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CEGL004273 Panicum rigidulum - Hibiscus moscheutos Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Redtop Panicgrass - Crimson-eyed Rosemallow Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Sand Bar

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association occurs in southern North Carolina, South Carolina, and potentially farther south on recent deposits of sand along blackwater rivers, generally on point bars, but sometimes along straight stretches of channel. Vegetation is patchy, sparse over most of the area of the community, but ranging to dense in different parts of even small patches. Panicum rigidulum, Phanopyrum gymnocarpon, Panicum hemitomon, or Polygonum punctatum are usually the most common species. Other herbs include Polygonum spp., Boehmeria cylindrica, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Sacciolepis striata, Cyperus polystachyos, and Micranthemum umbrosum. Ruderal species such as Digitaria spp., Eupatorium compositifolium, and Cyperus spp. often occur in small numbers. Hibiscus moscheutos is prominent in some examples. Shrubs typical of riverbanks and other adjacent forest communities are often present in small numbers, including Cyrilla racemiflora, Cornus foemina, and Vaccinium elliottii. Young trees or small numbers of older trees are often present, including Betula nigra, Taxodium distichum, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, and Carpinus caroliniana.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community is probably common on most of the larger blackwater rivers of the southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain, but it is seldom described or sampled. ~Eragrostis hypnoides - Micranthemum umbrosum - Lipocarpha micrantha - (Juncus repens) Wet Meadow (CEGL004341)$$ is a rare lower, wetter, finer-textured bar community that sometimes co-occurs. ~Betula nigra - Quercus laurifolia - Taxodium (distichum, ascendens) / Crataegus aestivalis Riparian Forest (CEGL004282)$$ often occurs on slightly older deposits farther up point bars. An equivalent association likely occurs on bars of brownwater rivers.

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

Floristics: Vegetation is patchy, sparse over most of the area of the community, but ranging to dense in different parts of even small patches. Panicum rigidulum is the most constant and usually often most abundant species. Other herbs include Polygonum punctatum (= Persicaria punctata) and other Polygonum spp. (= Persicaria spp.), Boehmeria cylindrica, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Sacciolepis striata, and Micranthemum umbrosum. On the Waccamaw River, rare species such as Hymenocallis pygmaea and Sabatia kennedyana may be abundant. Ruderal species such as Digitaria spp., Eupatorium compositifolium, and Cyperus spp. often occur in small numbers. Hibiscus moscheutos is prominent in some examples. Shrubs typical of riverbanks and other adjacent forest communities are often present in small numbers, including Cyrilla racemiflora, Cornus foemina (= Cornus stricta), and Vaccinium elliottii. Young trees or small numbers of older trees are often present, including Betula nigra, Taxodium distichum, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus lyrata, and Carpinus caroliniana.

Dynamics:  This community is prone to substantial disturbance by floods, including scouring, reworking of soil, and burial by newly deposited sand or wrack. This chronic disturbance, combined with limited soil fertility, likely produces slow development of vegetation. This community can be expected, over periods of many years, to develop into ~Betula nigra - Quercus laurifolia - Taxodium (distichum, ascendens) / Crataegus aestivalis Riparian Forest (CEGL004282)$$.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on recent deposits of sand along blackwater rivers, generally on point bars, but sometimes along straight stretches of channel. These substrates are young and show little soil development. They may be reworked by floodwaters, and parts may be subject to ongoing deposition that can bury vegetation; other parts are more stable.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in southern North Carolina, South Carolina, and potentially farther south.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  GA?, NC, SC


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3

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.a Pickerelweed - Maidencane River & Basin Freshwater Marsh & Wet Meadow Group G188 2.C.4.Ne.2.a
Alliance A3405 Redtop Panicgrass - Swamp Smartweed - Dotted Smartweed Southeastern Sandbar Alliance A3405 2.C.4.Ne.2.a
Association CEGL004273 Redtop Panicgrass - Crimson-eyed Rosemallow Wet Meadow CEGL004273 2.C.4.Ne.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sand and Mud Bar (Blackwater Sand Bar Subtype) (Schafale 2012)
Concept Author(s): M.P. Schafale (2012)

Author of Description: M.P. Schafale

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-12-09
  • Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.