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CEGL006316 Deschampsia cespitosa - Vernonia noveboracensis Serpentine Seep

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tufted Hairgrass - New York Ironweed Serpentine Seep

Colloquial Name: Tufted Hairgrass Serpentine Seep

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This serpentine wetland community occurs in groundwater seep areas of low slope (1-3°) and variable aspect in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Soils are typically very wet (saturated) clay loams and sapric peats (muck) derived from serpentine bedrock. Soil depth is generally greater than 30 cm and can exceed 60 cm. This community is very open with woody plants limited to occasional trees, typically Acer rubrum along the wetland edge and scattered Alnus serrulata within the wetland. The dominant herbaceous species is Deschampsia cespitosa. Other important herbaceous species include Leersia oryzoides, Sorghastrum nutans, Juncus tenuis, Vernonia noveboracensis, and Dichanthelium clandestinum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Description submitted by Pennsylvania ecologists along with other serpentine barren descriptions.

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

Floristics: This community is very open with woody plants limited to occasional trees, typically Acer rubrum along the wetland edge and scattered Alnus serrulata within the wetland. The dominant herbaceous species is Deschampsia cespitosa. Other important herbaceous species include Eleocharis tenuis var. pseudoptera, Cyperus strigosus, Muhlenbergia mexicana, Cirsium muticum, Lycopus uniflorus, Scleria triglomerata, Agalinis purpurea, Sanguisorba canadensis, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Leersia oryzoides, Sorghastrum nutans, Juncus tenuis, Vernonia noveboracensis, and Dichanthelium clandestinum (= Panicum clandestinum).

Dynamics:  This community is driven by fluctuations in groundwater and the serpentine bed rock geology associated with the seep community.
Environmental Description:  This community occurs in groundwater seep areas of low slope (1-3°) and variable aspect. Soils are typically very wet (saturated) clay loams and sapric peats (muck) derived from serpentine bedrock. Soil depth is generally greater than 30 cm and can exceed 60 cm.
Geographic Range: This community occurs along groundwater seeps in three of the serpentine barrens in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  PA


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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D024 2.B.2.Nc
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M506 2.B.2.Nc.1
Group 2.B.2.Nc.1.c Little Bluestem - Balsam Groundsel - Prairie Groundsel Appalachian Mafic Glade Group G180 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Alliance A3471 Tufted Hairgrass Serpentine Seep Alliance A3471 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL006316 Tufted Hairgrass - New York Ironweed Serpentine Seep CEGL006316 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Serpentine seepage wetland (Podniesinski et al. 1999)
Concept Author(s): G. Podniesinski, A. Leimanis, and J. Ebert (1999)

Author of Description: G. Podniesinski, A. Leimanis, J. Ebert, L.A. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-16-12
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Eichelberger, B. 2011k. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Serpentine Seep Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=16014] (accessed February 08, 2012)
  • 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.
  • Podniesinski, G., A. Leimanis, and J. Ebert. 1999. Serpentine plant community classification. Unpublished data. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pittsburgh, PA. 14 pp.
  • Zimmerman, E. A., T. Davis, M. A. Furedi, B. Eichelberger, J. McPherson, S. Seymour, G. Podniesinski, N. Dewar, and J. Wagner, editors. 2012. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Communities.aspx]