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CEGL005108 Rhynchospora capitellata - Rhexia virginica - Rhynchospora scirpoides - Schoenoplectiella hallii Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Brownish Beaksedge - Virginia Meadowbeauty - Longbeak Beaksedge - Hall''s Bulrush Marsh
Colloquial Name: Inland Coastal Plain Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This inland Coastal Plain marsh community is found in the Great Lakes region. Stands occur on sandy pitted outwash plains and glacial lakeplains. The level topography of these plains produces gently sloping, shallow basins with no outlets and sometimes no inlets. The water table fluctuates seasonally and yearly. It is highest in late winter and spring, and during years of high precipitation. The soils in this community are derived mainly from nutrient-poor to circumneutral, acidic (pH 4.4-7.0) sands. These conditions inhibit microbial decomposition and considerable organic material accumulates as peat. The peat mixes with sand or forms more-or-less pure deposits. The vegetation is dominated by herbaceous, mostly graminoid, species. Many of these species are annual or otherwise short-lived plants. They persist for years in the seedbank until the hydrologic conditions are right for germination. Many of these seedbank plants are species significantly disjunct from their main range on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. This plant community typically forms a distinct zonation in concentric bands: open water (when present); shallow water to recently emerged shore dominated by annual plant species and emergents; moist meadow typically dominated by Calamagrostis canadensis and sometimes Cladium mariscoides, Rhynchospora capitellata, Carex scoparia, etc.; and shrub tree margin (when present), often with Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus palustris, Aronia melanocarpa, Vaccinium corymbosum, Cornus spp., Cephalanthus occidentalis. Common indicator species, such as Symphyotrichum dumosum, Eleocharis melanocarpa, Fuirena squarrosa, Lycopodiella appressa, Dichanthelium spretum, Polygala cruciata, Rhynchospora scirpoides, Rhynchospora macrostachya, Rotala ramosior, Euthamia gymnospermoides, Scleria reticularis, Stachys hyssopifolia, and Triadenum virginicum, are found on the northern Atlantic Coastal Plain, either disjunct or ranging west into the Lower Great Lakes region. About 48 species, including 11 indicators, are common components of this community; species include Eriocaulon aquaticum, Fimbristylis autumnalis, Lipocarpha micrantha, Dichanthelium meridionale, Rhexia virginica, Schoenoplectiella smithii, Viola lanceolata, and Xyris difformis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Hydrology is typically seasonally flooded, but parts of stand may vary from temporarily flooded to saturated.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The four major zones that occur in this environment have different physiognomies. Zone 1 is mostly floating-leaved plants and some emergents; Zone 2 has sparse cover by graminoids; Zone 3 has dense graminoid cover; Zone 4 is a scrub zone that occurs where the wetland adjoins uplands. These zones remain largely intact but a succession of wet or dry years can cause them to shift slightly up- or downslope.
Floristics: Graminoids and forbs dominate the main part of this wetland community. This plant community typically forms a distinct zonation in concentric bands: open water (when present); shallow water to recently emerged shore dominated by annual plant species and emergents; moist meadow typically dominated by Calamagrostis canadensis and sometimes Cladium mariscoides, Rhynchospora capitellata, Carex scoparia, etc.; and shrub tree margin (when present), often with Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus palustris, Aronia melanocarpa, Vaccinium corymbosum, Cornus spp., and Cephalanthus occidentalis. Common indicator species, such as Symphyotrichum dumosum (= Aster dumosus), Eleocharis melanocarpa, Fuirena squarrosa, Lycopodiella appressa (= Lycopodium appressum), Dichanthelium spretum (= Panicum spretum), Polygala cruciata, Rhynchospora scirpoides (= Psilocarya scirpoides), Rhynchospora macrostachya, Rotala ramosior, Euthamia gymnospermoides (= Solidago remota), Scleria reticularis, Stachys hyssopifolia, and Triadenum virginicum, found on the northern Atlantic Coastal Plain, either disjunct or ranging west into the Lower Great Lakes region. About 48 species, including 11 indicators, are common components of this community; species include Eriocaulon aquaticum (= Eriocaulon septangulare), Fimbristylis autumnalis, Lipocarpha micrantha (= Hemicarpha micrantha), Dichanthelium meridionale (= Panicum meridionale), Rhexia virginica, Schoenoplectiella smithii (= Scirpus smithii), Viola lanceolata, and Xyris difformis. Many of the characteristic species of this community are annuals. They are favored by and persist because of periodic drawdowns of pond or lake levels that expose bare substrate for germination. The presence of plants such as Eriocaulon aquaticum and Brasenia schreberi in Zone 1 indicates acidic, soft-water conditions.
Dominant species vary with mosaic patch. Mosaic Patch 1 contains Pontederia cordata, Nymphaea odorata, Polygonum amphibium var. emersum (= Polygonum coccineum), Utricularia purpurea, Utricularia spp., Brasenia schreberi, Potamogeton spp., Schoenoplectus acutus, and Scirpus spp. Mosaic Patch 2 contains Fimbristylis autumnalis, Juncus spp., Eleocharis spp., Rhynchospora macrostachya, and Rhynchospora scirpoides (= Psilocarya scirpoides). Mosaic Patch 3 contains Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex scoparia, Carex spp., Cladium mariscoides, and Juncus spp. Mosaic Patch 4 contains Cephalanthus occidentalis, Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus palustris, Aronia melanocarpa, and Vaccinium corymbosum.
Dominant species vary with mosaic patch. Mosaic Patch 1 contains Pontederia cordata, Nymphaea odorata, Polygonum amphibium var. emersum (= Polygonum coccineum), Utricularia purpurea, Utricularia spp., Brasenia schreberi, Potamogeton spp., Schoenoplectus acutus, and Scirpus spp. Mosaic Patch 2 contains Fimbristylis autumnalis, Juncus spp., Eleocharis spp., Rhynchospora macrostachya, and Rhynchospora scirpoides (= Psilocarya scirpoides). Mosaic Patch 3 contains Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex scoparia, Carex spp., Cladium mariscoides, and Juncus spp. Mosaic Patch 4 contains Cephalanthus occidentalis, Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus palustris, Aronia melanocarpa, and Vaccinium corymbosum.
Dynamics: The natural dynamics of this type are affected by annual and seasonal variations in precipitation. Longer term climatic effects and migration patterns are discussed by Reznicek (1994) and Jackson and Singer (1997). In particular Jackson and Singer (1987) report that coastal plain disjuncts in northwestern Indiana probably arrived about 5700 years BP, during the mid-Holocene warming, but some species, such as Fuirena pumila and Eleocharis equisetoides, have since gone extinct, probably prior to human occupation of the basin.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on sandy pitted outwash plains and sandy glacial lakeplains, where it is found on shores of softwater seepage lakes, ponds, or depressions. The level topography of these plains produces gently sloping, shallow basins with no outlets and sometimes no inlets. The water table fluctuates seasonally and yearly. It is highest in late winter and spring, and during years of high precipitation. Four zones of flooding regimes may be recognized, Zone 1 is open water (when present), Zone 2 is intermittently exposed (usually inundated), Zone 3 is either seasonally flooded (inundated for part of the growing season) or saturated due to season, and Zone 4 is temporarily flooded (rarely inundated except during periods of high precipitation). Complete drawdown is possible during drought, exposing the bottoms of the basins.
The soils in this community are derived mainly from sand, ranging from sand to peaty sand to peaty muck. The sand is poor in nutrients and is acidic to circumneutral, with pH ranging from 4.4-7.0. Lake water that is circumneutral tends to raise the pH of soils nearest the lake. The acidic, nutrient-poor conditions inhibit microbial decomposition and considerable organic material accumulates as peat. The peat mixes with sand or forms more-or-less pure deposits. Basin shorelines typically have stretches of pure sand in areas where wave action is greatest, pure peat in protected areas, and a mixture of the two substrates in other areas. In some basins, an impermeable layer of clay develops 2-5 m below the surface. This layer may hold the local water table above the regional water table for long periods.
The soils in this community are derived mainly from sand, ranging from sand to peaty sand to peaty muck. The sand is poor in nutrients and is acidic to circumneutral, with pH ranging from 4.4-7.0. Lake water that is circumneutral tends to raise the pH of soils nearest the lake. The acidic, nutrient-poor conditions inhibit microbial decomposition and considerable organic material accumulates as peat. The peat mixes with sand or forms more-or-less pure deposits. Basin shorelines typically have stretches of pure sand in areas where wave action is greatest, pure peat in protected areas, and a mixture of the two substrates in other areas. In some basins, an impermeable layer of clay develops 2-5 m below the surface. This layer may hold the local water table above the regional water table for long periods.
Geographic Range: This inland coastal plain marsh community is found in the Great Lakes region of the midwestern United States and Canada. Ninety percent of the occurrences of this community are within 160 km of the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan in southwestern Lower Michigan and northeastern Indiana. This community also is found in the central Wisconsin sandplain and the outwash of northwestern Wisconsin. There is a concentration of sites on the till plains of Georgian Bay, Ontario. Smaller concentrations occur on outwash and lakeplains in northern Lower Michigan and eastern Upper Michigan.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IN, MI, ON, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688166
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.h beaksedge spp. - spikerush spp. - meadowbeauty spp. Pondshore Group | G916 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.h |
| Alliance | A4404 Tall Horned Beaksedge - Smooth Sawgrass - Virginia Meadowbeauty Marsh Alliance | A4404 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.h |
| Association | CEGL005108 Brownish Beaksedge - Virginia Meadowbeauty - Longbeak Beaksedge - Hall''s Bulrush Marsh | CEGL005108 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.h |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Rhynchospora capitellata - Rhexia virginica - Rhynchospora scirpoides - Schoenoplectus hallii Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Coastal Plain Marsh]
- Brodowicz, W. W. 1989. Report on the Coastal Plain flora of the Great Lakes region. Prepared for the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.
- 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.).
- Homoya, M. A., J. Aldrich, J. Bacone, L. Casebere, and T. Post. 1988. Indiana natural community classification. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indianapolis, IN. Unpublished manuscript.
- Jackson, S. T., and D. K. Singer. 1997. Climate change and the development of coastal plain disjuncts in the central Great Lakes region. Rhodora 99:101-117.
- Keddy, C. J., and M. J. Sharp. 1989. Atlantic coastal plain flora conservation in Ontario. Prepared for the Natural Heritage League and World Wildlife Fund.
- Kost, M. A., D. A. Albert, J. G. Cohen, B. S. Slaughter, R. K. Schillo, C. R. Weber, and K. A. Chapman. 2007. Natural communities of Michigan: Classification and description. Report No. 2007-21, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing. 314 pp. [http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/reports/2007-21_Natural_Communites_of_Michigan_Classification_and_Description.pdf]
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.
- Reznicek, A. A. 1994. The disjunct Coastal Plain flora of the Great Lakes region. Biological Conservation 68:203-215.
- 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]