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G114 Nymphaea odorata - Stuckenia pectinata - Potamogeton spp. Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Group

Type Concept Sentence: This freshwater aquatic marsh is found across eastern North America from the northwestern Great Plains southeast to coastal Texas and east to the Atlantic Ocean where native submergent and floating-leaved aquatic species have >10% cover and emergent species have <10% cover.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American White Water-lily - Sago Pondweed - Pondweed species Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Group

Colloquial Name: Eastern North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: Submergent marshes can be found across a large part of North America, ranging from boreal, interior Canada (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario) south through the Great Plains to the Gulf Coastal Plain in Texas and east to the Atlantic from Virginia to Maine. Stands in this group have rooted aquatic herbaceous vegetation, are permanently flooded with water generally less than 2 m deep, and are subject to low to moderate waves and currents. Water salinity varies from fresh to saline, with the saline and brackish sites tending to occur in the Great Plains. Submergent and floating-leaved aquatics dominate submergent marshes. Emergent vegetation has <10% total cover. Total vegetation cover ranges from sparse to dense.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These submergent marshes are characterized by permanently flooded sites with water 0.3 to 2 m deep, vegetation dominated by native submergent or floating-leaved herbaceous plants, and a lack of emergent plants.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This is a very widely distributed group and it is the only group within ~Eastern North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Macrogroup (M108)$$. The overall floristics and habitat do not seem unduly wide-ranging for the group level, though. Perhaps the relative uniformity of habitat (flooded, low water energy) is enough to hold this together from Virginia to Alberta. Associations in the Great Plains seem most likely to be different as they may have more brackish or saline water chemistry.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The physiognomy of these submergent marshes is fairly simple. Submerged and floating-leaved herbaceous plants dominate. They can have sparse to dense cover. Emergent plants are scattered to absent in the core of these communities but often become more common along the drier edges. Emergent woody vegetation is very rare and, when present, generally limited to the drier parts of these submergent marshes.

Floristics: A variety of submergent or floating-leaved herbaceous plants may dominate this group of aquatic vegetation. Common dominant species include Brasenia schreberi, Ceratophyllum demersum, Eleocharis robbinsii, Elodea canadensis, Eriocaulon aquaticum, Heteranthera dubia, Heteranthera reniformis, Bidens beckii (= Megalodonta beckii), Myriophyllum spp., Najas flexilis, Nelumbo lutea, Nuphar advena, Nuphar microphylla, Nuphar variegata, Nymphaea odorata, Nymphaea tetragona (in central Canada), Nymphoides aquatica, Nymphoides cordata, Potamogeton amplifolius, Potamogeton epihydrus, Potamogeton friesii, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Potamogeton nodosus, Potamogeton richardsonii, Potamogeton zosteriformis, Ruppia maritima, Stuckenia pectinata, Utricularia spp., and Vallisneria americana. Other species likely to occur are Azolla caroliniana, Bacopa caroliniana, Gratiola brevifolia, Lemna spp., Ludwigia spp., Peltandra virginica, and Spirodela spp. Taller emergent species are frequently found in small amounts in these submergent marshes, particularly along the shallower edges. Zannichellia palustris is a common component in the Great Plains. Alkaline sites may contain Chara spp.

Dynamics:  These submergent marshes are typically part of a complex of wetland communities. They tend to be stable if hydrologic conditions remain stable. Emergent marsh, shrub wetlands, and/or wet meadows are typically on the upland side of these communities. Submergent marshes may form the center (deepest part) of wetlands. Other communities not typically part of terrestrial vegetation classifications tend to occur in deeper or higher energy settings.
Environmental Description:  Climate: This aquatic vegetation can be found from boreal, through cool temperate, to warm temperate climates. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Submergent marshes can be found in lakes, ponds, low-gradient river channels, and oxbows and backwaters on rivers or streams. This includes the shoreline and estuaries along the Great Lakes. Surface soils are typically muck in richer sites, but there is substantial variance across the range of this group. Muck can be over nearly any material, including bedrock. Submergent vegetation can also root in mineral soils. Most sites have freshwater, but in closed basins in the Great Plains where evaporation is high, the water can be brackish or even saline. Stands of submergent marshes are flooded in all but the driest years. Water depth varies from several centimeters to 2 m. A few stands in the Great Plains dry out for part of most years, but water is present long enough to support the characteristic species. Submergent marsh vegetation occurs where wave and current action is minor to moderate. Frequent fast water or heavy waves prevent these vegetation communities from persisting.
Geographic Range: These submergent marshes can be found across a large part of North America, ranging from boreal, interior Canada (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario) south through the Great Plains to coastal Texas and east throughout the United States and southern Canada to the Atlantic Ocean. Stands occur from near sea level to 1525 m (5000 feet) elevation in the Great Plains.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NU, NY, OH, OK, ON, PA, QC, RI, SC, SD, SK, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 5 Aquatic Vegetation Class C05 5
Subclass 5.B Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Subclass S13 5.B
Formation 5.B.2 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Formation F057 5.B.2
Division 5.B.2.Na North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Division D049 5.B.2.Na
Macrogroup 5.B.2.Na.1 Hornwort species - Pond-lily species - Pondweed species Eastern North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Macrogroup M108 5.B.2.Na.1
Group 5.B.2.Na.1.a American White Water-lily - Sago Pondweed - Pondweed species Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Group G114 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A1752 Hornleaf Riverweed Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A1752 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A3542 Water-milfoil species Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A3542 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A3668 American Featherfoil - Marsh Seedbox Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A3668 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A4064 American White Water-lily - Pond-lily species - Watershield Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A4064 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A4066 Pondweed species - Hornwort species - Waterweed species Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A4066 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A4067 Sago Pondweed - Pondweed species - Coon''s-tail Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A4067 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A4068 American Eel-grass Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A4068 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A4147 Duckweed species - Watermeal species - Common Duckmeat Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A4147 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Submergent Marsh (Kost et al. 2007) [Concept is equivalent within Michigan.]
Concept Author(s): J. Drake, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-07-15
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
  • Kost, M. A., D. A. Albert, J. G. Cohen, B. S. Slaughter, R. K. Schillo, C. R. Weber, and K. A. Chapman. 2007. Natural communities of Michigan: Classification and description. Report No. 2007-21, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing. 314 pp. [http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/reports/2007-21_Natural_Communites_of_Michigan_Classification_and_Description.pdf]
  • Minc, L. D., and D. A. Albert. 1998. Great Lakes coastal wetlands: Abiotic and floristic characterization. Great Lakes Wetlands 9(3):1-15.