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CEGL008534 Carex echinata - Solidago uliginosa / Sphagnum spp. Seepage Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Star Sedge - Bog Goldenrod / Peatmoss species Seepage Meadow
Colloquial Name: Central Appalachian-High Allegheny Seepage Bog
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is known from the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. Stands occupy flat to gently sloping areas (0-5°) on terraces and toeslopes, and in open wetland mosaics along high-elevation (>1070 m [3500 feet]) headwater streams. Habitats typically have pronounced hummock-and-hollow microtopography. Groundwater discharge may be barely perceptible, or may appear as flowing seeps and braided streamlets. A thin but continuous cover of Sphagnum mosses is present on hummocks underlain by coarse gravel, mineral soil, clay, or bedrock with very low pH (about 3.7) and base status. This community type is predominantly herbaceous but contains patches of low shrubs and stunted trees, particularly Picea rubens, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Vaccinium angustifolium, Kalmia latifolia, Menziesia pilosa, and Acer rubrum, on larger hummocks. Herbaceous composition is somewhat variable, but dominants usually include Carex echinata and/or Solidago uliginosa. Other common herbs include Eriophorum virginicum, Juncus effusus, Drosera rotundifolia var. rotundifolia, Sparganium erectum ssp. stoloniferum, Carex trisperma, Doellingeria umbellata, Osmunda cinnamomea, Carex gynandra, Epilobium leptophyllum, Galium tinctorium, Viola cucullata, Scirpus cyperinus, Juncus subcaudatus, Juncus brevicaudatus, Rubus hispidus, Spiranthes cernua, Lycopus uniflorus, Lycopodium clavatum, and Platanthera clavellata. Additional, less frequent herbaceous associates are Carex baileyi, Carex intumescens, Carex leptalea, Dryopteris cristata, Gentiana clausa, Isoetes valida, Linum striatum, Pycnanthemum muticum, and Rhynchospora capitellata. In West Virginia, dominant bryophyte species are Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum rubellum, Sphagnum fallax, and Sphagnum papillosum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Four plots (4 occurrences) represent this type in West Virginia, where it was classified as part of a 2004-2006 study of high-elevation wetlands in West Virginia''s Allegheny Mountains region. The type clusters consistently and ordinates in a close group in the Sphagnum-rich portion of species space. Additional inventory, data collection, and analysis are needed to clarify this type''s geographic range and increase the robustness of its classification. The Virginia examples (e.g., Solidago uliginosa, Sparganium erectum ssp. stoloniferum) do not contain Eriophorum virginicum. This type has a higher seepage component than the similar, but more boggy types: ~Carex canescens - Eriophorum virginicum / Sphagnum spp. Fen (CEGL006549)$$ and ~Eriophorum virginicum - (Carex folliculata) / Sphagnum spp. - Polytrichum spp. Fen (CEGL006570)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community type is predominantly herbaceous but contains patches of low shrubs and stunted trees, particularly Picea rubens, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Vaccinium angustifolium, Kalmia latifolia, Menziesia pilosa, and Acer rubrum, on larger hummocks. Herbaceous composition is somewhat variable, but dominants usually include Carex echinata and/or Solidago uliginosa. Other common herbs include Eriophorum virginicum, Juncus effusus, Drosera rotundifolia var. rotundifolia, Sparganium erectum ssp. stoloniferum, Carex trisperma, Doellingeria umbellata (= Aster umbellatus), Osmunda cinnamomea, Carex gynandra, Epilobium leptophyllum, Galium tinctorium, Viola cucullata, Scirpus cyperinus, Juncus subcaudatus, Juncus brevicaudatus, Rubus hispidus, Spiranthes cernua, Lycopus uniflorus, Lycopodium clavatum, and Platanthera clavellata. Additional, less frequent herbaceous associates are Carex baileyi, Carex intumescens, Carex leptalea, Dryopteris cristata, Gentiana clausa, Isoetes valida (= Isoetes caroliniana), Linum striatum, Pycnanthemum muticum, and Rhynchospora capitellata. In West Virginia, dominant bryophyte species are Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum rubellum, Sphagnum fallax, and Sphagnum papillosum. Mean species richness of all vascular plants and any nonvascular plants with cover >1% is 21 taxa per 400 m2 for 4 plots in West Virginia (Byers et al. 2007). Epilobium leptophyllum, Juncus brevicaudatus, Solidago uliginosa, and Sparganium erectum ssp. stoloniferum are state-rare plants associated with the type.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occupy flat to gently sloping areas (0-5°) on terraces and toeslopes, and in open wetland mosaics along high-elevation (>1070 m [3500 feet]) headwater streams. Habitats typically have pronounced hummock-and-hollow microtopography. Groundwater discharge may be barely perceptible, or may appear as flowing seeps and braided streamlets. A thin but continuous cover of Sphagnum mosses is present on hummocks underlain by coarse gravel, mineral soil, clay, or bedrock with very low pH (ca. 3.7) and base status.
Geographic Range: This community is definitely known from the Allegheny Mountains of Highland County, Virginia, and is also documented in adjacent West Virginia. Occurrences over a broader geographic range are possible.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684415
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation | F016 | 2.C.2 |
| Division | 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division | D029 | 2.C.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.2.Na.1 Leatherleaf - Small Cranberry - Few-seed Sedge Bog & Acidic Fen Macrogroup | M876 | 2.C.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.C.2.Na.1.a Leatherleaf - Few-seed Sedge - Bog Laurel Boreal Bog & Acidic Fen Group | G748 | 2.C.2.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A4480 Red Chokeberry / Tawny Cottongrass / sphagnum, peatmoss spp. Allegheny Fen Alliance | A4480 | 2.C.2.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL008534 Star Sedge - Bog Goldenrod / Peatmoss species Seepage Meadow | CEGL008534 | 2.C.2.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex echinata - Solidago uliginosa - Sparganium erectum ssp. stoloniferum - Epilobium leptophyllum Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
= Carex echinata ssp. echinata / Sphagnum spp. Fen (Byers et al. 2007)
? Picea rubens / Vaccinium angustifolium - Epilobium leptophyllum Association: Carex echinata - Carex trisperma Subassociation (Fleming and Moorhead 1996)
= Carex echinata ssp. echinata / Sphagnum spp. Fen (Byers et al. 2007)
? Picea rubens / Vaccinium angustifolium - Epilobium leptophyllum Association: Carex echinata - Carex trisperma Subassociation (Fleming and Moorhead 1996)
- Allard, H. A., and E. C. Leonard. 1952. The Canaan and the Stony River valleys of West Virginia, their former magnificent spruce forests, their vegetation and floristics today. Castanea 17:1-60.
- Byers, E. A., J. P. Vanderhorst, and B. P. Streets. 2007. Classification and conservation assessment of high elevation wetland communities in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Elkins.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulling. 2001. Ecological communities of the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Preliminary classification and description of vegetation types. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 317 pp.
- Fleming, G. P., and W. H. Moorhead, III. 1996. Ecological land units of the Laurel Fork Area, Highland County, Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical Report 96-08. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 114 pp. plus appendices.
- WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.