Print Report

CEGL008595 Nyssa ursina / Aristida beyrichiana - Rhynchospora (chapmanii, corniculata) Seepage Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bear Tupelo / Beyrich''s Three-awn - (Chapman''s Beaksedge, Short-bristle Horned Beaksedge) Seepage Meadow

Colloquial Name: Apalachicola Wet Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This type represents very wet prairies or open savannas on the Apalachicola National Forest in northern Florida. These are possibly the wettest phase of these communities currently described. Although essentially an herbaceous community, this type often has an emergent shrub layer of Nyssa ursina and clumps of other shrubs such as Ilex glabra, Ilex myrtifolia, Morella caroliniensis, Cliftonia monophylla, and may have a spindly layer of stunted Pinus elliottii present. These sites are heavily dominated by Aristida beyrichiana but also support Ctenium aromaticum, Rhynchospora chapmanii and/or Rhynchospora corniculata, and Aristida palustris. Rhynchospora corniculata is found in the wettest sites and is either rare or absent from other wet prairies of the region which are apparently somewhat drier. Lycopodiella alopecuroides and Rhexia lutea may also be indicative. The emergent shrub layer may develop due to soil wetness which does not allow fire to penetrate the wettest portions of these savannas.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Nyssa ursina is treated under Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora by Wunderlin (1998). This taxon has a distinctive shrubby growth form that persists when grown outside savanna habitats (Anglin pers. comm.)

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

Floristics: Although essentially an herbaceous community, this type often has an emergent shrub layer of Nyssa ursina and clumps of other shrubs such as Ilex glabra, Ilex myrtifolia, Morella caroliniensis (= Myrica heterophylla), Cliftonia monophylla, and may have a spindly layer of stunted Pinus elliottii present. Sites are heavily dominated by Aristida beyrichiana but also support Ctenium aromaticum, Rhynchospora chapmanii and/or Rhynchospora corniculata, and Aristida palustris. Rhynchospora corniculata is found in the wettest sites and is either rare or absent from other wet prairies of the region which are apparently somewhat drier. Rhynchospora chapmanii is generally codominant with Aristida beyrichiana on all but the wettest sites where it is replaced by Rhynchospora corniculata (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). Other species may include Balduina uniflora, Bigelowia nudata, Cliftonia monophylla, Drosera capillaris, Drosera tracyi, Erigeron vernus, Eriocaulon compressum, Eriocaulon decangulare, Lycopodiella alopecuroides, Pleea tenuifolia, Rhexia alifanus, Rhexia lutea, and Scleria reticularis.

Dynamics:  Like other wet savannas or prairies of the Florida Panhandle, the composition of this type is heavily influenced by seasonally high water tables and periodic fires. However, this type appears to be wetter than other documented types which may limit the effectiveness of fire, especially during certain periods, and help to explain the occurrence of scattered clumps of trees.
Environmental Description:  Limited data are available on the sites where this type has been described, which includes Bradwell Bay Wilderness Area. It occurs in low wet areas near cypress stingers, and in a few wet prairies in Tate''s Hell Swamp. It is presumed that this type occurs on poorly drained Ultisols or Aquults. A seasonally high water table is perched near the soil surface during periods of heavy rainfall due to the presence of an argillic horizon which is slowly permeable to downward percolating water. A combination of high clay content and standing water contributes to sparse overstories.
Geographic Range: This saturated herbaceous association occurs on the Apalachicola National Forest in Florida.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  FL


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2

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.e Beaksedge species - Pitcherplant species Seep Group G187 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Alliance A1463 Feather-bristle Beaksedge - Pitcherplant species - Toothache Grass Seep Alliance A1463 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL008595 Bear Tupelo / Beyrich''s Three-awn - (Chapman''s Beaksedge, Short-bristle Horned Beaksedge) Seepage Meadow CEGL008595 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Panhandle Seepage Savannas (Carr et al. 2010)
Concept Author(s): Carr et al. (2010)

Author of Description: R.E. Evans and C.W. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-23-02
  • Anglin, Guy. Personal communication. Forest Botanist. National Forests of Florida, Tallahassee, FL.
  • Boyce, Carla. Personal communication. St. Joe Buffer Preserve, East Point. FL.
  • Carr, S. C., K. M. Robertson, and R. K. Peet. 2010. A vegetation classification of fire-dependent pinelands of Florida. Castanea 75(2):153-189.
  • FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 2010a. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. 228 pp. [https://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm]
  • Folkerts, G. W. 1982. The Gulf Coast pitcher plant bogs. American Scientist 70:260-267.
  • NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville.