Print Report
CEGL002263 Carex crinita - Osmunda spp. / Sphagnum spp. Acidic Herbaceous Seep
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Peatmoss species Acidic Herbaceous Seep
Colloquial Name: Midwest Acidic Seep
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This graminoid acidic seep community is found primarily in the Interior Highlands of the midwestern United States. Stands occur in acidic seeps on mid to low slopes, headwaters, and terraces of small ravines. Seepage typically originates at the contact zone between acidic gravels (usually chert) and the relatively impermeable underlying bedrock (usually sandstone). Soils are saturated and highly acidic, but rarely, if ever, inundated. Soil pH ranges from 4.5-5.9. Occasionally mucks and/or peats overlay sandy loams and sandy silts. Although this community often occurs in a forested environment, it is best characterized by its herbaceous wetland obligates. The principal dominant plants are Carex crinita, Impatiens capensis, Osmunda regalis, and Osmunda cinnamomea. Dominant overstory trees include Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus alba, Liquidambar styraciflua, Platanus occidentalis, and Betula nigra. In Indiana, addition species include Carex lurida, Carex bromoides, Platanthera clavellata, Aronia melanocarpa, Ilex verticillata, Polygonum arifolium, Dryopteris cristata, and Sphagnum spp.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Type is not restricted to gravel seeps. However, circumneutral seeps, e.g., ~Symplocarpus foetidus - Mixed Forbs Seep (CEGL002385)$$, if they occur within the range of this type, should be investigated to determine how their floristic composition relates to this acidic seep type. Related forested seeps of Kentucky and Tennessee are found in ~Acer rubrum / Alnus serrulata - Ilex verticillata Appalachian-Piedmont Seepage Forest Alliance (A3358)$$ or ~Acer rubrum - Nyssa sylvatica Ozark-Interior Seepage Forest Alliance (A3359)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The physiognomy for this community can vary somewhat. There is usually a forested overstory associated with this type. In a few known instances, this type is dominated by an overstory of the shrub Alnus serrulata.
Floristics: This element is best understood in terms of its herbaceous flora. The principal dominant plants are Carex crinita, Impatiens capensis, Osmunda regalis, and Osmunda cinnamomea. Dominant overstory trees include Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Quercus alba, Liquidambar styraciflua, Platanus occidentalis, and Betula nigra. It is interesting to note that high-quality examples of this community often have occurrences of both northern (Osmunda claytoniana) and southern (Ilex decidua) relict plants (TNC 1995a). In Indiana, additional species may also include Carex lurida, Carex bromoides, Platanthera clavellata, Aronia melanocarpa, Ilex verticillata, Polygonum arifolium, Dryopteris cristata, and Sphagnum spp. (Homoya et al. 1985). Carex crinita is usually present in this community type. However, when it is absent, the dominant sedges are usually Carex atlantica ssp. atlantica (= Carex incomperta) and/or Carex lurida. Although very characteristic, moss species (Sphagnum spp.) are often not present. More work needs to be done in order to quantify the species composition and physiognomic variation for this community.
Dynamics: Sustained droughts, fire (15-20 year cycles?), windthrow, icestorms, and insect-borne diseases are thought to be the primary natural disturbance regimes. The Illinois sites were more open formerly. This may be due, in part, to fire suppression of the adjacent forests. The Cretaceous Hills of southern Pope and eastern Massac counties (IL) were predominantly barrens (savanna, sparse woodland) during presettlement times as noted by the Public Land Survey of 1806-1810. The successional status of this community is poorly understood. It is presumably late-successional.
Environmental Description: These seeps occupy bases of slopes in valleys and canyons, the margins of basins, and the edges of outwash plains where groundwater flows continuously from surface or, sometimes, deep aquifers. Water seeps out through acidic gravels (primarily chert) overlying bedrock (usually sandstone). The seeps typically occur at the contact zone. The soils are organic and saturated throughout the year, with water always close to the surface in normal years. There is weak nutrient input from the groundwater. Soil pH ranges from 4.5-5.9. The soils are shallow to deep (40 cm to more than 100 cm) with deposits of muck or peat. Parent material is sandstone, colluvium, or igneous (Schwegman 1969, White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985).
Soil data are extremely limited for this type but, generally speaking, hydric mineral soils (e.g., sandy loams, sandy silts) occur occasionally overlain with mucks and/or peat. Due to mapping scale, the soils of these communities are not adequately characterized in county soil surveys. Future research should be directed to better determine the characteristics of these soils. Permanent diffuse seepage of highly acidic water (pH 3.7-6.0) keeps the soils saturated or super-saturated. Smaller sites may become dry during years with successive droughts. Because groundwater temperature is similar to mean annual temperature (+1.50°C), the annual seasonal soil temperature fluctuations are moderated. In addition, daily soil temperature differences are minimal relative to those of the adjacent terrestrial communities.
Soil data are extremely limited for this type but, generally speaking, hydric mineral soils (e.g., sandy loams, sandy silts) occur occasionally overlain with mucks and/or peat. Due to mapping scale, the soils of these communities are not adequately characterized in county soil surveys. Future research should be directed to better determine the characteristics of these soils. Permanent diffuse seepage of highly acidic water (pH 3.7-6.0) keeps the soils saturated or super-saturated. Smaller sites may become dry during years with successive droughts. Because groundwater temperature is similar to mean annual temperature (+1.50°C), the annual seasonal soil temperature fluctuations are moderated. In addition, daily soil temperature differences are minimal relative to those of the adjacent terrestrial communities.
Geographic Range: This graminoid acidic seep community is found primarily in the Interior Highlands of the midwestern United States, ranging from southern Indiana west to southeastern Missouri and parts of Arkansas, where this type would be found in the Ouachitas rather than on Crowley''s Ridge.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN, MO, OH
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684587
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.1 Shrubby-cinquefoil - Canadian Burnet / Inland Sedge Seep Macrogroup | M061 | 2.C.4.Nd.1 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b Inland Sedge - Shallow Sedge - Largeleaf Grass-of-Parnassus Seepage Fen Group | G182 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b |
| Alliance | A3389 Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Peatmoss species Southern Interior Acidic Seep Alliance | A3389 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002263 Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Peatmoss species Acidic Herbaceous Seep | CEGL002263 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b |
Concept Lineage: compare with CEGL002263
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex crinita - Osmunda spp. / Sphagnum spp. Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- 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., D. B. Abrell, J. R. Aldrich, and T. W. Post. 1985. The natural regions of Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 94:245-268.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Mohlenbrock, R. H., and J. Schwegman. 1969. New and unusual grass and sedge records for Illinois. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science 62:100-101.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- ONHD [Ohio Natural Heritage Database]. No date. Vegetation classification of Ohio and unpublished data. Ohio Natural Heritage Database, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus.
- Schwegman, J. E. 1968a. Notes on Woodwardia areolata and other rare Illinois ferns. American Fern Journal 58:89-90.
- Schwegman, J. E. 1968b. New plant records from southern Illinois. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science 61:313-314.
- Schwegman, J. E. 1969. Vegetation of some seep springs in the Cretaceous Hills of southern Illinois. Master''s thesis, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
- Snider, J. A. 1970. The genus Sphagnum in Illinois. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science 63:329-338.
- Steyermark, J. A. 1958. An unusual botanical area in Missouri. Rhodora 60:205-208.
- TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1995a. A classification and description of plant communities in southern Illinois. Report by the Southern Illinois Field Office, Ullin, IL, and the Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN.
- White, J., and M. Madany. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 311-405 in: Natural Areas Inventory technical report: Volume I, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL.