Print Report

CEGL002430 Polygonum spp. - Mixed Forbs Shoreline Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Smartweed species - Mixed Forbs Shoreline Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Midwest Ephemeral Pond

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This ephemeral pond community type occurs widely throughout the midwestern region of the United States. Stands occur in shallow depressions that may flood for several weeks in the spring, but draw down by early summer. These basins may be kettles in glacial deposits, low spots in outwash plains, or depressions in floodplains. A wide variety of forbs and graminoids may colonize the exposed substrate. Species include Bidens spp., Cyperus spp., Echinochloa crus-galli, and Polygonum spp. In Missouri Polygonum hydropiperoides is common. In sand ponds in central Illinois, annuals were the most common species, including some of the major dominants, such as Schoenoplectiella hallii, Ammannia coccinea, and various Polygonum spp. (including Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum pensylvanicum, and Polygonum persicaria). Dominant perennials include Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, and Polygonum amphibium). Rare species found in these sand ponds include Boltonia decurrens and Schoenoplectiella hallii. These ponds are of high importance to certain amphibians and invertebrates.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type is in need of further characterization. Type should be compared to ~Lake Mudflats Sparse Vegetation (CEGL002313)$$, which may be conceptually similar. However, in Illinois this type is found in sandy areas. Type is placed in a low forb category, but graminoids can dominate. Much work is needed to better describe this type.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: A wide variety of forbs and graminoids may colonize the exposed substrate. Repeated flooding may eliminate perennial species and favor annuals. Species include Bidens spp., Cyperus spp., Echinochloa crus-galli, and Polygonum spp. (Eggers and Reed 1987). In Missouri Polygonum hydropiperoides is common. In sand ponds in central Illinois, annuals were the most common species (43 of 72 species present), including some of the major dominants, such as Schoenoplectiella hallii (= Scirpus hallii), Ammannia coccinea, and various Polygonum spp. (including Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum pensylvanicum, and Polygonum persicaria). Dominant perennials include Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus tabernaemontani), and Polygonum amphibium. Other notable species include the annuals Cyperus spp. (including Cyperus acuminatus, Cyperus erythrorhizos, Cyperus esculentus, Cyperus odoratus (= Cyperus ferruginescens), Cyperus strigosus), Bidens cernua, and Bidens frondosa. Rare species found in these sand ponds include Boltonia decurrens and Schoenoplectiella hallii (McClain et al. 1997).

Dynamics:  Repeated flooding may eliminate perennial species and favor annuals (Eggers and Reed 1987). This is particularly documented in sand ponds in central Illinois, where 43 of 72 species recorded were annuals (McClain et al. 1997). Seedbanks are an important source of redevelopment. Seeds can remain viable 20-40 years after being drained or drying out.

Environmental Description:  Stands occur in shallow depressions that may flood briefly in the spring, but typically draw down by early summer. These basins may be kettles in glacial deposits, low spots in outwash plains, or depressions in floodplains (Eggers and Reed 1987). Areas on glacial sand deposits occur in central Illinois. These deep sands produce an open groundwater aquifer that floods surface depressions during wet years (McClain et al. 1997).

Geographic Range: This temporary pond community type occurs in the central midwestern region of the United States, extending from Indiana to Wisconsin, Iowa, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, IA, IL, IN, MO, WI




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G4G5

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Polygonum spp. - Mixed Forbs Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Ephemeral Pond]
= Seasonally flooded basins (Eggers and Reed 1987)

Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-98

  • Eggers, S. D., and D. M. Reed. 1987. Wetland plants and plant communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, St. Paul, MN. 201 pp.
  • 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.).
  • INAI [Iowa Natural Areas Inventory]. 2017. Vegetation classification of Iowa. Iowa Natural Areas Inventory, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines.
  • McClain et al. 1997 [citation missing].
  • 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.
  • WDNR [Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. PUB-SS-1131 2015. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison. [http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/landscapes/Book.html]
  • 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.