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CEGL006499 Alnus serrulata - Magnolia virginiana / Eupatorium pilosum - Rhynchospora gracilenta - Xyris torta Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Hazel Alder - Sweetbay / Rough Boneset - Slender Beaksedge - Slender Yellow-eyed-grass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Inner Coastal Plain Mid-Atlantic Seepage Bog
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This seepage bog is currently known from the Inner Coastal Plain from central and southern Maryland to southeastern Virginia. It occurs in saturated swales and headwater streams with extremely acidic, infertile soils, through which a constant supply of groundwater is discharged. The most "natural" occurrences of this vegetation are now restricted to military base impact areas and dedicated natural areas that are burned frequently. Compositionally identical vegetation is more common where artificially maintained powerline rights-of-way intersect small streams and swales. The vegetation is usually a patchy shrubland, although scattered small trees of Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Pinus taeda occur at a few sites. The principal shrubs are Alnus serrulata, Magnolia virginiana, Toxicodendron vernix, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Clethra alnifolia, and Aronia arbutifolia. Small to large, graminoid-dominated herbaceous openings occur among the shrubs. Characteristic herbaceous patch-dominants are Rhynchospora gracilenta, Rhynchospora capitellata, Andropogon glomeratus, Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum, Scleria muehlenbergii, Eleocharis tortilis, Calamagrostis coarctata, Xyris torta, Fuirena squarrosa, Juncus canadensis, and Juncus longii. Characteristic ferns and forbs include Lycopodiella alopecuroides, Osmunda cinnamomea, Eupatorium pilosum, Viola x primulifolia, Rhexia spp., Triadenum virginicum, Polygala lutea, Polygala cruciata, and Pogonia ophioglossoides. Areas of bare mineral soil are frequently carpeted by Drosera rotundifolia var. rotundifolia, Drosera capillaris, and Utricularia subulata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community was originally described based on a classification of Virginia Coastal Plain and Piedmont data (468 plots). Its current classification is based on analysis of a 1250-plot regional dataset for the NCR and Mid-Atlantic national parks vegetation mapping projects. It was represented by 7 Virginia plots and one Maryland plot; however, in Maryland, this association is artificially maintained (J. Harrison pers. comm. 2016).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is usually a patchy shrubland, although scattered small trees of Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Pinus taeda occur at a few sites. The principal shrubs are Alnus serrulata, Magnolia virginiana, Toxicodendron vernix, Viburnum nudum var. nudum, Clethra alnifolia, and Aronia arbutifolia. Small to large, graminoid-dominated herbaceous openings occur among the shrubs. Characteristic herbaceous patch-dominants are Rhynchospora gracilenta, Rhynchospora capitellata, Andropogon glomeratus, Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum (= Dichanthelium lucidum), Scleria muehlenbergii, Eleocharis tortilis, Calamagrostis coarctata, Xyris torta, Fuirena squarrosa, Juncus canadensis, and Juncus longii. Characteristic ferns and forbs include Lycopodiella alopecuroides, Osmunda cinnamomea, Eupatorium pilosum, Viola x primulifolia, Rhexia spp., Triadenum virginicum, Polygala lutea, Polygala cruciata, and Pogonia ophioglossoides. Areas of bare mineral soil are frequently carpeted by Drosera rotundifolia var. rotundifolia, Drosera capillaris, and Utricularia subulata. Among the less frequent plants that are strongly or exclusively associated with this vegetation in Virginia are Asclepias rubra, Calamovilfa brevipilis, Carex venusta, Cleistes divaricata, Ctenium aromaticum, Eriocaulon decangulare, Juncus caesariensis, Lobelia amoena var. glandulifera (= Lobelia georgiana), Ludwigia hirtella, Platanthera blephariglottis var. conspicua, Rhynchospora cephalantha, Rhynchospora rariflora, Sarracenia flava, Sarracenia purpurea, and Xyris platylepis.
Dynamics: The remarkably consistent composition of this community type in scattered powerlines over much of eastern Virginia suggests that this vegetation is a close analogue to natural bogs that occurred in the presettlement landscape. This hypothesis is supported by the extraordinarily large patches that are found in frequently burned "impact areas" at Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Pickett, and the Quantico Marine Base. Several sites at which similar bog communities were reported by Fernald and others in the early to mid-20th century are now entirely overgrown by forests. Most remaining occurrences of this type are now "semi-natural" and maintained by mowing and herbicide treatment.
Environmental Description: This seepage "bog" occurs in saturated swales and headwater streams of the Inner Coastal Plain and outer Piedmont. It is associated with extremely acidic, infertile soils through which a constant supply of groundwater is discharged. The most "natural" occurrences of this vegetation are now restricted to military base impact areas and dedicated natural areas that are burned frequently. Compositionally identical vegetation is more common where artificially maintained powerline rights-of-way intersect small streams and swales.
Geographic Range: This association is currently known from the Inner Coastal Plain from central and southern Maryland to southeastern Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MD, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.802094
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.Ne Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D322 | 2.C.4.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Ne.2 Beaksedge species - Spikerush species - Panicgrass species Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Prairie & Marsh Macrogroup | M067 | 2.C.4.Ne.2 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Ne.2.e Beaksedge species - Pitcherplant species Seep Group | G187 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.e |
| Alliance | A1463 Feather-bristle Beaksedge - Pitcherplant species - Toothache Grass Seep Alliance | A1463 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.e |
| Association | CEGL006499 Hazel Alder - Sweetbay / Rough Boneset - Slender Beaksedge - Slender Yellow-eyed-grass Shrubland | CEGL006499 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Alnus serrulata - Magnolia virginiana / Andropogon glomeratus - Eupatorium pilosum - Rhynchospora gracilenta - Xyris torta Shrubland (Fleming et al. 2007b)
= Alnus serrulata - Magnolia virginiana / Rhynchospora gracilenta - Andropogon glomeratus - Eupatorium pilosum - Xyris torta Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Patterson 2003)
= Alnus serrulata - Magnolia virginiana / Rhynchospora gracilenta - Andropogon glomeratus - Xyris torta Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming 2002a)
= Alnus serrulata - Magnolia virginiana / Rhynchospora gracilenta - Andropogon glomeratus - Xyris torta Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming 2002b)
< Coastal Plain / Piedmont Seepage Bog (Fleming and Patterson 2004)
= Alnus serrulata - Magnolia virginiana / Rhynchospora gracilenta - Andropogon glomeratus - Eupatorium pilosum - Xyris torta Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming and Patterson 2003)
= Alnus serrulata - Magnolia virginiana / Rhynchospora gracilenta - Andropogon glomeratus - Xyris torta Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming 2002a)
= Alnus serrulata - Magnolia virginiana / Rhynchospora gracilenta - Andropogon glomeratus - Xyris torta Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming 2002b)
< Coastal Plain / Piedmont Seepage Bog (Fleming and Patterson 2004)
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fleming, G. P. 2002a. Ecological communities of the Bull Run Mountains, Virginia: Baseline vegetation and floristic data for conservation planning and natural area stewardship. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-12. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 274 pp. plus appendices.
- Fleming, G. P. 2002b. Preliminary classification of Piedmont & Inner Coastal Plain vegetation types in Virginia. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-14. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 29 pp.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2003. Preliminary vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2003. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2004. Natural community inventory of selected areas in the Northern Virginia Culpeper Basin, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, and Culpeper counties. Unpublished report submitted to the Virginia Native Plant Society, Potowmack Chapter. Natural Heritage Technical Report 04-07. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 21 pp. plus appendices.
- Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
- Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.