Print Report
CEGL006551 Carex prairea - Carex stricta - Pycnanthemum virginianum Fen
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Prairie Sedge - Upright Sedge - Virginia Mountainmint Fen
Colloquial Name: Prairie Sedge - Upright Sedge Fen
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open fen vegetation of western and central Pennsylvania is characterized by deep peat and high base status. Although groundwater-fed, obvious emergence of springs is lacking. The physiognomy is graminoid or mixed with forbs, sometimes with scattered shrubs. Occurrences are variable, but are often characterized by sedges such as Carex prairea, Carex stricta, and Carex tetanica. Associated sedges include Carex hystericina, Carex interior, Carex leptalea, Carex lasiocarpa, and Carex sterilis. Associated forbs and graminoids include Cirsium muticum, Epilobium leptophyllum, Eupatorium maculatum, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Maianthemum stellatum, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Polemonium reptans, Pycnanthemum virginianum, Solidago patula, Thelypteris palustris, Verbena hastata, and Typha latifolia. A ground layer of mosses such as Campylium stellatum and Thuidium delicatulum is typical. At least some examples of this vegetation have a history of land clearing for pasturing, and several are maintained in an open condition at present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Candidate for removal but recently updated it from a crosswalk with Pennsylvania.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This vegetation is variable but generally characterized by sedges such as Carex prairea, Carex stricta, and Carex tetanica. Associated sedges include Carex hystericina, Carex interior, Carex leptalea, Carex lasiocarpa, and Carex sterilis. Associated forbs and graminoids include Cirsium muticum, Epilobium leptophyllum, Eupatorium maculatum, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Maianthemum stellatum (= Smilacina stellata), Muhlenbergia glomerata, Polemonium reptans, Pycnanthemum virginianum, Solidago patula, Thelypteris palustris, Verbena hastata, and Typha latifolia. Other associates may include Impatiens capensis, Thalictrum pubescens, and Solidago uliginosa. A ground layer of mosses such as Campylium stellatum, Fissidens dubius (= Fissidens cristatus), and Thuidium delicatulum is typical. Shrubs are of variable cover and may include Alnus incana and Salix discolor. The vegetation occurs naturally as small patches and generally in association with larger wetland complexes.
Dynamics: Aerial photos and field evidence suggest that most examples of this vegetation have a history of pasturing and perhaps were cut for hay, and several are still actively used as pastures. (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy 1995). Abandoned sites have a generally higher cover of shrubs.
Environmental Description: Substrate is generally 1-2 m of decomposed peat overlying clay loam, sandy clay, or clay. This vegetation occurs at the base of gentle (<5%) slopes in stream valleys or lake basins at elevations ranging from 290-365 m. It is characterized by saturated hydrology in which soils are moist throughout the growing season, with diffuse surface flow lacking obvious emergent springs.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is currently known only from western and central Pennsylvania.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: PA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687924
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G3
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.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation | F016 | 2.C.2 |
| Division | 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division | D029 | 2.C.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.2.Na.2 Shrubby cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge / Star Campylium Moss Alkaline Fen Macrogroup | M877 | 2.C.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.C.2.Na.2.f North-Central Interior & Appalachian Alkaline Fen Group | G805 | 2.C.2.Na.2.f |
| Alliance | A4479 <i>Dasiphora fruticosa - Carex flava - Carex tetanica</i> Alkaline Fen Alliance | A4479 | 2.C.2.Na.2.f |
| Association | CEGL006551 Prairie Sedge - Upright Sedge - Virginia Mountainmint Fen | CEGL006551 | 2.C.2.Na.2.f |
Concept Lineage: Changed from Pr
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Groups 2b and 2c (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy 1995)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- McPherson, J. 2011e. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Sedge - Mixed Forb Fen Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=16009] (accessed February 14, 2012)
- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. 1995. A study of calcareous fen communities in Pennsylvania. Report to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, Forestry Advisory Services. 35 pp. plus appendices.
- Zimmerman, E. A., T. Davis, M. A. Furedi, B. Eichelberger, J. McPherson, S. Seymour, G. Podniesinski, N. Dewar, and J. Wagner, editors. 2012. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Communities.aspx]