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CEGL004510 Sparganium americanum - (Sparganium erectum ssp. stoloniferum) - Epilobium leptophyllum Seep
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Bur-reed - (Simple-stem Bur-reed) - Bog Willowherb Seep
Colloquial Name: Piedmont/Mountain Semipermanent Impoundment (Montane Boggy Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This vegetation occupies marshes and impoundments within small rivers or streams with seasonal flooding, especially in areas currently or formerly flooded by beavers or restricted by natural bedrock or boulder accumulation. Most sites were heavily altered by logging in the late 1800s through the early 1900s, and this disturbance may have altered the distribution, cover, and physiognomy of these wetlands. Soils are variable and may consist of poorly to very poorly drained muck or organic-rich loamy soils of varying texture. Sparganium americanum strongly dominates the dense herb layer at many sites, although at some locations in the Allegheny Mountains and on the Cumberland Plateau, it is replaced by Sparganium erectum ssp. stoloniferum. Common associates vary with geography and include Agrostis hyemalis, Callitriche heterophylla, Carex scoparia, Carex gynandra, Carex lurida, Carex stipata, Eleocharis obtusa, Epilobium coloratum, Epilobium leptophyllum, Galium tinctorium, Glyceria melicaria, Glyceria striata, Hydrocotyle americana, Hypericum mutilum, Impatiens capensis, Juncus effusus, Leersia oryzoides, Ludwigia palustris, Lycopus uniflorus, Poa palustris, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum sagittatum, Polygonum punctatum, Potamogeton spp., Scirpus cyperinus, Scirpus hattorianus, Scutellaria lateriflora, Solidago rugosa, Sphenopholis pensylvanica, and Symphyotrichum prenanthoides. More locally, Glyceria grandis is an abundant grass. A very sparse shrub layer may be present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Similar vegetation may occur in the Ridge and Valley of Virginia in abandoned beaver ponds. [See VDNH''s Laurel Fork report, Carex stipata - Sparganium americanum subassociation (Fleming and Moorhead 1996).]
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation of this community type is almost entirely herbaceous, although some stands may have a sparse (<10%) shrub layer. Sparganium spp. strongly dominate the dense herb layer. Sparganium americanum dominates in Virginia occurrences; in the Allegheny Mountains and Cumberland Plateau, it is sometimes replaced by Sparganium erectum ssp. stoloniferum. Scirpus expansus may dominate or codominate with Sparganium americanum in some areas. Common associates vary with geography and include Agrostis hyemalis, Callitriche heterophylla, Carex scoparia, Carex gynandra, Carex lurida, Carex stipata, Eleocharis obtusa, Epilobium coloratum, Epilobium leptophyllum, Galium tinctorium, Glyceria melicaria, Glyceria striata, Hydrocotyle americana, Hypericum mutilum, Impatiens capensis, Juncus effusus, Leersia oryzoides, Ludwigia palustris, Lycopus uniflorus, Poa palustris, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum sagittatum, Polygonum punctatum, Potamogeton spp., Scirpus cyperinus, Scirpus hattorianus, Scutellaria lateriflora, Solidago rugosa, Sphenopholis pensylvanica, and Symphyotrichum prenanthoides (= Aster prenanthoides). More locally, Glyceria grandis is an abundant grass. Epilobium leptophyllum, Juncus brevicaudatus, and Poa palustris are state-rare plants associated with the type.
Dynamics: This association is characteristic of beaver-influenced wetlands.
Environmental Description: This vegetation occupies marshes and impoundments within small rivers or streams with seasonal flooding, especially in areas currently or formerly flooded by beavers or restricted by natural bedrock or boulder accumulation. In the Allegheny Mountains area, it occurs within northern hardwood or red spruce forest zones at 600 to 1300 m elevation; in Virginia, it is restricted to gentle, upper-slope streamhead valleys above 1060 m (3500 feet) elevation, where it occurs in patch-mosaics with wet spruce forests, sphagnous seepage bogs, and open to scrubby meadows; it can also occur at lower elevations, for example on the northern Cumberland Plateau where it is found at 350 m elevation. Most sites were heavily altered by logging in the late 1800s through the early 1900s, and this disturbance may have altered the distribution, cover, and physiognomy of these wetlands. Soils are variable and may consist of poorly to very poorly drained muck, or organic-rich loamy soils of varying texture. Average depth of organic soil is 35 cm. Hydric soil indicators include histisol, histic epipedon, hydrogen sulfide, 2 cm muck, sandy gleyed matrix, depleted matrix, redox depressions, and iron/manganese masses. Soil pH averages 4.5 (n=78) and can be as low as 3.9. Soil chemistry is characterized by high B, Fe, S; moderate Al, Ca, Cu, K, Na, Mg, Zn, exchangeable nitrogen, and total exchange capacity; and low Mn, P, and organic matter (n=7).
Geographic Range: This community is known from a few high-elevation sites in the Southern Cumberland/ Ridge and Valley of Georgia, and the greater Allegheny Mountains area of Virginia and West Virginia. It is reported from Tennessee; more information is needed.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, TN, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687304
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.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.a Pickerelweed - Maidencane River & Basin Freshwater Marsh & Wet Meadow Group | G188 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.a |
| Alliance | A3404 Giant Cutgrass - Annual Wild Rice - Pickerelweed Southeastern Floodplain Marsh Alliance | A3404 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004510 American Bur-reed - (Simple-stem Bur-reed) - Bog Willowherb Seep | CEGL004510 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Picea rubens / Vaccinium angustifolium - Epilobium leptophyllum Association: Carex stipata - Sparganium americanum Subassociation (Fleming and Moorhead 1996)
= Sparganium (americanum, chlorocarpum) Marsh (Byers et al. 2007)
? Sparganium americanum - Epilobium leptophyllum Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
= Sparganium americanum - Scirpus spp. herbaceous wetland (Vanderhorst 2001b)
= Sparganium americanum herbaceous vegetation (Hall 2005a)
< Disturbed Bog (Wichmann 2009)
< IID6a. Natural Impoundment Pond (Allard 1990)
= Sparganium (americanum, chlorocarpum) Marsh (Byers et al. 2007)
? Sparganium americanum - Epilobium leptophyllum Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Coulling 2001)
= Sparganium americanum - Scirpus spp. herbaceous wetland (Vanderhorst 2001b)
= Sparganium americanum herbaceous vegetation (Hall 2005a)
< Disturbed Bog (Wichmann 2009)
< IID6a. Natural Impoundment Pond (Allard 1990)
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