Print Report
CEGL006518 Prunus pumila / Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Riverscour Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: These tall rivershore wet meadows are found in the temperate region of the northeastern United States.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sandcherry / Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Riverscour Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: Riverside Prairie Wet Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These are tall rivershore wet meadows in the temperate region of the northeastern United States. They are found on sandy point bars and linear deposits along semi-stable rivershores subject to periodic flooding. Ice build-up during the winter can scour the rivershore in spring, limiting woody growth. The substrate is cobble, gravel or coarse sediment with interstices of alluvial sand and silt. Bare cobble is exposed in some areas. Herbaceous plants dominate, and may form a dense cover; scattered shrubs may grow among them, but are generally kept short by the annual flooding. Bryophytes are absent or at most sparse. The dominant plants are tall grasses such as Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Panicum virgatum. Characteristic herbs include Helianthemum canadense, Helianthus divaricatus, Asclepias tuberosa, and Lespedeza capitata. Spiraea alba, Rosa virginiana, Quercus ilicifolia, Betula nigra, and Prunus pumila are common shrubs. Other herbaceous associates include Anemone virginiana, Calamagrostis canadensis, Eutrochium maculatum, Solidago rugosa, Solidago nemoralis, Solidago gigantea, Spartina pectinata, Achillea millefolium, Baptisia tinctoria, Asclepias syriaca, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Euthamia graminifolia, Apocynum androsaemifolium, Thelypteris palustris, Lycopus uniflorus, Phalaris arundinacea, Scleria triglomerata, and Symphyotrichum novi-belgii. This association differs from more northerly riverside ice meadows in being dominated by prairie grasses (Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans) rather than by Calamagrostis canadensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Herbaceous plants dominate and may form a dense cover; scattered shrubs may grow among them but are generally kept short by annual flooding.
Floristics: Bryophytes are absent or at most sparse. The dominant plants are tall grasses such as Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Panicum virgatum. Characteristic herbs include Helianthemum canadense, Helianthus divaricatus, Apocynum cannabinum, Asclepias tuberosa, Lespedeza hirta, and Lespedeza capitata. Spiraea alba, Rosa virginiana, Quercus ilicifolia, Betula nigra, and Prunus pumila are common shrubs. Other herbaceous associates include Anemone virginiana, Calamagrostis canadensis, Eutrochium maculatum (= Eupatorium maculatum), Solidago rugosa, Solidago gigantea, Solidago nemoralis, Spartina pectinata, Baptisia tinctoria, Asclepias syriaca, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Euthamia graminifolia, Thelypteris palustris, Achillea millefolium, Lycopus uniflorus, Phalaris arundinacea, Scleria triglomerata, and Symphyotrichum novi-belgii.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These are tall rivershore wet meadows in the temperate region of the northeastern United States. They are found on sandy point bars and linear deposits along semi-stable rivershores subject to periodic flooding. Ice build-up during the winter can scour the rivershore in spring, limiting woody growth. The substrate is cobble, gravel or coarse sediment with interstices of alluvial sand and silt. Bare cobble is exposed in some areas.
Geographic Range: These are tall rivershore wet meadows found in the temperate region of the northeastern United States.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, QC?, VT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684839
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.4 Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation Macrogroup | M881 | 2.C.4.Nd.4 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.4.d Gray Alder / <i>Spartina pectinata - Deschampsia cespitosa</i> Floodplain Vegetation | G925 | 2.C.4.Nd.4.d |
| Alliance | A3827 <i>Andropogon gerardii - Spartina pectinata - Apocynum cannabinum</i> Riverscour Alliance | A3827 | 2.C.4.Nd.4.d |
| Association | CEGL006518 Sandcherry / Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Riverscour Wet Meadow | CEGL006518 | 2.C.4.Nd.4.d |
Concept Lineage: CEGL004623 merged into this type, don''t know how it ever became a G1 type, Ken Metzler has no knowledge of ever being consulted and he is listed as the author. Did Milo have something to do with this Connecticut one-site-wonder; he''s listed as Grank author?
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans tall grasslands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Big Bluestem - Hairgrass Low Riverbank (Nichols et al. 2001)
< Willow - Indian grass riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
= Big Bluestem - Hairgrass Low Riverbank (Nichols et al. 2001)
< Willow - Indian grass riverine shrubland (Perles et al. 2004)
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- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
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- Zimmerman, E. A. 2011a. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Big Bluestem - Indian-grass Floodplain Grassland Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=15999] (accessed February 06, 2012)
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