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CEGL006305 Salix sericea Shrub Swamp
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silky Willow Shrub Swamp
Colloquial Name: Silky Willow Shrub Swamp
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This willow shrub swamp is known from the Central Appalachians of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This vegetation, or a related type dominated by Salix sericea, is also known from Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The vegetation occurs in topographic basins, floodplain backswamps, along slow-moving streams, or on lakeshores. Salix sericea is dominant, forming a tall-shrub canopy 2-3 m in height. Associated shrubs in the Central Appalachian region are Hypericum densiflorum and Alnus incana ssp. rugosa. The herbaceous layer is often dense and variable, including Solidago rugosa, Euthamia graminifolia, Rubus hispidus, Solidago uliginosa, Polygonum sagittatum, Glyceria striata, Glyceria canadensis, Juncus effusus, Carex stipata, Carex lurida, and other herbs. In West Virginia, hummocks are typically covered by Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum affine and Sphagnum flexuosum). For eleven plots in West Virginia, mean species richness of all vascular plants and any nonvascular plants with cover >1% is 31 taxa per 400 m2.
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: Salix sericea is dominant, forming a tall-shrub canopy 2-3 m in height. Associated shrubs in the Central Appalachian region are Hypericum densiflorum and Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, with the following species occasionally present: Vaccinium myrtilloides, Ilex verticillata, Picea rubens, Photinia pyrifolia, Photinia melanocarpa, Populus tremuloides, and Sambucus canadensis (= Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis). The herbaceous layer is often dense and variable, including Solidago rugosa, Euthamia graminifolia, Rubus hispidus, Solidago uliginosa, Polygonum sagittatum, Glyceria striata, Glyceria canadensis, Juncus effusus, Carex stipata, Carex lurida, Carex leptalea ssp. leptalea, Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum, Carex gynandra, Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Dryopteris cristata, Glyceria laxa, Solidago rugosa, Carex scoparia var. scoparia, Galium tinctorium, Typha latifolia, and Leersia oryzoides. In West Virginia, hummocks are typically covered by Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum affine and Sphagnum flexuosum). For eleven plots in West Virginia, mean species richness of all vascular plants and any nonvascular plants with cover >1% is 31 taxa per 400 m2 (Byers et al. 2007).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The vegetation occurs in topographic basins, floodplain backswamps, along slow-moving streams, or on lakeshores. In West Virginia, it occurs as a successional shrub swamp on temporarily to semipermanently flooded or saturated soils in the Allegheny Mountains region at elevations between 770 and 1210 m. Here it is a small-patch type that occupies flat to gently sloping land (0-2° slopes) along seepage zones in open wetlands and in headwater drainages with intermittent overland flow. Microtopography is characterized by moss-covered hummocks formed over woody stem clusters. This type persists on the landscape as a result of natural flood regimes and beaver activity, although it is probably more widespread now than in the past, when forests covered much of its current habitat. Bedrock may be shale, limestone, or sandstone. Soil texture is variable and may consist of moderately to very poorly drained peat, muck, silt, or silty clay (Byers et al. 2007).
Geographic Range: This vegetation occurs in the Central Appalachians and the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia and may extend into New York and Connecticut.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CT, NJ, NY, PA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.768704
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | A3685 Alder species - Willow species - Red-osier Dogwood Shrub Swamp Alliance | A3685 | 2.C.4.Nd.2.d |
| Association | CEGL006305 Silky Willow Shrub Swamp | CEGL006305 | 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: = Salix sericea Shrub Swamp (Byers et al. 2007)
= Salix sericea shrub community (Walbridge and Lang 1982)
= Salix sericea tall shrub community (Walbridge 1982)
= Salix sericea thicket (Niering 1953)
= Salix shrub thicket (Fortney 1975)
= Salix sericea shrub community (Walbridge and Lang 1982)
= Salix sericea tall shrub community (Walbridge 1982)
= Salix sericea thicket (Niering 1953)
= Salix shrub thicket (Fortney 1975)
- Byers, E. A., J. P. Vanderhorst, and B. P. Streets. 2007. Classification and conservation assessment of high elevation wetland communities in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Elkins.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Egler, F. E., and W. A. Niering. 1976. The natural areas of the White Memorial Foundation. The vegetation of Connecticut natural areas. Friends of the Litchfield Nature Center and Museum, Inc. 34 pp.
- Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
- Fortney, R. H. 1975. The vegetation of Canaan Valley, West Virginia: A taxonomic and ecological study. Ph.D. dissertation, University of West Virginia, Morgantown.
- Gordon, R. B. 1937b. A botanical survey of the southwestern section of the Allegheny State Park. New York State Museum Handbook 17:199-247. State University of New York, Albany.
- Niering, W. A. 1953. The past and present vegetation of High Point State Park, New Jersey. Ecological Monographs 23:127-148.
- Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, E. A. Zimmerman, W. A. Millinor, and L. A. Sneddon. 2006e. Vegetation classification and mapping at Johnstown Flood National Memorial. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2006/034. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 144 pp.
- WVNHP [West Virginia Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data. West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins.
- Walbridge, M. R. 1982. Vegetation patterning and community distribution in four high-elevation headwater wetlands in West Virginia. M.S. thesis, West Virginia University, Morgantown.
- Walbridge, M. R., and G. E. Lang. 1982. Major plant communities and patterns of community distribution in four wetlands of the unglaciated Appalachian region. In: R. B. MacDonald, editor. Proceedings of the Symposium on Wetlands of the Unglaciated Appalachian Region. West Virginia University, Morgantown.