Print Report
CEGL006464 Hypericum densiflorum / Rubus hispidus Scrub
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bushy St. John''s-wort / Bristly Dewberry Scrub
Colloquial Name: Appalachian St. John''s-wort Shrub Swamp
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrub swamp occurs in naturally or anthropogenically disturbed headwater wetlands in the Central Appalachians, Cumberlands, and perhaps adjacent ecoregions. It is dominated by Hypericum densiflorum over a variable, disturbance-tolerant herbaceous layer and Sphagnum spp. Shrub associates include Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Spiraea alba, and Vaccinium myrtilloides. The low-growing trailing vine Rubus hispidus is characteristic in the ground layer. The herbaceous stratum is well-developed with Juncus effusus and Solidago uliginosa generally present. Other herbaceous species with fairly high constancy include Scirpus cyperinus, Carex stipata, Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Eriophorum virginicum, Carex scoparia var. scoparia, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, and Gentiana linearis. Sphagnum spp. and Polytrichum commune are the dominant bryophytes, averaging around 50% cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This description is based on 31 West Virginia plots, classified as part of a 2006 analysis of palustrine plots statewide. The type clusters and ordinates very loosely, indicating its broad ecological amplitude and successional status. It has been sampled across a fairly wide range of environments in West Virginia. Indicator species that help to distinguish this community from other West Virginia shrublands include Hypericum densiflorum, Juncus effusus, and Scirpus cyperinus.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This shrub swamp is dominated by Hypericum densiflorum over a variable, disturbance-tolerant herbaceous layer and Sphagnum spp. Cover by Hypericum densiflorum in plots ranges from 5 to 80% in the tall-shrub layer and from 5 to 80% cover in the short-shrub layer. Additional shrub species with relatively high constancy but less cover include Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Spiraea alba, and Vaccinium myrtilloides. The low-growing trailing vine Rubus hispidus has high constancy and cover in the plots. The herbaceous stratum averages 65% cover with Juncus effusus and Solidago uliginosa generally present. Other herbaceous species with fairly high constancy include Scirpus cyperinus, Carex stipata, Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Eriophorum virginicum, Carex scoparia var. scoparia, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, and Gentiana linearis. Locally abundant herbaceous species include Carex intumescens and Onoclea sensibilis. Nonvascular plants average 50% cover and are typically dominated by Sphagnum recurvum, Sphagnum affine, other Sphagnum spp., and Polytrichum commune. Indicator species that help to distinguish this community from others within the shrubland physiognomy in West Virginia include Hypericum densiflorum, Juncus effusus, and Scirpus cyperinus. Mean species richness of all vascular plants and any nonvascular plants with cover >1% is 24 taxa per 400 m2, with most of the diversity in the herbaceous stratum (Byers et al. 2007).
Dynamics: This association is likely to be present on the landscape as long as natural (beaver or flooding) and man-made disturbance regimes persist. Its present distribution is probably much larger than its pre-settlement distribution, when disturbances were less widespread.
Environmental Description: This successional shrub peatland occurs on saturated, temporarily flooded, and semipermanently flooded soils in headwater basins of the Allegheny Mountain region, New River Gorge National River, Meadow River wetlands, and probably elsewhere in the region, at elevations from 700-1200 m. It is a small-patch type that occupies very gently sloping (0-2° slopes) land in beaver-influenced wetlands, drying oxbows, and on former pastureland or disturbed ground. It is fed primarily by seepage flow and rainfall, and it may occasionally receive low-energy flooding from meandering headwater streams. Microtopography may or may not include hummock-and-hollow development, depending on the amount of decaying woody debris and peat formation. Bedrock is highly variable and may consist of sandstone, shale, limestone, or Quaternary alluvium. Soils are variable, including poorly drained peat, clay loam, silt loam, or sandy loam. Hydric soil indicators include Histosols, sandy redox, stripped matrix, depleted matrix, redox depressions, and alluvial depleted matrix. Depth of organic soil varies from 0-40 cm (n=9). Soil pH averages 4.2 (n=6). Pore water pH ranges from 4.1-6.3, with an average of 4.5, and electrical conductivity of pore water averages 49 (n=10). Soil chemistry is characterized by high Cu, Fe, Na; moderate Al, B, H, K; and low organic matter, Ca, ENR, Mg, Mn, P, S, TEC, Zn (n=6). The unvegetated surface is predominantly litter, with an average of 4% downed wood, 10% standing water, and occasional patches of bare soil (Byers et al. 2007).
Geographic Range: Currently this association is documented only from West Virginia, but it may be more widely distributed in the Central Appalachians and adjacent ecoregions.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.793432
Confidence Level: High
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 | CEGL006464 Bushy St. John''s-wort / Bristly Dewberry Scrub | CEGL006464 | 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: = Hypericum densiflorum / Juncus effusus / Sphagnum spp. Shrub Swamp (Byers et al. 2007)
> Hypericum densiflorum low shrub community (Walbridge 1982)
= Hypericum densiflorum thicket community (Fortney 1975)
> Sphagnum recurvum - Polytrichum commune - Hypericum densiflorum hummock hollow community (Walbridge 1982)
> Hypericum densiflorum low shrub community (Walbridge 1982)
= Hypericum densiflorum thicket community (Fortney 1975)
> Sphagnum recurvum - Polytrichum commune - Hypericum densiflorum hummock hollow community (Walbridge 1982)
- 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.
- Fortney, R. H. 1975. The vegetation of Canaan Valley, West Virginia: A taxonomic and ecological study. Ph.D. dissertation, University of West Virginia, Morgantown.
- Vanderhorst, J. 2001b. Plant communities of the New River Gorge National River, West Virginia: Northern and southern thirds. Non-game Wildlife and Natural Heritage Program, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Elkins. 146 pp.
- Vanderhorst, J. P., J. Jeuck, and S. C. Gawler. 2007. Vegetation classification and mapping of New River Gorge National River, West Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR-2007/092. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 396 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.