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CEGL004157 Carex atlantica - Rhynchospora alba - Parnassia asarifolia / Sphagnum warnstorfii Herbaceous Seep
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Prickly Bog Sedge - White Beaksedge - Kidneyleaf Grass-of-Parnassus / Fen Peatmoss Herbaceous Seep
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Herb Bog (Long Hope Valley Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community includes non-alluvial wetland vegetation influenced by circumneutral seepage, in the southern Appalachian Mountains. It occurs over amphibolite (a mafic metamorphic rock), at 1200-1450 m (4000-4700 feet) elevation, on slight to fairly steep slopes (1-15%), is slightly to strongly seepage-fed, and generally has shallow, gravelly soils. It is known only from the valley of Long Hope Creek, Ashe and Watauga counties, North Carolina, where 15-20 examples occur. Examples are herb-dominated but may contain scattered shrubs, or be locally dominated by the dwarf-shrub Vaccinium macrocarpon. Sphagnum cover is greater than 50%. Dominant herbaceous species include Eriophorum virginicum, Carex atlantica, Carex echinata, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora capitellata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scirpus expansus, Scirpus cyperinus, Scirpus polyphyllus, Scirpus atrovirens, Oxypolis rigidior, Solidago patula var. patula, Packera aurea, Parnassia asarifolia, and Houstonia serpyllifolia. Bryophytes that may be present are Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum affine, Sphagnum bartlettianum, Sphagnum recurvum, Aulacomnium palustre and northern disjuncts such as Sphagnum warnstorfii, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum subsecundum, Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum subtile, and Sphagnum flexuosum var. flexuosum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community occurs as open expanses (1-2 acres) or as a complex with shrub bog communities or ~Picea rubens - (Tsuga canadensis) / Rhododendron maximum Swamp Forest (CEGL006277)$$. This community is surrounded by this saturated community, forests dominated by Fagus grandifolia, Betula alleghaniensis, Picea rubens, and Quercus rubra, or land cleared from these communities.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Examples are herb-dominated, but may contain scattered shrubs, or be locally dominated by the dwarf-shrub Vaccinium macrocarpon. Sphagnum cover is greater than 50%. Dominant herbaceous species include Eriophorum virginicum, Carex atlantica, Carex echinata, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora capitellata, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scirpus expansus, Scirpus cyperinus, Scirpus polyphyllus, Scirpus atrovirens, Oxypolis rigidior, Solidago patula var. patula, Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus), Parnassia asarifolia, and Houstonia serpyllifolia. Other typical herbs include Carex leptalea, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens, Juncus effusus, Juncus subcaudatus, Lilium grayi, Parnassia asarifolia, and Saxifraga pensylvanica. Characteristic species include Alnus serrulata, Rosa palustris, Salix sericea, Aronia melanocarpa, Rhododendron maximum, Hypericum densiflorum, Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina, Ilex verticillata, Ilex collina, Menziesia pilosa, Menyanthes trifoliata, Utricularia minor, Utricularia cornuta, Carex oligosperma, Cladium mariscoides, Carex trisperma, Rhynchospora alba, Galium asprellum. Bryophytes that may be present are Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum affine (= Sphagnum imbricatum), Sphagnum bartlettianum, Sphagnum recurvum, Aulacomnium palustre and northern disjuncts such as Sphagnum warnstorfii, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum subsecundum, Sphagnum angustifolium, Sphagnum subtile, and Sphagnum flexuosum var. flexuosum. Eriophorum virginicum and Vaccinium macrocarpon are near the southern limit of their distribution in this community. Utricularia minor, Carex oligosperma, and Menyanthes trifoliata occur in this community disjunct from the northeastern United States. This community contains species endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains including Ilex collina, Houstonia serpyllifolia, and Lilium grayi.
Dynamics: This community is influenced by circumneutral seepage in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Reduction of Sphagnum cover, due to siltation, trampling, or nutrient input, results in hydrological alteration and promotes succession by woody species. Occurrences of this community are thought to be very old (10,000-12,000 years B.P.), based on floristics, climate, elevation, and geographic position and show little or no tendency towards woody encroachment (Weakley and Schafale 1994).
Environmental Description: This community occurs over amphibolite (a mafic metamorphic rock), at 1200-1450 m (4000-4700 feet) elevation, on slight to fairly steep slopes (1-15%), is slightly to strongly seepage-fed, and generally has shallow, gravelly soils.
Geographic Range: This type is definitely known only from the valley of Long Hope Creek, Ashe and Watauga counties, North Carolina, where 15-20 examples occur.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684727
Confidence Level: High
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 | A3381 Prickly Bog Sedge - Roundleaf Goldenrod - Kidneyleaf Grass-of-Parnassus Seep Alliance | A3381 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL004157 Prickly Bog Sedge - White Beaksedge - Kidneyleaf Grass-of-Parnassus / Fen Peatmoss Herbaceous Seep | CEGL004157 | 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: = High Elevation Herbaceous Bog (Wichmann et al. 2007)
= High Elevation Valley Fen (Wichmann 2009)
< IIE1b. Southern Appalachian Bog Complex (Allard 1990)
< Southern Appalachian Bog, Long Hope Valley Variant (Weakley and Schafale 1994)
= High Elevation Valley Fen (Wichmann 2009)
< IIE1b. Southern Appalachian Bog Complex (Allard 1990)
< Southern Appalachian Bog, Long Hope Valley Variant (Weakley and Schafale 1994)
- 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. 1990a. A checklist of Sphagnum in North America north of Mexico. The Bryologist 93:500-501.
- 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.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.
- 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]
- Wichmann, B., R. K. Peet, and T. R. Wentworth. 2007. Natural vegetation of the Carolinas: Classification and description of montane non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Appalachian region. A report prepared for the Ecosystem Enhancement Program, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partial fulfillments of contract D07042. Carolina Vegetation Survey, Curriculum in Ecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.