Print Report

CEGL006448 Vernonia noveboracensis - Thelypteris palustris - Symplocarpus foetidus Seepage Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: New York Ironweed - Eastern Marsh Fern - Skunk-cabbage Seepage Meadow

Colloquial Name: Mid-Atlantic Rich Seep

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: These small wetlands (<1-6 acres) occur as patches within the forest matrix where calcareous groundwater discharge is present throughout the growing season. The substrate may vary from mineral soils to sapric peat (muck). Peat deposits, when present, are generally thin (<50 cm). This association is characterized by a highly variable species composition. Juniperus virginiana may be present, and tall shrubs may be present at low cover (<10%) and include Salix spp., Lindera benzoin, and Toxicodendron vernix. The short-shrub layer is also sparse and often dominated by willows. Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda is not a typical associate, and if present, is at low cover. The shrub layers may contain invasive shrubs, especially Rosa multiflora, Lonicera morrowii, and Berberis thunbergii. Open sites with little or no woody plant cover often are dominated by graminoids, while more shaded sites have a higher cover of forb species. Herbaceous vegetation typically exceeds 90% and may reach 2 m in height in some forb species. Typical forb species include Vernonia noveboracensis, Thelypteris palustris, Viola spp., Packera aurea, Symplocarpus foetidus, Arisaema triphyllum, Hydrocotyle americana, Eupatorium spp., Impatiens spp., Pycnanthemum verticillatum, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Mitella diphylla, Solidago uliginosa, Drosera rotundifolia, Parnassia glauca, and Chelone glabra. Typical graminoid species include Carex leptalea, Carex granularis, Carex atlantica, Carex debilis, Leersia oryzoides, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Rhynchospora alba, and Poa palustris. The invasive plants Lythrum salicaria and Microstegium vimineum may be present, the former particularly in more open seeps. Mosses are usually present but are typically <5% of total vegetation cover.

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: This association is characterized by a highly variable species composition. Tall shrubs may be present at low cover (<10%) and include Salix spp., Lindera benzoin, and Toxicodendron vernix. The short-shrub layer is also sparse and often dominated by willows. Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda) is not a typical associate, and if present, is at low cover. The shrub layers may contain invasive shrubs, especially Rosa multiflora, Lonicera morrowii, and Berberis thunbergii. Open sites with little or no woody plant cover often are dominated by graminoids, while more shaded sites have a higher cover of forb species. Herbaceous vegetation typically exceeds 90% and may reach 2 m in height in some forb species. Typical forb species include Vernonia noveboracensis, Thelypteris palustris, Viola spp., Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus), Symplocarpus foetidus, Arisaema triphyllum, Hydrocotyle americana, Eupatorium spp., Impatiens spp., Pycnanthemum verticillatum, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Mitella diphylla, Solidago uliginosa, Drosera rotundifolia, Parnassia glauca, and Chelone glabra. Typical graminoid species include Carex leptalea, Carex granularis, Carex atlantica, Carex debilis, Leersia oryzoides, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Rhynchospora alba, and Poa palustris. The invasive plants Lythrum salicaria and Microstegium vimineum may be present, the former particularly in more open seeps. Mosses are usually present but are typically <5% of total vegetation cover.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  These small wetlands (<1-6 acres) occur where calcareous groundwater discharge is present throughout the growing season. The substrate may vary from mineral soils to sapric peat (muck). Peat deposits, when present, are generally thin (<50 cm).
Geographic Range: This community is currently known from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and is possible over a larger area.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  NJ, NY, 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.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.1 Shrubby-cinquefoil - Canadian Burnet / Inland Sedge Seep Macrogroup M061 2.C.4.Nd.1
Group 2.C.4.Nd.1.c Tawny Cottongrass - Jewelweed species - Skunk-cabbage Seep Group G189 2.C.4.Nd.1.c
Alliance A3374 Orange Jewelweed - Skunk-cabbage - Yellow Marsh-marigold Seep Alliance A3374 2.C.4.Nd.1.c
Association CEGL006448 New York Ironweed - Eastern Marsh Fern - Skunk-cabbage Seepage Meadow CEGL006448 2.C.4.Nd.1.c
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): G.S. Podniesinski

Author of Description: S.C. Gawler and L.A. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-04-09
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero, editors. 2014a. Ecological communities of New York state. Second edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke''s ecological communities of New York state. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
  • 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.
  • McPherson, J. 2011d. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Golden Saxifrage - Sedge Rich Seep Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=16005] (accessed February 08, 2012)
  • NYNHP [New York Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. New York Natural Heritage Conservation Guides. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY. [http://www.nynhp.org/] (accessed 2009)
  • Perles, S. J., G. S. Podniesinski, E. Eastman, L. A. Sneddon, and S. C. Gawler. 2007. Classification and mapping of vegetation and fire fuel models at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2007/076. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 2 volumes.
  • Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. 1995. A study of calcareous fen communities in Pennsylvania. Report to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, Forestry Advisory Services. 35 pp. plus appendices.
  • 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]