Print Report

CEGL006119 Acer rubrum / Carex stricta - Onoclea sensibilis Wet Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Maple / Upright Sedge - Sensitive Fern Wet Woodland

Colloquial Name: Red Maple / Upright Sedge Wet Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is a partly wooded, deciduous-canopy wetland of the northeastern United States. It occurs on muck soils or mineral soils with a surface organic layer in poorly drained depressions influenced by groundwater. It is also common in those streamside and lakeside settings where the hydrology is that of a basin setting rather than a floodplain. The community is typically flooded in spring, with pools and small streams persisting throughout much of the growing season; soils may remain saturated or may become dry on the surface over the course of the growing season. Hummock-and-hollow topography may be pronounced. The canopy consists of scattered trees, with as little as 25% overall cover. The shrub layer is patchy and may be extensive in places. The herb layer is typically well-developed, with ferns and graminoids dominant. The bryophyte cover is variable. Acer rubrum is dominant in the canopy, often with many standing dead trees, and may be the only canopy species present. Associated trees may include Fraxinus nigra, Ulmus americana, and occasional Pinus strobus, Tsuga canadensis, or Picea rubens. The shrub layer is characterized by Vaccinium corymbosum, Spiraea alba var. latifolia, and Ilex verticillata. The herbaceous layer is typically dominated by the graminoids or the ferns. Sphagnum spp. are the characteristic bryophytes, with non-sphagnous mosses as associates. These woodlands are ecologically similar to both ~Acer rubrum / Ilex mucronata - Vaccinium corymbosum Swamp Forest (CEGL006220)$$ and ~Picea rubens - Acer rubrum / Ilex mucronata Swamp Forest (CEGL006198)$$, but those are closed-canopy wetlands. This association does not include red maple wooded wetlands on deeper peat soils [see ~Acer rubrum / Alnus incana - Ilex verticillata / Osmunda regalis Woodland (CEGL006395)$$ and ~Acer rubrum - Fraxinus nigra - (Larix laricina) / Rhamnus alnifolia Swamp Forest (CEGL006009)$$].

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The canopy consists of scattered trees, with as little as 25% overall cover. The shrub layer is patchy and may be extensive in places. The herb layer is typically well-developed, with ferns and graminoids dominant. The bryophyte cover is variable. Acer rubrum is dominant in the canopy, often with many standing dead trees. Associated trees may include Fraxinus nigra, Ulmus americana, and occasional Pinus strobus, Tsuga canadensis, or Picea rubens. The shrub layer is characterized by Vaccinium corymbosum, Spiraea alba var. latifolia (= Spiraea latifolia), and Ilex verticillata. Other shrubs may be locally common, including Ilex mucronata (= Nemopanthus mucronatus), Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Viburnum dentatum, Lyonia ligustrina, Alnus incana, Ilex laevigata, and the creeping Rubus hispidus. The herbaceous layer is typically dominated by the graminoids Carex stricta, Carex lacustris, or Calamagrostis canadensis or the ferns Onoclea sensibilis, Osmunda cinnamomea, or Osmunda claytoniana. Less abundant herbs include Carex intumescens, Carex folliculata, Carex canescens, Carex trisperma, Glyceria striata, Osmunda regalis, Dryopteris cristata, Thelypteris palustris, Lycopus uniflorus, Symplocarpus foetidus, Galium palustre, Cicuta bulbifera, Caltha palustris, and Impatiens capensis. Sphagnum spp. are the characteristic bryophytes, with non-sphagnous mosses as associates.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association is a partly wooded, deciduous-canopy wetland of central and northern New England. It occurs on muck soils or mineral soils with a surface organic layer, in poorly drained depressions influenced by groundwater. It is also common in those streamside and lakeside settings where the hydrology is that of a basin setting rather than a floodplain. The community is typically flooded in spring, with pools and small streams persisting throughout much of the growing season; soils may remain saturated, or may become dry on the surface over the course of the growing season. Hummock-and-hollow topography may be pronounced.
Geographic Range: This wetland is found in central and northern New England, south to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, QC?, RI, VT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G5

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F026 1.B.3
Division 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D011 1.B.3.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup M503 1.B.3.Na.2
Group 1.B.3.Na.2.h <i>Quercus bicolor - Fagus grandifolia - Acer rubrum</i> Swamp Forest Group G918 1.B.3.Na.2.h
Alliance A4461 <i>Acer rubrum - Fraxinus pennsylvanica</i> Northeast Alkaline Swamp Forest Alliance A4461 1.B.3.Na.2.h
Association CEGL006119 Red Maple / Upright Sedge - Sensitive Fern Wet Woodland CEGL006119 1.B.3.Na.2.h
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Acer rubrum / Vaccinium corymbosum / Carex intumescens Alluvial Forest (Barrett and Enser 1997)
< Red Maple: 108 (Eyre 1980)
? Red maple wooded sedge/fern marsh (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
= Seasonally Flooded Red Maple Swamp (Sperduto and Nichols 2004)
? Southern New England stream bottom forest (Rawinski 1984a)
Concept Author(s): D.D. Sperduto and W.F. Nichols (2004)

Author of Description: S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-08-05
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