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CEGL002506 Dasiphora fruticosa / Clinopodium arkansanum - Argentina anserina - Primula mistassinica Lakeshore Sparse Vegetation

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shrubby-cinquefoil / Limestone Calamint - Silverweed Cinquefoil - Mistassini Primrose Lakeshore Sparse Vegetation

Colloquial Name: Great Lakes Limestone - Dolostone Bedrock Shore

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community occurs along Great Lakes shores of the United States and Canada where broad, flat, horizontally bedded limestone or dolostone are exposed along or near the shoreline. Limestone cobble may be present. These lakeshores are characterized by a zonal gradation of plant communities, changing in response to distance from the lake. The width of the zone varies with fluctuations in the Great Lakes water level. The splash/scrape zone, which averages 10 m in width, is very sparsely vegetated, with small pools of standing water. Plant species are typically found in protected bedrock cracks. Typical species in this zone include Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Argentina anserina, and Populus balsamifera. The vegetated zone occurs more inland as soil accumulates in and adjacent to bedrock cracks. Vegetation is still patchy. Common species include Clinopodium arkansanum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. lindheimeri, and species from the previous zone. A variety of mosses, including Campylium stellatum, are common throughout this zone. Further inland, sand accumulations or cobble ridges on the bedrock surface provide a suitable substrate for the establishment of woody and herbaceous plants. Scattered trees and shrubs are common, including Abies balsamea, Picea glauca, Populus balsamifera, and Thuja occidentalis.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Note, in Michigan alvar-like communities may be included here. New York occurrences in Lake Champlain may fit this type. Michigan stands may be split into two types: limestone/dolomite (S3) and volcanic conglomerate (S3).

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

Floristics: These lakeshores are characterized by a zonal gradation of plant communities, changing in response to distance from the lake. Typical species found in protected bedrock cracks of the splash/scrape zone include Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Argentina anserina (= Potentilla anserina), and Populus balsamifera. The more inland vegetated zone contains patchy vegetation. Common species include Clinopodium arkansanum (= Calamintha arkansana), Deschampsia cespitosa, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Dichanthelium acuminatum var. lindheimeri (= Panicum lindheimeri), and species from the previous zone. A variety of mosses, including Campylium stellatum, are common throughout this zone. In the most inland zone, on sand accumulations or cobble ridges on the bedrock, scattered trees and shrubs are common, including Abies balsamea, Picea glauca, Populus balsamifera, and Thuja occidentalis (Albert et al. 1995).

Dynamics:  Wind, waves, and ice action disturb the various zones in this community.
Environmental Description:  The width of the zone varies with fluctuations in the Great Lakes water level. The splash/scrape zone, which averages 10 m in width, is very sparsely vegetated, with small pools of standing water. Plant species are typically found in protected bedrock cracks. A vegetated zone occurs more inland as soil accumulates in and adjacent to bedrock cracks. Further inland, sand accumulations or cobble ridges on the bedrock surface provide a suitable substrate for the establishment of woody and herbaceous plants.
Geographic Range: This community occurs along Great Lakes shores in the United States and Canada, ranging from Michigan and Wisconsin to Ontario, and possibly to Ohio.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  MI, OH?, ON, VT, WI


Confidence Level: Low

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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D026 2.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Na.1 Eastern North American Coastal Beach & Rocky Shore Macrogroup M060 2.B.4.Na.1
Group 2.B.4.Na.1.c Great Lakes Coastal Rocky Shore Group G793 2.B.4.Na.1.c
Alliance A3694 Limestone Calamint - Bluebell Bellflower Limestone Lakeshore Alliance A3694 2.B.4.Na.1.c
Association CEGL002506 Shrubby-cinquefoil / Limestone Calamint - Silverweed Cinquefoil - Mistassini Primrose Lakeshore Sparse Vegetation CEGL002506 2.B.4.Na.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda / Clinopodium arkansanum - Argentina anserina - Primula mistassinica Sparse Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Great Lakes Limestone-Dolostone Bedrock Shore]
= Bedrock Beach - Limestone Pavement Lakeshore (Chapman et al. 1989)
? SNE Riverside Outcrop Community (Rawinski 1984a)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-12-12
  • Albert, D. A., P. J. Comer, R. A. Corner, D. Cuthrell, M. Penskar, and M. Rabe. 1995. Bedrock shoreline survey of the Niagaran Escarpment in Michigan''s Upper Peninsula: Mackinac County to Delta County. Michigan Natural Features Inventory for Land and Water Management Division (grant # CD-0.02).
  • Chapman, K. A., D. A. Albert, and G. A. Reese. 1989. Draft descriptions of Michigan''s natural community types. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, MI. 35 pp.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
  • Kost, M. A., D. A. Albert, J. G. Cohen, B. S. Slaughter, R. K. Schillo, C. R. Weber, and K. A. Chapman. 2007. Natural communities of Michigan: Classification and description. Report No. 2007-21, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing. 314 pp. [http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/reports/2007-21_Natural_Communites_of_Michigan_Classification_and_Description.pdf]
  • Lee, H., W. Bakowsky, J. Riley, J. Bowles, M. Puddister, P. Uhlig, and S. McMurray. 1998. Ecological land classification for southern Ontario: First approximation and its application. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Southcentral Science Section, Science Development and Transfer Branch. SCSS Field Guide FG-02.
  • MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
  • Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
  • ONHD [Ohio Natural Heritage Database]. No date. Vegetation classification of Ohio and unpublished data. Ohio Natural Heritage Database, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus.
  • ONHIC [Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre]. 2018. Unpublished data. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, Canada.
  • Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.
  • WDNR [Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. PUB-SS-1131 2015. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison. [http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/landscapes/Book.html]