Print Report
CEGL002392 Carex crinita - Osmunda spp. / Physocarpus opulifolius Acidic Herbaceous Seep
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Common Ninebark Acidic Herbaceous Seep
Colloquial Name: Midwest Sand Acidic Seep
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sand seep sedge community is found in the central midwestern United States. Stands occur on margins of basins and edges of outwash plains where groundwater continuously flows from aquifers. Although the flow is generally diffuse, localized concentrated flows can occur and result in spring runs. The soils are saturated year-round. Water is always near the surface in normal years, and it is not uncommon for temporary flooding to cover the ground. There is slight nutrient input from the cold, oxygen-poor, weakly minerotrophic groundwater. Soil pH ranges from 4.5-5.9. Some muck deposits can accumulate. This community is usually less than 0.04 ha, and consequently, it is often shaded by surrounding trees. This community is typically dominated by herbaceous species but is sometimes semi-forested. Abundant species in more northern stands include Athyrium filix-femina, Carex crinita, Dryopteris carthusiana, Glyceria striata, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Physocarpus opulifolius, and Symplocarpus foetidus. More southern stands contain Aronia melanocarpa, Bartonia paniculata, Cyperus polystachyos var. texensis, Ilex opaca, Oldenlandia uniflora, Platanthera ciliaris, Platanthera clavellata, Sphenopholis pensylvanica, Woodwardia areolata, and the moss Campylopodiella stenocarpa.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type has a somewhat bifurcated distribution, either located in the sand outwash in north-central Illinois, or in the sands in the Crowley''s Ridge area of Missouri. Though there are scattered occurrences elsewhere in Missouri, these may not fit well with this type concept. The Crowley''s Ridge stands are floristically distinct, and there may be other sand seeps in the Interior Highlands with which they are aligned. The sand ridges of the Missouri portion of Crowley''s Ridge may possibly extend into the northern section of Crowley''s Ridge in Arkansas, north of Jonesboro where there is more sand and less loess (D. Zollner pers. comm. 2000).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is typically dominated by herbaceous species but is sometimes semi-forested. Abundant species in the northern parts of the range include Athyrium filix-femina, Carex crinita, Dryopteris carthusiana (= Dryopteris spinulosa), Glyceria striata, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Physocarpus opulifolius, and Symplocarpus foetidus (White and Madany 1978). More southern stands contain Aronia melanocarpa, Bartonia paniculata, Cyperus polystachyos var. texensis, Ilex opaca, Oldenlandia uniflora, Platanthera ciliaris, Platanthera clavellata, Sphenopholis pensylvanica (= Trisetum pensylvanicum), Woodwardia areolata, and the moss Campylopodiella stenocarpa (= Atractylocarpus costaricensis) (Nelson 1985). Arkansas examples, which are generally open, may contain Dulichium arundinaceum, Chelone glabra, Polygonum sagittatum, Carex stricta, Spiraea tomentosa, Athyrium filix-femina, Woodwardia areolata, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, and Carex crinita (T. Witsell pers. comm. 2012).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occupy margins of basins and edges of outwash plains where groundwater continuously flows from surface or, rarely, deep aquifers. Although the flow is generally diffuse, localized concentrated flows can occur and result in spring runs. The soils are saturated year-round. Water is always near the surface in normal years, and it is not uncommon for temporary flooding to cover the ground. There is slight nutrient input from the cold, oxygen-poor, weakly minerotrophic groundwater. Soil pH ranges from 4.5-5.9. Some muck deposits can accumulate. This community is usually less than 0.04 ha and, consequently, is often shaded by surrounding trees (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985).
Geographic Range: This sand seep sedge community is found in the central midwestern United States, particularly in the Kankakee Sands area of northern Illinois and in Crowley''s Ridge of southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas, but also in scattered areas elsewhere in the state of Missouri.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685182
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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 | CEGL002392 Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Common Ninebark Acidic Herbaceous Seep | CEGL002392 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carex crinita - Osmunda spp. / Physocarpus opulifolius Seep 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.).
- Foti, Tom. Personal communication. Ecologist [retired]. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock.
- Homoya, M. A., J. Aldrich, J. Bacone, L. Casebere, and T. Post. 1988. Indiana natural community classification. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indianapolis, IN. Unpublished manuscript.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- 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.
- 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.
- Witsell, Theo. Personal communication. Botanist, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock, AR.
- Zollner, Douglas. Personal communication. Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock.