Print Report

CEGL006210 Rhynchospora capitellata - Cyperus dentatus - Rhexia virginica - Xyris difformis Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Brownish Beaksedge - Toothed Flatsedge - Virginia Meadowbeauty - Bog Yellow-eyed-grass Marsh

Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Toothed Flatsedge Sandy Pondshore

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This oligotrophic Atlantic Coastal Plain pondshore community occurs on the shores of ponds formed in glacial outwash from Ontario and possibly Nova Scotia south to Long Island, New York, and possibly to the Coastal Plain of New Jersey. The substrate is generally sand or gravelly sand with a shallow or negligible organic layer. The amount of organic material at the surface or mixed with sand is highly variable, ranging from an absent O horizon (pure sand) to a deep A horizon of sandy loam. The vegetation occupies the highly variable intermediate zones exposed by water level draw-down late in the growing season. This vegetation is often characterized by conspicuous zones of varying dominants, but analysis reveals that the overall species composition of these zones is strikingly similar, and does not warrant further separation by dominant species. Vegetation cover is usually high and is characterized by graminoids with a high component of forbs. Characteristic species include Rhexia virginica, Rhynchospora capitellata, Cyperus dentatus, Viola lanceolata, Triadenum virginicum, Juncus canadensis, Juncus pelocarpus, Juncus militaris, Drosera filiformis, Drosera intermedia, Euthamia caroliniana, Hypericum mutilum, Hypericum canadense, Fimbristylis autumnalis, Rhynchospora fusca, Muhlenbergia uniflora, Juncus pelocarpus, Gratiola aurea, Xyris difformis, Agalinis purpurea, Coreopsis rosea, and Agrostis scabra. Many rare species may be found in this vegetation, such as Sabatia kennedyana, Eupatorium novae-angliae, and Sagittaria teres.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Proposed name change of Sneddon et al. (1999) was not implemented in the USNVC. This vegetation is similar to vegetation described from Nova Scotia, but classification relationship has not been definitively determined.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Characteristic species include Rhexia virginica, Rhynchospora capitellata, Cyperus dentatus, Viola lanceolata, Triadenum virginicum, Juncus canadensis, Juncus pelocarpus, Sabatia kennedyana, Juncus militaris, Drosera filiformis, Drosera intermedia, Euthamia caroliniana (= Euthamia tenuifolia), Hypericum mutilum, Xyris difformis, Coreopsis rosea, and Agrostis scabra.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  This oligotrophic Coastal Plain pondshore community occurs on the shores of ponds formed in glacial outwash in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, or on the margins of large lakes in Nova Scotia. The substrate is generally sandy with a shallow or absent organic layer.

Geographic Range: This association is restricted to Ontario and possibly Nova Scotia, southern New England, New York, possibly ranging to New Jersey.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ?, NS?, NY, ON, RI, VT




Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G2

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Euthamia tenuifolia - Rhexia virginica - Hypericum mutilum - Xyris difformis Herbaceous Vegetation (Sneddon et al. 1999)
> Sabatia kennedyana - Juncus militaris Community (Sneddon 1994)
< Common meadowbeauty - Golden hedgehyssop (Rhexia virginica - Gratiola aurea) community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? New England coastal plain pondshore (Rawinski 1984a)
? Southern New England Coastal Plain Pondshore (Sneddon et al. 1999)
>< Transition (Keddy 1981)

Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon et al. (1999)

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon and R.E. Zaremba

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-15-04

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