wet meadow and saline wet meadow is unclear in Minnesota (R. Dana pers. comm. 1999). Tallgrass species, such as Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Panicum virgatum may be associated with this type.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation cover of this community is moderately dense to dense. Graminoids of medium and short stature are the dominant lifeform. Species diversity may be low, depending on salinity, and forbs may be common or sparse. Shrubs may invade this community in the absence of fire, especially on less saline sites (MNNHP 1993). The most abundant species are Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (= Aster lanceolatus), Calamagrostis stricta, Carex praegracilis, Carex sartwellii, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), and Plantago eriopoda. Shay and Shay (1986) also included Hordeum jubatum and Distichlis spicata (= Distichlis stricta) within the moderately saline wet meadow. Spartina pectinata may be present to common in some stands.
Dynamics: Fire may be important to prevent encroachment of shrubs, especially on less saline sites. Hordeum jubatum, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Spartina pectinata, and some forbs increase with grazing pressure, while Poa palustris, Calamagrostis stricta, and sedges are adversely affected (Stewart and Kantrud 1972).
Environmental Description: This community is found on level ground in depressions where the water table is at or near the surface for part of the year. It may occupy the central area of shallower wetland basins and may occur as a peripheral band around deeper wetlands (Stewart and Kantrud 1971). The soil and water are moderately saline.
Geographic Range: This saline wet meadow community is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and adjacent Canada, ranging from Minnesota and the Dakotas to Manitoba.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: MB, MN, ND, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683206
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.2 Broadleaf Cattail - White Snakeroot - Rush species Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup | M069 | 2.C.4.Nd.2 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e Prairie Cordgrass - Bluejoint - Sedge species Midwest Wet Prairie, Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group | G770 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e |
| Alliance | A1350 Slimstem Reedgrass - Sartwell''s Sedge - Clustered Field Sedge Saline Wet Meadow Alliance | A1350 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e |
| Association | CEGL002255 Slimstem Reedgrass - Sartwell''s Sedge - Clustered Field Sedge - Redwool Plantain Saline Wet Meadow | CEGL002255 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Calamagrostis stricta - Carex sartwellii - Carex praegracilis - Plantago eriopoda Saline Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
< Temporary ponds, slightly brackish, central wet meadow zone (Stewart and Kantrud 1971) [appears to be similar to but more inclusive than this community.]
< Temporary ponds, slightly brackish, central wet meadow zone (Stewart and Kantrud 1971) [appears to be similar to but more inclusive than this community.]
- 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.).
- Greenall, J. A. 1996. Manitoba''s terrestrial plant communities. MS Report 96-02. Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Winnipeg.
- MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003-2005a. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota. Three volumes: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (2003), The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province (2005c), The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces (2005b). Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2005b. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- NDNHI [North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory]. 2018. Unpublished data. Vegetation classification of North Dakota. North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Bismarck.
- SDNHP [South Dakota Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.
- Shay, J. M., and C. T. Shay. 1986. Prairie marshes in western Canada, with specific reference to the ecology of five emergent macrophytes. Canadian Journal of Botany 64(2):443-454.
- Stewart, R. E., and H. A. Kantrud. 1971. Classification of natural ponds and lakes in the glaciated prairie region. USDI Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Resources, Publication 92. Washington, DC. 77 pp.
- Stewart, R. E., and H. A. Kantrud. 1972. Vegetation of prairie potholes, North Dakota, in relation to quality of water and other environmental factors. USDI Geologic Survey Professional Paper 585-d. 36 pp.