Print Report

CEGL002224 Spartina pectinata - Carex spp. - Calamagrostis canadensis - Lythrum alatum - (Oxypolis rigidior) Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Prairie Cordgrass - Sedge species - Bluejoint - Winged Loosestrife - (Stiff Cowbane) Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Central Cordgrass Wet Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This prairie cordgrass wet prairie community type is found in the central United States. Stands occur on lowland areas that are flooded in spring and saturated for much of the growing season. The soils are typically deep, fine-textured, poorly drained, and have high organic content. On some sites there is an impermeable subsurface layer that impedes soil drainage. A dense layer of graminoids dominates this community. Forbs and small trees or shrubs are also common. The vegetation is typically 1-2 m tall. Calamagrostis canadensis and Spartina pectinata are the two most abundant species in the northern part of the range, but Calamagrostis canadensis is less common southward. Several common Carex spp. found in this community include Carex lacustris, Carex aquatilis, Carex pellita, and Carex atherodes. Other species that occur with less frequency in this community include Andropogon gerardii, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, Fragaria virginiana, Galium boreale, Helianthus grosseserratus, Iris versicolor, Liatris pycnostachya, Lythrum alatum, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Oxypolis rigidior, Panicum virgatum, Pycnanthemum virginianum, Solidago gigantea, Thalictrum dasycarpum, and Veronicastrum virginicum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Distinctions between this type and wet sand prairie, ~Spartina pectinata - Carex spp. - Calamagrostis canadensis Sand Wet Meadow (CEGL005178)$$, are not clear. Wet sand prairies may be more acidic and more likely to become dry in summer; however, floristic characteristics that reflect those factors are not known. This type is found in Ohio at Daumer Savanna. Stands described by Brotherson''s (1969) Pothole and Drainage Communities, sections 4 and 5 are located in northwestern Iowa, beyond the main range of this type; however, they appear to fit better in this community than with the Northern Cordgrass Prairie, ~Spartina pectinata - Calamagrostis stricta - Carex spp. Wet Meadow (CEGL002027)$$, where they are currently classified.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: A dense layer of graminoids dominates this community. Forbs and small trees or shrubs are also common. The vegetation is typically 1-2 m tall. Calamagrostis canadensis and Spartina pectinata are the two most abundant species. Several common Carex spp. found in this community include Carex lacustris, Carex aquatilis, Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), and Carex atherodes (in the northwest of this community''s range). Other species that are less frequent in this community include Andropogon gerardii, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (= Aster novae-angliae), Fragaria virginiana, Galium boreale, Helianthus grosseserratus, Iris versicolor, Liatris pycnostachya, Lythrum alatum, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Oxypolis rigidior, Panicum virgatum, Pycnanthemum virginianum, Solidago gigantea, Thalictrum dasycarpum, and Veronicastrum virginicum (Curtis 1959, White and Madany 1978, MNNHP 1993). In Missouri, composition may show more of a meadow character, with Asclepias incarnata, Leersia oryzoides, Sium suave, and Stachys palustris listed as characteristic plants (see Nelson 1985).

Dynamics:  Periodic prolonged flooding and fire prevent woody vegetation from dominating this community (Curtis 1959, Nelson 1985).
Environmental Description:  This community is found in lowland areas that are flooded in spring and saturated for much of the growing season (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985). The soils are typically deep, fine-textured, poorly drained, and have high organic content (Bliss and Cox 1964, Nelson 1985). On some sites there is an impermeable subsurface layer that impedes soil drainage (MNNHP 1993).
Geographic Range: This prairie cordgrass wet prairie community type is found in the central United States, ranging from Ohio west to Minnesota, south to Nebraska and Missouri, and east to Indiana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  IA, IL, IN, KY?, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.2 Broadleaf Cattail - White Snakeroot - Rush species Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M069 2.C.4.Nd.2
Group 2.C.4.Nd.2.e Prairie Cordgrass - Bluejoint - Sedge species Midwest Wet Prairie, Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group G770 2.C.4.Nd.2.e
Alliance A3654 Prairie Cordgrass Wet Prairie Alliance A3654 2.C.4.Nd.2.e
Association CEGL002224 Prairie Cordgrass - Sedge species - Bluejoint - Winged Loosestrife - (Stiff Cowbane) Wet Meadow CEGL002224 2.C.4.Nd.2.e
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Spartina pectinata - Carex spp. - Calamagrostis canadensis - Lythrum alatum - (Oxypolis rigidior) Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Wet Prairie]
= Cordgrass (Bliss and Cox 1964)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-06-97
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