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CEGL006245 Typha latifolia - Caltha palustris Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Broadleaf Cattail - Yellow Marsh-marigold Marsh
Colloquial Name: Virginia Ridge & Valley Calcareous Tall Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is a tall herbaceous wetland of calcareous, groundwater-saturated sloughs, abandoned meanders, depressions, and toeslope spring overflows on large stream or river floodplain terraces in carbonate rock districts of the Ridge and Valley region. Soils typically have a surface horizon of organic muck (about 10 cm), or occasionally fibric peat, below which is a deep, gleyed or reduced clay with some organic matter. Soil samples collected from plots are slightly acidic to moderately alkaline, with very high calcium, magnesium, and total base saturation levels. Sites are more-or-less permanently saturated or flooded by perched groundwater or seepage inputs. The vegetation resembles a stratified, tall marsh and is usually dominated by Typha latifolia and Caltha palustris. More locally, Acorus americanus and Menyanthes trifoliata are dominant or codominant in stands. Other characteristic species include Carex emoryi, Impatiens capensis, Leersia virginica, Lysimachia terrestris, Peltandra virginica, Carex tetanica, Sagittaria latifolia, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, and Scirpus atrovirens. In the absence of active disturbance regimes, habitats supporting this community appear susceptible to invasion by Salix spp. and other woody swamp plants. The ecological dynamics of this very rare vegetation type are poorly understood. Although it may have originated from some form of disturbance, its restriction to two very unusual wetland habitats located miles apart, as well as the lack of invasive introduced species in its composition, suggests that the type is natural.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Data have been collected from three plots representing this vegetation type. Alliance placement is somewhat problematic since the habitats have been assessed as seasonally flooded, varying to more semipermanently flooded in wet years. The type appears to have affinities to midwestern marshes.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation resembles a stratified, tall marsh and is usually dominated by Typha latifolia and Caltha palustris. More locally, Acorus americanus and Menyanthes trifoliata are dominant or codominant in stands. Other characteristic species include Carex emoryi, Impatiens capensis, Leersia virginica, Lysimachia terrestris, Peltandra virginica, Carex tetanica, Sagittaria latifolia (= var. latifolia), Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus tabernaemontani), and Scirpus atrovirens. Mean species richness of five plot samples was 19 taxa per 100 m2. In the absence of active disturbance regimes, habitats supporting this community appear susceptible to invasion by Salix spp. and other woody swamp plants.
Dynamics: The ecological dynamics of this very rare vegetation type are poorly understood. Although it may have originated from some form of disturbance, its restriction to two very unusual wetland habitats located miles apart, as well as the lack of invasive introduced species in its composition, suggests that the type is natural. Both of the known occurrences are protected on a state natural area preserves (Cowbane Natural Area Preserve and Folly Mills Stream Natural Area Preserve).
Environmental Description: This community is a tall herbaceous wetland of calcareous, groundwater-saturated sloughs, abandoned meanders, depressions, and toeslope spring overflows on large stream or river floodplain terraces in carbonate rock districts of the Ridge and Valley region. Soils typically have a surface horizon of organic muck (about 10 cm), or occasionally fibric peat, below which is a deep, gleyed or reduced clay with some organic matter. Soil samples collected from plots are slightly acidic to moderately alkaline, with very high calcium, magnesium, and total base saturation levels. Sites are more-or-less permanently saturated or flooded by perched groundwater or seepage inputs. However, the amount of surface water usually fluctuates greatly during the growing season, so that the habitats are probably best considered seasonally flooded. During dry periods, the habitats were probably susceptible to occasional wildfires, at least historically.
Geographic Range: This community is known only from a few sites in the central Ridge and Valley region of Virginia (Augusta County). Further investigation is needed to determine whether this type occurs in West Virginia marl wetlands (Bartgis and Lang 1984).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.758652
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.2 Temperate to Polar Bog & Fen Formation | F016 | 2.C.2 |
| Division | 2.C.2.Na North American Bog & Fen Division | D029 | 2.C.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.2.Na.2 Shrubby cinquefoil - Woolly-fruit Sedge / Star Campylium Moss Alkaline Fen Macrogroup | M877 | 2.C.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.C.2.Na.2.f North-Central Interior & Appalachian Alkaline Fen Group | G805 | 2.C.2.Na.2.f |
| Alliance | A4479 <i>Dasiphora fruticosa - Carex flava - Carex tetanica</i> Alkaline Fen Alliance | A4479 | 2.C.2.Na.2.f |
| Association | CEGL006245 Broadleaf Cattail - Yellow Marsh-marigold Marsh | CEGL006245 | 2.C.2.Na.2.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Typha latifolia - Caltha palustris Herbaceous Vegetation (VDNH unpubl. data)
= Ridge and Valley Calcareous Spring Marsh (Broad-Leaved Cattail - Marsh Marigold Type) (Fleming et al. 2004)
= Ridge and Valley Calcareous Spring Marsh (Broad-Leaved Cattail - Marsh Marigold Type) (Fleming et al. 2004)
- Bartgis, R. L., and G. E. Lang. 1984. Marl wetlands in eastern West Virginia: Distribution, rare plant species, and recent history. Castanea 49:17-25.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., P. P. Coulling, K. D. Patterson, and K. M. McCoy. 2004. The natural communities of Virginia: Classification of ecological community groups. Second approximation. Natural Heritage Technical Report 04-01. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dnh/ncintro.htm]
- Fleming, G. P., and P. P. Coulling. 2001. Ecological communities of the George Washington and Jefferson national forests, Virginia. Preliminary classification and description of vegetation types. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 317 pp.
- VDNH [Virginia Division of Natural Heritage]. No date. Unpublished data. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.