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CEGL006588 Picea rubens / Rhododendron maximum - Kalmia latifolia / Eriophorum virginicum / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Spruce / Great Laurel - Mountain Laurel / Tawny Cottongrass / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest
Colloquial Name: Red Spruce / Heath / Peatmoss Swamp Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This saturated acidic conifer woodland occurs in the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania. It occurs in headwater basins at higher elevations, ranging between 860 and 1300 m in West Virginia examples. Microtopography is characterized by a mix of rounded peat hummocks and irregular moss-covered hummocks formed over tree roots, woody stem clusters, and decaying wood. Soils are moderately to very poorly drained peat, underlain by clay-rich deposits. The community is characterized by an open canopy of stunted, inundation-stressed trees with a diverse shrub and herb layer growing on hummock-forming bryophytes. The canopy is dominated by Tsuga canadensis and Picea rubens, occasionally including low cover of Acer rubrum or Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis. Canopy height is less than 15 m and sometimes as low as 5 m, essentially at the transition between woodland and shrubland physiognomy. The tall-shrub layer includes the canopy species and Rhododendron maximum, Kalmia latifolia, Nemopanthus mucronatus, and Ilex verticillata. Other species that occasionally occur with low cover in the tall-shrub layer include Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Nemopanthus mucronatus, Vaccinium corymbosum, Ilex montana, Photinia pyrifolia, Acer rubrum, Sorbus americana, Amelanchier laevis, and Hamamelis virginiana. The short-shrub layer is similar in composition to the tall-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer typically includes Rubus hispidus, Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Solidago uliginosa, and the regenerating canopy species. Species with lower cover often include Carex trisperma var. trisperma, Drosera rotundifolia var. rotundifolia, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Carex gynandra, Maianthemum trifolium, Glyceria melicaria, Eriophorum virginicum, Oclemena acuminata, and Juncus effusus. Nonvascular plants are dominated by Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum recurvum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum affine, Sphagnum capillifolium) and Polytrichum commune.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Although this vegetation is characterized by the open canopy of a woodland, it is placed in a forest alliance because the floristic composition is best characterized by the forest alliance. Eleven plots represent this type, which was classified as part of a 2004-2006 study of high-elevation wetlands in West Virginia''s Allegheny Mountains region (Byers et al. 2007). The type clusters and ordinates well and has been sampled throughout its range in West Virginia. Vegetation classified as Red Spruce Palustrine Woodland in Pennsylvania (Fike 1999) is similar to this vegetation but has a greater cover of deciduous trees, the presence of Chamaedaphne calyculata and Kalmia angustifolia, and lacks Eriophorum virginicum. The Pennsylvania vegetation may be influenced by beaver flooding (A. Davis pers. comm.)
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This vegetation is characterized by an open canopy of stunted, inundation-stressed trees with a diverse shrub and herb layer growing on hummock-forming bryophytes. The canopy is dominated by Tsuga canadensis and Picea rubens, occasionally including low cover of Acer rubrum or Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis. The moderately open tall-shrub layer includes the canopy species along with Rhododendron maximum, Kalmia latifolia, Vaccinium corymbosum, Nemopanthus mucronatus, and Ilex verticillata. Other species that occasionally occur with low cover in the tall-shrub layer include Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides, Ilex montana, Photinia pyrifolia, Acer rubrum, Sorbus americana, Amelanchier laevis, and Hamamelis virginiana. The short-shrub layer is similar in composition to the tall-shrub layer. The herbaceous layer typically includes Rubus hispidus, Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea, Solidago uliginosa, and the regenerating canopy species. Species with lower cover often include Carex trisperma var. trisperma, Drosera rotundifolia var. rotundifolia, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Carex gynandra, Glyceria melicaria, Eriophorum virginicum, Oclemena acuminata, and Juncus effusus. The nonvascular stratum is dominated by Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum recurvum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum affine, Sphagnum capillifolium (= var. capillifolium)) and Polytrichum commune.
Dynamics: This is a small-patch, mid- to late-successional woodland community. It is maintained by slow seepage from adjacent uplands, high water tables in adjacent open wetlands, and rainfall. Nutrient cycling occurs from the decay of fallen trees, litter, and herbaceous vegetation.
Environmental Description: This saturated acidic conifer woodland occurs in the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania. It occurs in headwater basins at higher elevations, ranging between 860 and 1300 m in West Virginia examples. Microtopography is characterized by a mix of rounded peat hummocks and irregular moss-covered hummocks formed over tree roots, woody stem clusters, and decaying wood. Soils are moderately to very poorly drained peat, underlain by clay-rich deposits
Geographic Range: This community is currently known from the Allegheny Mountains region of West Virginia, at elevations between 860 and 1300 m. It also occurs in the Pocono Plateau and northeastern Pennsylvania.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: PA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.800184
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation | F026 | 1.B.3 |
| Division | 1.B.3.Na Eastern North American-Great Plains Flooded & Swamp Forest Division | D011 | 1.B.3.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.3.Na.2 Pin Oak - Green Ash - Blackgum Swamp Forest Macrogroup | M503 | 1.B.3.Na.2 |
| Group | 1.B.3.Na.2.f Red Maple - Blackgum - Green Ash Swamp Forest Group | G902 | 1.B.3.Na.2.f |
| Alliance | A3417 Red Spruce Central Appalachian Swamp Forest Alliance | A3417 | 1.B.3.Na.2.f |
| Association | CEGL006588 Red Spruce / Great Laurel - Mountain Laurel / Tawny Cottongrass / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest | CEGL006588 | 1.B.3.Na.2.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Picea rubens / Rhododendron maximum - Kalmia latifolia / Osmunda cinnamomea var. cinnamomea / Sphagnum spp. Peat Woodland (Byers et al. 2007)
= Picea rubens forest (Walbridge and Lang 1982)
= Picea rubens swamp forest (Walbridge 1982)
= Sphagnum - shrub community (Wieder et al. 1981)
= Picea rubens forest (Walbridge and Lang 1982)
= Picea rubens swamp forest (Walbridge 1982)
= Sphagnum - shrub community (Wieder et al. 1981)
- 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.
- Davis, A. Personal communication. Ecologist, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Mill Run, PA.
- Davis, T. 2011a. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Red Spruce - Mixed Hardwood Palustrine Woodland Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=30015] (accessed January 31, 2012)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Eichelberger, B. 2011b. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Red Spruce Palustrine Forest Factsheet. [http://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/Community.aspx?=16031] (accessed: February 01, 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.
- 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.
- Wieder, R. K., A. M. McCormick, and G. E. Lang. 1981. Vegetational analysis of Big Run Bog, a nonglaciated sphagnum bog in West Virginia. Castanea 46:16-29.
- 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]