Print Report

CEGL006571 Spiraea tomentosa - Rubus spp. / Phalaris arundinacea Ruderal Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Steeplebush - Blackberry species / Reed Canarygrass Ruderal Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Ruderal Steeplebush / Reed Canarygrass Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This wet meadow vegetation of the northeastern states occurs in a variety of settings, most frequently in low-lying areas of old fields or pastures, headwater basins, or beaver-impacted wetlands. The physiognomy is complex and variable, ranging from shrub thicket to herbaceous meadow with scattered shrubs. Shrub species usually include Spiraea tomentosa, Spiraea alba var. alba, Cornus amomum, Rubus allegheniensis, Rubus hispidus, Salix spp., and others. Hypericum densiflorum often occurs in the Central Appalachians. The invasive exotic shrubs Lonicera morrowii and Rosa multiflora may be locally abundant. Associated herbaceous species are also variable in composition, depending on land-use history. Commonly seen are Phalaris arundinacea, Solidago rugosa, Solidago gigantea, Solidago canadensis, Juncus effusus, Scirpus cyperinus, Scirpus expansus, Leersia oryzoides, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex scoparia, Carex folliculata, Carex lurida, Carex lupulina, Carex vulpinoidea, Carex trichocarpa, Vernonia noveboracensis, Triadenum virginicum, Lycopus uniflorus, Impatiens capensis, Eupatorium maculatum, Polygonum sagittatum, Thelypteris palustris, Onoclea sensibilis, Eleocharis spp., and others. The invasive species Microstegium vimineum, Lythrum salicaria, and Phragmites australis can be abundant or form monocultures in these wetlands. Successional wet meadows in the Coastal Plain of New Jersey can include scattered patches of Liquidambar styraciflua and Morella pensylvanica, and more predominantly grassy patches of Andropogon virginicus, Panicum rigidulum, Panicum virgatum, and Spiraea tomentosa.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: The physiognomy is complex and variable, ranging from shrub thicket to herbaceous meadow with scattered shrubs. Within each wetland, species may be locally abundant and often have patchy distribution. Shrub species usually include Spiraea tomentosa, Spiraea alba var. alba, Cornus amomum, Rubus allegheniensis, Rubus hispidus, Salix spp., and others. Hypericum densiflorum often occurs in the Central Appalachians. The invasive exotic shrubs Lonicera morrowii and Rosa multiflora may be locally abundant. Associated herbaceous species are also variable in composition, depending on land-use history. Commonly seen are Phalaris arundinacea, Solidago rugosa, Solidago gigantea, Solidago canadensis, Juncus effusus, Scirpus cyperinus, Scirpus expansus, Leersia oryzoides, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex scoparia, Carex folliculata, Carex lurida, Carex lupulina, Carex vulpinoidea, Carex trichocarpa, Vernonia noveboracensis, Triadenum virginicum, Lycopus uniflorus, Impatiens capensis, Eupatorium maculatum, Polygonum sagittatum, Thelypteris palustris, Onoclea sensibilis, Eleocharis spp., and others. Sphagnum spp. are often abundant along with lesser amounts of other nonvascular species. The invasive species Microstegium vimineum, Lythrum salicaria, and Phragmites australis can be abundant or form monocultures in these wetlands. Successional wet meadows in the Coastal Plain of New Jersey can include scattered patches of Liquidambar styraciflua and Morella pensylvanica, and more predominantly grassy patches of Andropogon virginicus, Panicum rigidulum, Panicum virgatum, and Spiraea tomentosa.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This wet meadow vegetation of the northeastern states occurs in a variety of settings, most frequently in low-lying areas of old fields or pastures, headwater basins, or beaver-impacted wetlands. These wetlands typically flood early in the growing season and may be saturated to near the surface for some of the growing season, but they are generally dry for much of the year. The substrate is typically mineral soil with a layer of muck at the surface.
Geographic Range: Although this vegetation is widespread, its range has not been evaluated. It is known from the Central Appalachian ecoregion, the High Alleghany Plateau, Western Alleghany Plateau, North Atlantic Coast, and the Lower New England / Northern Piedmont ecoregions, and is likely in others.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, ME?, NJ, NY, PA, WV


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

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.90 Common Rush - Purple Loosestrife - Reed Canarygrass Eastern North American Ruderal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M303 2.C.4.Nd.90
Group 2.C.4.Nd.90.b Reed Canarygrass - Common Reed - Narrowleaf Cattail Ruderal Wet Meadow & Marsh Group G556 2.C.4.Nd.90.b
Alliance A4106 Steeplebush - Blackberry species Ruderal Wet Shrubland Alliance A4106 2.C.4.Nd.90.b
Association CEGL006571 Steeplebush - Blackberry species / Reed Canarygrass Ruderal Wet Shrubland CEGL006571 2.C.4.Nd.90.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Spiraea tomentosa / Sphagnum palustre Shrub Peatland (Byers et al. 2007)
Concept Author(s): Central Appalachian Ecology Group

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon, S.C. Gawler and E.F. Largay

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-19-09
  • Byers, E. A., J. P. Vanderhorst, and B. P. Streets. 2007. Classification and conservation assessment of high elevation wetland communities in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Elkins.
  • Decker, E. 1955. The Conneaut Marsh: Marsh and waterfowl investigations. M.S. thesis, Pennsylvania State University Graduate School, School of Forestry. 108 pp.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Edinger, G. J., A. L. Feldmann, T. G. Howard, J. J. Schmid, F. C. Sechler, E. Eastman, E. Largay, L. A. Sneddon, C. Lea, and J. Von Loh. 2014b. Vegetation inventory: Saratoga National Historical Park, New York. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NETN/NRTR--2014/869, National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
  • Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
  • Largay, E. F., and L. A. Sneddon. 2017. Vegetation mapping and classification of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2017/1529. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Metzler, K. J., J. P. Barrett, T. E. Nosal, W. A. Millinor, and L. A. Sneddon. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping at Weir Farm National Historic Site, Connecticut. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/130. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 128 pp.
  • NRCS [Natural Resources Conservation Service]. 2004a. Soil survey of Saratoga County, New York. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 590 pp.
  • NatureServe and E. Russell. 2003. International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States. Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA. Data current as June 2003.
  • Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, E. A. Zimmerman, E. Eastman, and L. A. Sneddon. 2006d. Vegetation classification and mapping at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2006/079. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, E. A. Zimmerman, W. A. Millinor, and L. A. Sneddon. 2006e. Vegetation classification and mapping at Johnstown Flood National Memorial. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2006/034. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 144 pp.
  • Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, E. Eastman, L. A. Sneddon, and S. C. Gawler. 2007. Classification and mapping of vegetation and fire fuel models at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2007/076. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 2 volumes.
  • Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, M. Furedi, B. A. Eichelberger, A. Feldmann, G. Edinger, E. Eastman, and L. A. Sneddon. 2008. Vegetation classification and mapping at Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/133. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 370 pp.
  • Sechler, F. C., G. J. Edinger, T. G. Howard, J. J. Schmid, E. Eastman, E. Largay, L. A. Sneddon, C. Lea, and J. Von Loh. 2014. Vegetation classification and mapping at Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, New York. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NETN/NRTR--2014/873, National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 392 pp.
  • Sneddon, L. A., Zaremba, R. E., and M. Adams. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. Natural Resources Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2010/147. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 481 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/caco/cacorpt.pdf]
  • WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.