Print Report

CEGL004742 Cephalanthus occidentalis / Hibiscus moscheutos Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Buttonbush / Crimson-eyed Rosemallow Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Buttonbush Sinkhole Pond Swamp

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This buttonbush sinkhole pond type occurs in the south-central United States. This shrubland occupies the central portions of small shallow water depressions which have little or no arborescent overstory; adjacent trees are commonly Quercus phellos and Liquidambar styraciflua. Cephalanthus occidentalis and Hibiscus moscheutos comprise the shrub stratum in water less than 1 m deep. Other woody species commonly encountered along drier margins of Tennessee examples include Cornus amomum, Cornus foemina, Cornus racemosa, Nyssa biflora, Vaccinium fuscatum, Acer rubrum, Carpinus caroliniana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Itea virginica, Smilax rotundifolia, and Salix humilis. Sedges and grasses are the dominant herbaceous species present and may include Juncus repens, Rhynchospora corniculata, Carex gigantea, Carex intumescens, Leersia hexandra, Saccharum baldwinii, Glyceria septentrionalis, Panicum hemitomon, and Dulichium arundinaceum. The last two species may develop into separate associations forming a mosaic within the small open depressions. Other herbs which may occur include Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum amphibium, Proserpinaca pectinata, Triadenum walteri, and Ludwigia spp. In Missouri, species include Bidens discoidea, Carex alata, Carex comosa, Decodon verticillatus, Galium tinctorium, Glyceria acutiflora, Hibiscus lasiocarpos, Triadenum walteri, and Hottonia inflata. State-rare species that may be found in Tennessee examples of this community include Ludwigia sphaerocarpa, Carex barrattii, Panicum hemitomon, and Dichanthelium dichotomum var. ensifolium. Inundation is usually continuous throughout the year, but these sites can become dry in mid or late summer or during periods of prolonged drought. Soils are silt loams, which are poorly drained soils derived from a thin layer of loess-like silt overlying cherty limestone residuum. They are also underlain by fragipans which may occur as little as 30 cm below the surface or up to 1 m deep. This layer is rarely uniform in thickness, ranging from 15-75 cm thick, or development, ranging from weakly to strongly developed. These soils have variable chemistry, but can be very acidic and low in nutrients.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Type concept of the former CEGL002414 was taken from the Missouri state type - Pond Shrub Swamp (Nelson 1985). The herbaceous equivalent of Missouri examples of this type (Nelson''s "pond shrub swamp") is ~Carex comosa - Carex decomposita - Dulichium arundinaceum - Lycopus rubellus Marsh (CEGL002413)$$, and distinctions between the two may be difficult to make. Type needs continuing rangewide review and integration. At Arnold Air Force Base, Coffee and Franklin counties, Tennessee, examples of this community can be found at Clay Pond, Cow Pond, Lemm Pond, and Heron Ponds. Will this type require geographic subdivision as more information becomes available?

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This shrubland occupies the central portions of small shallow water depressions which have little or no arborescent overstory; adjacent trees are commonly Quercus phellos and Liquidambar styraciflua. Cephalanthus occidentalis and Hibiscus moscheutos (= ssp. moscheutos) comprise the shrub stratum in water less than 1 m deep. Other woody species commonly encountered along drier margins of Tennessee examples include Cornus amomum, Cornus foemina, Cornus racemosa, Nyssa biflora, Vaccinium fuscatum, Acer rubrum, Carpinus caroliniana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Itea virginica, Smilax rotundifolia, and Salix humilis. Sedges and grasses are the dominant herbaceous species present and may include Juncus repens, Rhynchospora corniculata, Carex gigantea, Carex intumescens, Leersia hexandra, Saccharum baldwinii, Glyceria septentrionalis, Panicum hemitomon, and Dulichium arundinaceum. The last two species may develop into separate associations forming a mosaic within the small open depressions. Other herbs which may occur include Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum amphibium, Proserpinaca pectinata, Triadenum walteri, and Ludwigia spp. In Missouri, species include Bidens discoidea, Carex alata, Carex comosa, Decodon verticillatus, Galium tinctorium, Glyceria acutiflora, Hibiscus lasiocarpos (= Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. lasiocarpos), Triadenum walteri (= Hypericum walteri), and Hottonia inflata (Nelson 1985). State-rare species that may be found in Tennessee examples of this community include Ludwigia sphaerocarpa, Carex barrattii, Panicum hemitomon, and Dichanthelium dichotomum var. ensifolium (= Dichanthelium ensifolium) (TNC 1998a).

Dynamics:  This shrubland occupies the central portions of small shallow water depressions, which are subject to seasonal flooding, thus restricting plant growth to certain flood-tolerant taxa. In fire-prone landscapes, fires may pass through these communities on occasion.
Environmental Description:  Inundation is usually continuous throughout the year, but these sites can become dry in mid or late summer or during periods of prolonged drought. Soils are silt loams, which are poorly drained soils derived from a thin layer of loess-like silt overlying cherty limestone residuum. They are also underlain by fragipans which may occur as little as 30 cm below the surface or up to 1 meter deep. This layer is rarely uniform in thickness, ranging from 15-75 cm thick, or in development, ranging from weakly to strongly developed. These soils have variable chemistry, but can be very acidic and low in nutrients (Nelson 1985, TNC 1998a).
Geographic Range: This buttonbush sinkhole pond type occurs in the south-central United States, ranging from Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, south to Tennessee and Georgia, and possibly Alabama and Mississippi.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL?, GA, IL, IN, KY, MO, MS?, TN


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.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 A3473 Common Buttonbush Central Interior Pond Shrubland Alliance A3473 2.C.4.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL004742 Common Buttonbush / Crimson-eyed Rosemallow Wet Shrubland CEGL004742 2.C.4.Nd.2.b
Concept Lineage: merged

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Cephalanthus occidentalis / Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. moscheutos Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Pond Shrub Swamp (Nelson 1985)
Concept Author(s): P.W. Nelson (1985)

Author of Description: M. Pyne and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-05-08
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