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CEGL006900 Boltonia montana - Symphyotrichum racemosum - Mentha arvensis Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mountain Doll''s-daisy - Smooth White Oldfield Aster - Wild Mint Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Mountain Doll''s-daisy - Smooth White Oldfield Aster - Wild Mint Pond

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This open, forb-dominated vegetation is currently described from the karst region of the Ridge and Valley Province of New Jersey. It occurs on the slopes and flats of calcareous sinkhole ponds formed in dolomite with surficial deposits of glacial till, with soils composed of silt loam, silty clay loam, or silty clay, overlaying clay or bedrock. The dominant species are Boltonia montana, Symphyotrichum racemosum, and Mentha arvensis. Associates include Asclepias incarnata, Cyperus strigosus, Carex cryptolepis, Carex lurida, Carex typhina, Carex viridula, Cuphea viscosissima, Eleocharis palustris, Eragrostis frankii, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Iris versicolor, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum, Panicum capillare, Panicum rigidulum var. pubescens, Polygonum amphibium, and Sium suave. The macroalga Chara sp. is a common associate, as are the bryophytes Hypnum lindbergii, Campylium stellatum, and Amblystegium serpens.

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 dominant species are Boltonia montana, Symphyotrichum racemosum (= Aster racemosus), and Mentha arvensis. Associates include Asclepias incarnata, Cyperus strigosus, Carex cryptolepis, Carex lurida, Carex typhina, Carex viridula, Cuphea viscosissima, Eleocharis palustris, Eragrostis frankii, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Iris versicolor, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum (= Panicum lanuginosum var. tennesseense), Panicum capillare, Panicum rigidulum var. pubescens (= Panicum longifolium), Polygonum amphibium, and Sium suave. The macroalga Chara sp. is a common associate, as are the bryophytes Hypnum lindbergii, Campylium stellatum, and Amblystegium serpens.

Dynamics:  A vegetation gradient often exists within this community type. The upper shore or narrow terrace of a pond may be dominated by Panicum rigidulum var. pubescens, Carex pellita, and Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum with scattered Symphyotrichum racemosum and Boltonia montana. This graminoid and forb mix grades into a wide zone of the typical Boltonia-Symphyotrichum-Mentha forb-dominated type midslope. Downslope it grades into the Panicum capillare - Cyperus strigosus graminoid zone with scattered Boltonia, Symphyotrichum or Mentha. The zonation and species dominance vary temporally and spatially with changes in groundwater hydrology. Non-native species present in low abundance at a few disturbed sites include Lythrum salicaria and Microstegium vimineum.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs in solution sinkholes on Allentown Dolomite with surficial deposits of glacial till/bedrock complex in small scale karst landscapes of northern New Jersey. Very rarely it will also occur on glacial outwash (kettles). Soils are shallow silt loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, or rarely silt marl, overlaying clay or bedrock. It may also occur, very rarely, on marly muck over peat. Small dolomite rocks are often present on the soil surface. Soil pH ranges from 6.2 to 7.8 in the upper horizon (0-30 cm [0-12 inches]) and 6.4 to 7.4 at depth (30-60 cm [12-24 inches]). The soils are periodically inundated and are categorized as somewhat poorly drained, poorly drained or very poorly drained. This pondshore community is seasonally flooded. The hydroperiod ranges from 4-14 weeks, averaging 8-10 weeks, with seasonal water level fluctuations as great as 5.5 m (18 feet) in elevation. Slope is flat, gentle or moderate. Aspect is flat, north, northwest, northeast, south or southeast. Elevation range is 150 to 185 m (492-610 feet) above mean sea level.
Geographic Range: This association is currently documented from northern New Jersey.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  NJ


Confidence Level: Low

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.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 A4680 <i>Dulichium arundinaceum - Polygonum hydropiperoides - Carex</i> spp. Sinkhole Marsh Alliance A4680 2.C.4.Nd.2.d
Association CEGL006900 Mountain Doll''s-daisy - Smooth White Oldfield Aster - Wild Mint Wet Meadow CEGL006900 2.C.4.Nd.2.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): Walz et al. (2001)

Author of Description: K. Strakosch-Walz (NJNHP)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-28-19
  • Breden, T. F., Y. R. Alger, K. S. Walz, and A. G. Windisch. 2001. Classification of vegetation communities of New Jersey: Second iteration. Association for Biodiversity Information and New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Office of Natural Lands Management, Division of Parks and Forestry, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Townsend, J. F., and V. Karaman-Castro. 2006. A new species of Boltonia (Asteraceae) from the Ridge and Valley province, U.S.A. Sida 22(2):873-886.
  • Walz, K. S., R. J. Canace, J. Boyle, R. Witte, M. S. Serfes, W. Honachefsky, J. Kurtz, and R. Dutko. 2001. Identification and protection of reference wetland natural communities in New Jersey: Calcareous sinkhole ponds of the Kittatinny Valley. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, Office of Natural Lands Management, Natural Heritage Program, Trenton. 276 pp. plus appendices.