Print Report

CEGL006412 Carex stricta - Carex vesicaria Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Upright Sedge - Blister Sedge Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Eastern Upright Sedge Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: These tussock sedge meadows are distributed across the northeastern United States. They occur in seasonally flooded basins or on stream or lake margins. The substrate is peat or muck of variable depth overlying mineral soil. Standing water may be present only at the beginning of, or through much of, the growing season depending on the site and the year''s precipitation; even when the water drops, the soils remain saturated. Microtopography is characterized by large tussocks, particularly when the hydroperiod is extended. The physiognomy is strongly herbaceous or, in some cases, herbs mixed with shrubs (up to 25% shrub cover); trees are absent. Bryophyte cover is usually sparse but may occasionally reach over 50%. Carex stricta, in its tussock form, is the usual dominant. Carex vesicaria, Carex utriculata, and Calamagrostis canadensis may also be locally abundant. Associated graminoids include Carex atlantica, Carex canescens, Carex comosa, Carex folliculata, Carex scoparia, Carex stipata, Carex vulpinoidea, Glyceria canadensis, Dulichium arundinaceum, Juncus effusus, Leersia oryzoides, and Scirpus cyperinus; forbs and ferns include Asclepias incarnata, Thelypteris palustris, Eutrochium maculatum, Campanula aparinoides, Osmunda regalis, Comarum palustre, Lysimachia terrestris, Angelica atropurpurea, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Lycopus americanus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Galium obtusum, Polygonum sagittatum, Galium tinctorium, and others. Lythrum salicaria may be invasive in some settings. Shrub associates vary with geography. In the northern part of the range, Alnus incana, Myrica gale, Ilex verticillata, Chamaedaphne calyculata, and Spiraea alba are often present. Bryophytes, where present, include Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Drepanocladus aduncus, and others. This association is differentiated from other wet meadows by the strong dominance of Carex stricta.

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 strongly herbaceous, or in some cases herbs mixed with shrubs (up to 25% shrub cover); trees are absent. Bryophyte cover is usually sparse but may occasionally reach over 50%. Carex stricta, in its tussock form, is the usual dominant. Carex vesicaria, Carex utriculata, and Calamagrostis canadensis may also be locally abundant. Associated graminoids include Carex atlantica, Carex canescens, Carex comosa, Carex folliculata, Carex scoparia, Carex stipata, Carex vulpinoidea, Glyceria canadensis, Dulichium arundinaceum, Juncus effusus, Leersia oryzoides, and Scirpus cyperinus; forbs and ferns include Asclepias incarnata, Thelypteris palustris, Eutrochium maculatum (= Eupatorium maculatum), Campanula aparinoides, Osmunda regalis, Comarum palustre (= Potentilla palustris), Lysimachia terrestris, Angelica atropurpurea, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Lycopus americanus, Galium obtusum, Polygonum sagittatum, Galium tinctorium, and others. Lythrum salicaria may be invasive in some settings. Shrub associates vary with geography. In the northern part of the range, Alnus incana, Myrica gale, Ilex verticillata, Chamaedaphne calyculata, and Spiraea alba are often present. Bryophytes, where present, include Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum affine, Drepanocladus aduncus, and others.

Dynamics:  Some of these sedge meadows may be associated with beaver impoundments.
Environmental Description:  These tussock sedge meadows are distributed across the northeastern United States. They occur in seasonally flooded basins or on stream or lake margins. The substrate is peat or muck of variable depth overlying mineral soil. Standing water may be present only at the beginning of, or through much of, the growing season depending on the site and the year''s precipitation; even when the water drops, the soils remain saturated. Microtopography is characterized by large tussocks, particularly when the hydroperiod is extended.
Geographic Range: This tussock sedge meadow is found in New England, the Adirondack Mountains, and parts of the Appalachians (over an estimated 356,000 square km based on acreage of subsections).

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE?, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, QC?, RI, VT, WV


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5

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.d Appalachian-Northeast Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group G903 2.C.4.Nd.2.d
Alliance A4681 sedge spp. - <i>Leersia oryzoides - Eupatorium</i> spp. Wet Meadow Alliance A4681 2.C.4.Nd.2.d
Association CEGL006412 Upright Sedge - Blister Sedge Wet Meadow CEGL006412 2.C.4.Nd.2.d
Concept Lineage: CEGL006100 was merged into CEGL004121 which was subsequently merged into CEGL006412.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Carex (stricta - atlantica) Herbaceous Vegetation (Hall 2005a)
> Carex (stricta - folliculata) - (C. atlantica) Herbaceous Vegetation (Hall 2005a)
= Carex stricta Wet Meadow (Byers et al. 2007)
= Carex stricta herbaceous community (Walbridge and Lang 1982)
= Carex stricta meadow (Walbridge 1982)
= Carex stricta temporarily flooded grasslands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
> Carex stricta wet meadow (Bartgis 1983)
? Carex stricta wet meadow (CAP pers. comm. 1998)
= Sedge (Carex stricta / Carex emoryi) wet meadow (Putnam 1995)
? Southern New England nutrient-poor streamside/lakeside marsh (Rawinski 1984a)
? Southern New England nutrient-rich streamside/lakeside marsh (Rawinski 1984a)
? Tussock sedge meadow (NAP pers. comm. 1998)
Concept Author(s): Northern Appalachian Planning Team

Author of Description: S.C. Gawler and E.A. Byers

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-11-07
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