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CEGL006284 Andropogon gerardii - Campanula rotundifolia - Solidago simplex Riverscour Sparse Vegetation

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Bluestem - Bluebell Bellflower - Sticky Goldenrod Riverscour Sparse Vegetation

Colloquial Name: Northern Riverscour Rock Outcrop

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riverside rock outcrop community of the northeastern U.S. occurs on open flood-scoured bedrock exposures of major rivers, typically along river narrows. Emergent seepage is absent. Typically a gradient from dry acidic conditions higher on the bank to moist, fairly enriched conditions lower down may exist at any one site. This community is prone to flooding in the upper regions and deposition in the topographically lower areas. It is also prone to severe drought periods that may stress or kill some vegetation. Within the community, the species are distributed patchily, probably due to microsite conditions. The variability in species composition has not been measured, but it shows substantial variation from site to site and from year to year. Vegetation is typically sparse and occurs in the cracks and crevices of the bedrock. Typical vegetation is a mixture of riparian species, xeric-loving crevice plants, and calciphiles. Characteristic species include Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Campanula rotundifolia, Solidago simplex, Toxicodendron radicans, Ionactis linariifolius, Sisyrinchium montanum, Packera paupercula, and Prunus pumila. Other associates include Anemone virginiana var. alba, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, Carex crawei, Carex crawfordii, Potentilla arguta, Campanula rotundifolia, Arabis lyrata, Aquilegia canadensis, Cornus amomum, Euthamia graminifolia, Juncus debilis, and Eupatorium perfoliatum, among others. Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii occurs in limited areas along the upper Connecticut River. These sites are susceptible to invasion by Lythrum salicaria and Melilotus officinalis. This association is more temperate than the related ~Campanula rotundifolia - Packera paupercula - (Aquilegia canadensis) Riverscour Sparse Vegetation (CEGL006532)$$, which occurs on near-boreal rivers and lacks prairie elements such as Andropogon gerardii.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community may occur in conjunction with seep communities. However, emergent seepage is absent as are the corresponding seepage and wetland plants found in riverside seeps. Sedges are notably lacking. This community differs from rock outcrop/rocky summit communities by the paucity of lichen and woody species intolerant of flooding and the presence of flood-tolerant species on lower, somewhat enriched reaches of the community, where regular erosion and deposition of silty sediments occur.

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

Floristics: This community is essentially a rock outcrop with a bit of soil development in the lower reaches. Within the community, the species are distributed patchily, probably due to microsite conditions. The variability in species composition has not been measured but shows substantial variation both spatially and temporally. Vegetation is typically sparse and occurs in the cracks and crevices of the bedrock. Typical vegetation is a mixture of riparian species, xeric-loving crevice plants, and calciphiles. Characteristic species include Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Campanula rotundifolia, Solidago simplex, Toxicodendron radicans, Ionactis linariifolius, Sisyrinchium montanum, Packera paupercula (= Senecio pauperculus), and Prunus pumila. Other associates include Anemone virginiana var. alba (= Anemone virginiana var. riparia), Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, Carex crawei, Carex crawfordii, Potentilla arguta, Campanula rotundifolia, Arabis lyrata, Aquilegia canadensis, Cornus amomum, Euthamia graminifolia, Juncus debilis, and Eupatorium perfoliatum, among others. Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii occurs in limited areas along the upper Connecticut River. These sites are susceptible to invasion by Lythrum salicaria and Melilotus officinalis (= Melilotus alba).

Dynamics:  Winter ice-scour that removes tall vegetation and woody plants maintains predominantly herbaceous vegetation. The early-successional floristic assemblages include species able to regenerate from buried rootstocks or from seeds dispersed along the shoreline. Seasonal and annual variation in water levels is also an important process affecting the vegetation.
Environmental Description:  This sparse vegetation occurs on open flood-scoured bedrock exposures of major rivers, typically along river narrows. Emergent seepage is absent. Typically a gradient from dry acidic conditions higher on the bank to moist, fairly enriched conditions lower down may exist at any one site. This community is prone to flooding in the upper regions and deposition in the topographically lower areas. It is also prone to severe drought periods that may stress or kill some vegetation.
Geographic Range: This community is reported from Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. It may also occur in Massachusetts.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VT


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

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.4 Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation Macrogroup M881 2.C.4.Nd.4
Group 2.C.4.Nd.4.d Gray Alder / <i>Spartina pectinata - Deschampsia cespitosa</i> Floodplain Vegetation G925 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Alliance A3826 <i>Andropogon gerardii - Campanula rotundifolia - Anemone virginiana var. alba</i> Riverscour Alliance A3826 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Association CEGL006284 Big Bluestem - Bluebell Bellflower - Sticky Goldenrod Riverscour Sparse Vegetation CEGL006284 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Andropogon gerardii - Campanula rotundifolia community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? SNE Riverside Outcrop Community (Rawinski 1984a)
Concept Author(s): Eastern Ecology Group

Author of Description: M. Anderson, S.L. Neid, S.C. Gawler and E. Largay

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-24-06
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