Print Report

CEGL006141 Cladium mariscoides / Vaccinium macrocarpon - Morella pensylvanica Wet Dwarf-shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Smooth Sawgrass / Cranberry - Northern Bayberry Wet Dwarf-shrubland

Colloquial Name: Northern Interdunal Cranberry Swale

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is a small-patch seasonally flooded wetland within low swales behind backdunes of major dune systems of the northeastern Atlantic coast. Vegetation is characterized by Vaccinium macrocarpon, Sphagnum spp., and scattered Morella pensylvanica, Myrica gale, and/or Vaccinium corymbosum. Vaccinium macrocarpon is generally dominant, but a number of rushes, sedges, grasses, and forbs co-occur and often obscure the low-growing Vaccinium macrocarpon. Morella pensylvanica, although a minor component of the vegetation and generally restricted to the wetland edge, characterizes this community as coastal. The wetland is seasonally flooded and is often dry on the surface late in the growing season. A shallow layer of peat overtops deep sand deposits. Associated species commonly include Juncus spp. (Juncus canadensis, Juncus greenei, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Juncus biflorus, Juncus scirpoides, Juncus pelocarpus and/or others), Cladium mariscoides, Xyris torta, Xyris difformis, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rhynchospora alba, Cyperus spp., Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia, Drosera filiformis, Pogonia ophioglossoides, and scattered clumps of Schoenoplectus pungens or Scirpus cyperinus in small wet pockets. Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum rubellum, Sphagnum compactum, and possibly others) cover the surface. Species occurring less frequently can include Linum striatum, Lycopodiella inundata, Polygala cruciata, Calopogon spp., Platanthera spp., Utricularia subulata, Triadenum sp., and others. Floristics can vary among swales due to hydrology, soils, or disturbance regime.

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: No Data Available

Floristics: Species composition can vary considerably between swales. This association comprises a later successional phase of freshwater coastal swale development. Vegetation is characterized by Vaccinium macrocarpon, Sphagnum spp., and scattered Morella pensylvanica, Myrica gale, and/or Vaccinium corymbosum. Vaccinium macrocarpon can have up to 90% cover, but can be obscured by taller herbs. Associated species commonly include Juncus spp. (Juncus canadensis, Juncus greenei, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Juncus biflorus, Juncus pelocarpus, and/or others), Cladium mariscoides, Xyris torta, Xyris difformis, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rhynchospora scirpoides, Rhynchospora alba, Cyperus spp., Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia, Drosera filiformis, Pogonia ophioglossoides, and scattered clumps of Schoenoplectus pungens or Scirpus cyperinus in small wet pockets. Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum rubellum, Sphagnum compactum, and possibly others) cover the surface. Species occurring less frequently can include Linum striatum, Lycopodiella inundata (= Lycopodium inundatum), Polygala cruciata, Calopogon spp., Platanthera spp., Utricularia subulata, Triadenum sp., and others. Floristics can vary between swales due to hydrology, soils, or disturbance regime.

Dynamics:  This association occurs in wet swales where the dune surface intersects fresh groundwater lens. Water table fluctuations depend on precipitation, which is the primary water input, and the rate of subsurface drainage. Short-term dynamics in vegetation composition are driven by water level fluctuations; drought conditions allow tree and shrub colonization, which can shade out herbs, while increased flooding favors herbaceous species and eliminates shrubs. This vegetation can grade into mesic shrubland or dune grassland vegetation.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs in small, low, wet swales between coastal backdunes. These wet swales occur where the dune surface intersects fresh groundwater lens. These swales are seasonally flooded and often surficially dry by late summer. The duration of flooding is long enough to prevent extensive shrub establishment and to allow carpets of Sphagnum to develop. Substrate is shallow peat over sand.
Geographic Range: This community is confined to major dune systems of the northeastern coast (over an estimated 350 square km). Most occurrences are found in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, with occasional occurrences in Rhode Island and Delaware. There is one degraded occurrence in New Hampshire. There are no known occurrences in Connecticut.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  DE, MA, NH, NJ, NY, QC?, RI


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3

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.Ne Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D322 2.C.4.Ne
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Ne.2 Beaksedge species - Spikerush species - Panicgrass species Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Prairie & Marsh Macrogroup M067 2.C.4.Ne.2
Group 2.C.4.Ne.2.f Northern & Mid-Atlantic Coastal Wetland Group G752 2.C.4.Ne.2.f
Alliance A3651 Cranberry Coastal Wet Shrubland Alliance A3651 2.C.4.Ne.2.f
Association CEGL006141 Smooth Sawgrass / Cranberry - Northern Bayberry Wet Dwarf-shrubland CEGL006141 2.C.4.Ne.2.f
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Vaccinium macrocarpon - Mixed orchid / Sphagnum (McAvoy and Clancy 1994)
? Coastal interdunal marsh/swale (Rawinski 1984a)
= Cranberry Bog (Johnson 1981b)
? Cranberry bog (Martin 1959b)
? Cranberry marsh (Johnson 1985b)
? Cranberry swale (McDonnell 1979)
? Cranberry swale (Lundgren 2000)
? Wet poor fen (Dowhan and Rozsa 1989)
? Wet swale (Dunlop and Crow 1985)
Concept Author(s): Northern Appalachian Planning Team

Author of Description: S.L. Neid and L.A. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-10-02
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