Print Report

CEGL006536 Carex torta - Apocynum cannabinum - Cyperus spp. Riverbed Vegetation

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Twisted Sedge - Indian-hemp - Flatsedge species Riverbed Vegetation

Colloquial Name: Northeastern Temperate Cobble Scour Rivershore

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This herbaceous vegetation is found from New England south through New York and Pennsylvania and occurs on large coarse substrates deposited along medium- to high-energy river channels and, less frequently, exposed lakeshores with heavy wave action. Seasonal flooding and ice-scour maintain the open nature of these communities; generally, they develop in areas of the active channel that are exposed at low water or in drought years. Vegetation can be sparse to dense depending on degree of flooding and length of exposure. Characteristic perennial species that tolerate inundation and flood scouring include Carex torta and low Salix spp. Associated species tend to vary widely from site to site, can be diverse, and may be sparse; they include Apocynum cannabinum, Verbena hastata, Symphyotrichum puniceum, Doellingeria umbellata, Solidago rugosa, Solidago canadensis, Solidago gigantea, Calamagrostis canadensis, Phalaris arundinacea, Scirpus expansus, Scirpus cyperinus, Thelypteris palustris, Scutellaria lateriflora, Agrostis stolonifera, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Eutrochium maculatum, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Elymus riparius, Cyperus strigosus and other Cyperus spp., Eleocharis spp., Lobelia cardinalis, Onoclea sensibilis, Viola spp., Clematis virginiana, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Polygonum sagittatum, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum punctatum, Polygonum lapathifolium, Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon gerardii, and occasionally Sanguisorba canadensis. Battered and stunted shrubs and trees can occur, including Salix sericea, Salix eriocephala, Cornus amomum, Betula nigra, Populus deltoides, and Platanus occidentalis. Nonvascular plants can be sparse, but where present can include Bryum spp. Invasive, exotic species can be problematic in these areas, especially Tussilago farfara, Lythrum salicaria, Polygonum cuspidatum, Polygonum persicaria, and in the southern portion of the range Microstegium vimineum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type was originally developed for the Northern Appalachians but later extended south to Pennsylvania. This is a very heterogeneous type, but analysis of the Pennsylvania data failed to reveal any consistent variants. Ongoing work (as of 2005) in the National Capital Region (Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia) is generating some plot data that may help determine if a different temporarily flooded herbaceous river-scour association is needed for that region. If so, the transition area from this more northern type to the more southern type will need to be defined, and that may alter the range of this type.

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

Floristics: Vegetation can be sparse to dense depending on degree of flooding and length of exposure. Characteristic perennial species that tolerate inundation and flood scouring include Carex torta and low Salix spp. Associated species tend to vary widely from site to site, can be diverse, and may be sparse; they include Apocynum cannabinum, Verbena hastata, Symphyotrichum puniceum (= Aster puniceus), Doellingeria umbellata (= Aster umbellatus), Solidago rugosa, Solidago canadensis, Solidago gigantea, Calamagrostis canadensis, Phalaris arundinacea, Scirpus expansus, Scirpus cyperinus, Thelypteris palustris, Scutellaria lateriflora, Agrostis stolonifera, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Eutrochium maculatum (= Eupatorium maculatum), Eupatorium perfoliatum, Elymus riparius, Cyperus strigosus and other Cyperus spp., Eleocharis spp., Lobelia cardinalis, Onoclea sensibilis, Viola spp., Clematis virginiana, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Polygonum sagittatum, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum punctatum, Polygonum lapathifolium, Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon gerardii, and occasionally Sanguisorba canadensis. Battered and stunted shrubs and trees can occur, including Salix sericea, Salix eriocephala, Cornus amomum, Betula nigra, Populus deltoides, and Platanus occidentalis. Nonvascular plants can be sparse, but where present can include Bryum spp. Invasive, exotic species can be problematic in these areas, especially Tussilago farfara, Lythrum salicaria, Polygonum cuspidatum, Polygonum persicaria, and in the southern portion of the range Microstegium vimineum.

Dynamics:  These are highly dynamic communities with regular disturbance from flooding and ice-scour. Vegetation cover can be inversely proportional to inundation and scour.
Environmental Description:  This community occurs on cobble, gravel, and sand bars or banks of streams and rivers with medium to high gradients. Seasonal flooding and ice-scour maintain the open nature of these communities.
Geographic Range: This association is found from New England south through New York and Pennsylvania.

Nations: CA,US

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


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5

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.3 Eastern North American Wet Shoreline Vegetation Macrogroup M880 2.C.4.Nd.3
Group 2.C.4.Nd.3.a Eastern North American Riverine Wetland Vegetation Group G755 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Alliance A3647 Twisted Sedge - Mixed Forb Riverbed Alliance A3647 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Association CEGL006536 Twisted Sedge - Indian-hemp - Flatsedge species Riverbed Vegetation CEGL006536 2.C.4.Nd.3.a
Concept Lineage: CEGL006537 merged; CEGL006070 is a duplicate concept of CEGL006536 so therefore merged.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex torta temporarily flooded grasslands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Riverine Scour Vegetation (Perles et al. 2004)
Concept Author(s): Northern Appalachian Planning Team

Author of Description: S.L. Neid and S.C. Gawler

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-24-06
  • CDPNQ [Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec]. No date. Unpublished data. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, Québec.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
  • Gawler, S. C. 2002. Natural landscapes of Maine: A guide to vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta, ME.
  • Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.
  • Gawler, S. C., and P. S. Bowman. 2012. Vegetation classification and mapping at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, New Hampshire. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2012/584.1. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Metzler, K., and J. Barrett. 2006. The vegetation of Connecticut: A preliminary classification. State Geological and Natural History Survey, Report of Investigations No. 12. Connecticut Natural Diversity Database, Hartford, CT.
  • Nichols, W. F., J. M. Hoy, and D. D. Sperduto. 2001. Open riparian communities and riparian complexes in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord, NH. 82 pp. plus appendices.
  • Perles, S., G. Podniesinski, and J. Wagner. 2004. Classification, assessment and protection of non-forested floodplain wetlands of the Susquehanna drainage. Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Harrisburg. 128 pp.
  • Sperduto, D. D., and W. F. Nichols. 2004. Natural communities of New Hampshire: A guide and classification. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, DRED Division of Forests and Lands, Concord. 242 pp.
  • Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2014. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 2.0. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/nhesp/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]
  • Thompson, E. H., and E. R. Sorenson. 2005. Wetland, woodland, wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont. The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. University Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456 pp.
  • Zimmerman, E. A. 2011x. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Periodically Exposed Shoreline Community Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=30014] (accessed February 14, 2012)
  • Zimmerman, E. A., T. Davis, M. A. Furedi, B. Eichelberger, J. McPherson, S. Seymour, G. Podniesinski, N. Dewar, and J. Wagner, editors. 2012. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Communities.aspx]