Print Report
CEGL004750 Saccharum baldwinii - Calamagrostis coarctata - Panicum rigidulum - Rhynchospora capitellata Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: This depression pond association has a pronounced seasonal fluctuation in water level, and is the upper/outer parts of a zonation sequence, found in the Interior Low Plateau of Tennessee, and the Cumberland Plateau of northern Alabama, and dominated by Saccharum baldwinii with Calamagrostis coarctata, Andropogon virginicus, and many lower-statured graminoids and forbs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrow Plumegrass - Nuttall''s Reedgrass - Redtop Panicgrass - Brownish Beaksedge Marsh
Colloquial Name: Highland Rim Pond (Narrow Plumegrass Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is found in depression ponds which have a pronounced seasonal fluctuation in water level, filling in the winter and often drying completely in the summer. It occurs as the upper/outer parts of a zonation sequence, dominated at least in part by the nominal species, found in upland depressions of the Interior Low Plateau (southeastern Highland Rim) of Tennessee, and the Cumberland Plateau of northern Alabama. In these situations, water is ponded by an impermeable fragipan in the substrate. Saccharum baldwinii may be present in patches; other taller stature species present may include Calamagrostis coarctata and Andropogon virginicus. Medium- to short-statured graminoids (which may form a more-or-less distinct zone in some cases) include Panicum rigidulum var. rigidulum, Panicum verrucosum, Dichanthelium dichotomum, Juncus effusus, Carex bullata, Dichanthelium dichotomum, Rhynchospora glomerata, and Rhynchospora capitellata. Additional herbs present may include Ludwigia linearis, Juncus acuminatus, Juncus dichotomus, Juncus marginatus, Juncus scirpoides, Xyris torta, Rhexia mariana, and Lobelia canbyi. The mosses Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum spp., and others are patch dominants. In one disturbed example, the dominant grasses are Saccharum baldwinii and Dichanthelium dichotomum; other grasses which are present here include Chasmanthium laxum, Panicum anceps, Sorghastrum nutans, Calamagrostis coarctata, Aristida longespica, Schizachyrium scoparium, Dichanthelium scoparium, and Andropogon virginicus. Forbs are less prominent but include Symphyotrichum dumosum, Helianthus angustifolius, and Rhexia mariana. Smilax rotundifolia is a common vine. Another disturbed, successional example is dominated by Panicum rigidulum var. rigidulum and Hypericum drummondii, with Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum, Packera anonyma, Eryngium yuccifolium, Symphyotrichum dumosum, Liatris spicata, Liatris microcephala, Polytrichum commune, Coreopsis tripteris, Parthenium integrifolium, Agalinis sp., Symphyotrichum spp., Solidago spp., and Diodia teres. Other species include Eleocharis microcarpa, Juncus repens, Proserpinaca pectinata, and/or Proserpinaca intermedia.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Alabama added based on an Element Occurrence in Cherokee County (ALNHP unpubl. data 2017). This association has been documented from Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, in an isolated shallow depression pond and on an area of the former airfield (Russo 1997).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: In typical stands of this association, Saccharum baldwinii may be present in patches; other taller stature species present may include Calamagrostis coarctata and Andropogon virginicus. Medium- to short-stature graminoids (which may form a more-or-less distinct zone in some cases) include Panicum rigidulum var. rigidulum, Panicum verrucosum, Dichanthelium dichotomum, Juncus effusus, Carex bullata, Dichanthelium dichotomum, Rhynchospora glomerata, and Rhynchospora capitellata (Russo 1997). Additional herbs present may include Ludwigia linearis, Juncus acuminatus, Juncus dichotomus, Juncus marginatus, Juncus scirpoides, Xyris torta, Rhexia mariana, and Lobelia canbyi. The mosses Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum spp., and others are patch dominants. In one disturbed example, the dominant grasses are Saccharum baldwinii and Dichanthelium dichotomum; other grasses which are present here include Chasmanthium laxum, Panicum anceps, Sorghastrum nutans, Calamagrostis coarctata, Aristida longespica, Schizachyrium scoparium, Dichanthelium scoparium, and Andropogon virginicus. Forbs are less prominent but include Symphyotrichum dumosum (= Aster dumosus), Helianthus angustifolius, and Rhexia mariana. Smilax rotundifolia is a common vine. Another disturbed, successional example is dominated by Panicum rigidulum var. rigidulum and Hypericum drummondii, with Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum (= Dichanthelium dichotomum var. ramulosum), Packera anonyma (= Senecio anonymus), Eryngium yuccifolium, Symphyotrichum dumosum, Liatris spicata, Liatris microcephala, Polytrichum commune, Coreopsis tripteris, Parthenium integrifolium, Agalinis sp., Symphyotrichum spp. (= Aster spp.), Solidago spp., and Diodia teres. Other species include Eleocharis microcarpa, Juncus repens, Proserpinaca pectinata, and/or Proserpinaca intermedia.
The northern Alabama example contains Carex glaucescens, Dichanthelium dichotomum, Eleocharis acicularis, Panicum verrucosum, and Sphagnum sp., with Liquidambar styraciflua (ALNHP unpubl. data 2017).
The northern Alabama example contains Carex glaucescens, Dichanthelium dichotomum, Eleocharis acicularis, Panicum verrucosum, and Sphagnum sp., with Liquidambar styraciflua (ALNHP unpubl. data 2017).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: The Barrens of the southeastern Highland Rim of Tennessee comprise about 500 square miles (over 300,000 ha). The range could extend north along the eastern Highland Rim of Tennessee. There is one element occurrence record of this community from the Cumberland Plateau of northern Alabama, but it is not reported from Kentucky.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, KY?, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688288
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.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.b Common Buttonbush / Sedge species Central Interior Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group | G599 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.b |
| Alliance | A3475 Threeway Sedge - Sedge species Central Interior Pond Marsh Alliance | A3475 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.b |
| Association | CEGL004750 Narrow Plumegrass - Nuttall''s Reedgrass - Redtop Panicgrass - Brownish Beaksedge Marsh | CEGL004750 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.b |
Concept Lineage: This now accommodates the former Panicum rigidulum var. rigidulum - Panicum verrucosum - Rhynchospora (capitellata, glomerata) Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL004749).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Saccharum baldwinii Seasonally Flooded Herbaceous (Russo 1997)
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data on file. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Auburn University.
- Russo, M. J. 1997. Arnold Engineering Development Center preliminary community classification. Appendix to draft report to The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Field Office, Nashville. 23 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.
- TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1998a. An investigation and assessment of the vegetation of Arnold Air Force Base. Coffee and Franklin counties, Tennessee. The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Field Office, Nashville. 37 pp. plus appendices.