Print Report
CEGL003918 Alnus serrulata - Viburnum nudum var. nudum - Chamaedaphne calyculata / Woodwardia areolata - Sarracenia rubra ssp. jonesii Seepage Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Hazel Alder - Possumhaw - Leatherleaf / Netted Chainfern - Jones'' Pitcherplant Seepage Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Bog (French Broad Valley Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community includes non-alluvial wetland vegetation with a unique species composition, including both low mountain and Coastal Plain species, and occurring in low-elevation areas of the Southern Blue Ridge. It ranges from 500-700 m (1700-2400 feet) in elevation, on sites near streams that are generally flat to slightly sloping. These areas receive some seepage from adjacent slopes and are permanently saturated to intermittently dry. This community is found in the broad basin of the French Broad River in southern Buncombe, Henderson, and eastern Transylvania counties, North Carolina. It formerly occupied as much as 1000 acres, now reduced by drainage to a few altered remnants totaling less than 20 acres. The vegetation consists of a mosaic or zoned pattern of shrub thickets and herb-dominated areas, much of it underlain by Sphagnum mats. Trees may be scattered throughout or may dominate on the edges. Shrubs may include Alnus serrulata, Rosa palustris, Salix sericea, Aronia arbutifolia, Myrica gale, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Gaylussacia dumosa, Rhododendron maximum, Rhododendron viscosum, Rhododendron arborescens, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Kalmia latifolia, Kalmia carolina, Hypericum densiflorum, Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina, Ilex verticillata, and Menziesia pilosa. The woody vine Smilax laurifolia is often present, climbing high into the shrubs and trees. The herb layer may include Carex leptalea, Carex echinata, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, Carex collinsii, Scirpus cyperinus, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Solidago patula var. patula, Packera aurea, Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens, Isoetes valida, Hypericum denticulatum, Juncus effusus, Juncus caesariensis, Drosera rotundifolia, Woodwardia virginica, Woodwardia areolata, Dulichium arundinaceum, Sarracenia purpurea, Sarracenia rubra ssp. jonesii, Eriophorum virginicum, and Parnassia asarifolia. Sphagnum species include Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum affine, Sphagnum bartlettianum, and Sphagnum recurvum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community includes non-alluvial wetland vegetation with a unique species composition, including both low mountain and Coastal Plain species, and occurring in low-elevation areas of the Southern Blue Ridge. It is a very distinctive community, restricted to the French Broad River Valley, and has numerous unique species components that distinguish it from other montane wetlands. The nominal species are constant and abundant in the known occurrences. Sarracenia rubra ssp. jonesii is limited to the montane regions of North Carolina and South Carolina, and Viburnum nudum var. nudum is more typical of the Coastal Plain.
Similar non-alluvial wetland communities occur in the Southern Blue Ridge. This community is distinguished by occurring in the basin of the French Broad River and containing a suite of species that are disjunct from the northern Coastal Plain. Species not found in this community but typical of other, generally higher elevation, Southern Appalachian bogs include Carex trisperma, Carex buxbaumii, Rhynchospora alba, Filipendula rubra, Dryopteris cristata, Thelypteris simulata, Spiraea alba, Schizachyrium scoparium, Lilium grayi, Pogonia ophioglossoides, Juncus subcaudatus, Ilex collina, Picea rubens, Vaccinium macrocarpon, and Saxifraga pensylvanica.
Similar non-alluvial wetland communities occur in the Southern Blue Ridge. This community is distinguished by occurring in the basin of the French Broad River and containing a suite of species that are disjunct from the northern Coastal Plain. Species not found in this community but typical of other, generally higher elevation, Southern Appalachian bogs include Carex trisperma, Carex buxbaumii, Rhynchospora alba, Filipendula rubra, Dryopteris cristata, Thelypteris simulata, Spiraea alba, Schizachyrium scoparium, Lilium grayi, Pogonia ophioglossoides, Juncus subcaudatus, Ilex collina, Picea rubens, Vaccinium macrocarpon, and Saxifraga pensylvanica.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation consists of a mosaic or zoned pattern of shrub thickets and herb-dominated areas, much of it underlain by Sphagnum mats. Trees such as Acer rubrum var. rubrum, Pinus strobus, Nyssa sylvatica, Liriodendron tulipifera, Tsuga canadensis, and Pinus rigida may be scattered throughout or may dominate on the edges. Shrubs may include Alnus serrulata, Rosa palustris, Salix sericea, Aronia arbutifolia, Myrica gale, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Gaylussacia dumosa (= var. bigeloviana), Rhododendron maximum, Rhododendron viscosum, Rhododendron arborescens, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Kalmia latifolia, Kalmia carolina, Hypericum densiflorum, Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina, Ilex verticillata, and Menziesia pilosa. The woody vine Smilax laurifolia is often present, climbing high into the shrubs and trees. The herb layer may include Carex leptalea, Carex echinata, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, Carex collinsii, Scirpus cyperinus, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Solidago patula var. patula, Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus), Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens, Isoetes valida (= Isoetes caroliniana), Hypericum denticulatum (= var. denticulatum), Juncus effusus, Juncus caesariensis, Drosera rotundifolia, Woodwardia virginica, Woodwardia areolata, Dulichium arundinaceum, Sarracenia purpurea, Sarracenia rubra ssp. jonesii, Eriophorum virginicum, and Parnassia asarifolia. Sphagnum species include Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum affine, Sphagnum bartlettianum, and Sphagnum recurvum.
One of the most interesting features of this type is the presence of a suite of species disjunct from a more northern Coastal Plain distribution to this type. Most of these species do not occur at all in other southern Appalachian wetlands, though a few have limited occurrence in other "boggy" wetland types. These species include Myrica gale, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Gaylussacia dumosa (= var. bigeloviana), Helonias bullata, Juncus caesariensis, Carex collinsii, Narthecium americanum, Hypericum denticulatum, Carex barrattii, Sarracenia purpurea, and Triadenum virginicum.
One of the most interesting features of this type is the presence of a suite of species disjunct from a more northern Coastal Plain distribution to this type. Most of these species do not occur at all in other southern Appalachian wetlands, though a few have limited occurrence in other "boggy" wetland types. These species include Myrica gale, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Gaylussacia dumosa (= var. bigeloviana), Helonias bullata, Juncus caesariensis, Carex collinsii, Narthecium americanum, Hypericum denticulatum, Carex barrattii, Sarracenia purpurea, and Triadenum virginicum.
Dynamics: Reduction of Sphagnum cover, due to siltation, trampling, or nutrient input, promotes succession by woody species. Little is known about the successional dynamics of these wetlands. All of the few remaining examples have been hydrologically altered.
Environmental Description: This type occurs in flat or gently sloping areas, generally in valley bottoms that are not subject to flooding. Soils have not been carefully studied but are likely to be acidic, organic-rich mineral soils developed over gravelly floodplain deposits. Most bog soils are mapped as Toxaway (Cumulic Humaquept), Wehadkee (Typic Fluvaquent), or Hatboro (Typic Fluvaquent) series. The hydrology is palustrine, permanently saturated to intermittently dry. Sites are generally in flat to slightly sloping areas near streams, and receive some seepage from adjacent slopes. The hydrology of this type appears to be less dominated by seepage than are other non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Blue Ridge. This type ranges from 500-700 m (1700-2400 feet) in elevation.
Geographic Range: This community is found at low elevations in the broad basin of the French Broad River in southern Buncombe, Henderson, and eastern Transylvania counties, North Carolina. A concentration formerly occurred in Henderson County, North Carolina, but nearly all of these bogs have been destroyed by drainage.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684726
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.a Catawba Rosebay / Tawny Cottongrass / Peatmoss species Shrub & Herb Seep Group | G184 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.a |
| Alliance | A3383 Maleberry - Red Chokeberry / Roundleaf Sundew Seep Alliance | A3383 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003918 Hazel Alder - Possumhaw - Leatherleaf / Netted Chainfern - Jones'' Pitcherplant Seepage Shrubland | CEGL003918 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? French Broad Valley Bog (Weakley and Schafale 1994)
< IIE1b. Southern Appalachian Bog Complex (Allard 1990)
< Low Elevation Saturated Forest (Wichmann 2009)
< IIE1b. Southern Appalachian Bog Complex (Allard 1990)
< Low Elevation Saturated Forest (Wichmann 2009)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Anderson, L. E., H. A. Crum, and W. R. Buck. 1990. List of mosses of North America north of Mexico. The Bryologist 93:448-499.
- Kartesz, J. T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: J. T. Kartesz and C. A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC.
- Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Weakley, A. S., and M. P. Schafale. 1994. Non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Blue Ridge: Diversity in a threatened ecosystem. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 77:359-383.
- Weakley, A. S., compiler. 1993. Natural Heritage Program list of the rare plant species of North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program. Raleigh. 79 pp.
- Wichmann, B. 2009. Vegetation of geographically isolated montane non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Masters thesis, North Carolina State, Raleigh. [http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/theses/available/etd-05152009-120239/unrestricted/etd.pdf]