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G370 Arctophila fulva - Carex aquatilis Arctic Marsh Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group occurs as small patches throughout arctic and subarctic Alaska and Canada, typically on the margins of ponds, lakes and beaded streams.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pendantgrass - Water Sedge Arctic Marsh Group

Colloquial Name: North American Arctic Freshwater Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group occurs as small patches throughout arctic and subarctic North America, typically on the margins of ponds, lakes and beaded streams. It is also found on large to small floodplains where various wetlands form in oxbows, wet depressions, low-lying areas, and abandoned channels, including freshwater marshes. Soils are muck or mineral, and water is often nutrient-rich. In floodplains, permafrost is absent. Occurrences are typically dominated by grasses and sedges, but may have high forb cover in some instances. Dominant species include Arctophila fulva, Carex aquatilis, or Eriophorum angustifolium. Additional dominants occur in the subarctic, including Comarum palustre, Hippuris vulgaris, Lysimachia thyrsiflora, Carex utriculata, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Typha latifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, and Equisetum fluviatile.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This group contains emergent marsh vegetation dominated by perennial grasses, sedges and forbs that experience semipermanent flooding.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Arctic marsh and Arctic wet meadow are not well-distinguished here. There are many Canadian types that are not described in this classification system, such as Pleuropogon sabinei wetlands (M. Raynolds pers. comm. 2012).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group is characterized by emergent vegetation and is dominated by perennial grasses, sedges and forbs.

Floristics: In the Arctic, this group is dominated primarily by Arctophila fulva, Carex aquatilis, or Eriophorum angustifolium. Additional dominants occur in the subarctic, including Comarum palustre, Hippuris vulgaris, Lysimachia thyrsiflora, Carex utriculata, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus validus), Typha latifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, and Equisetum fluviatile (Jorgenson 1999).

Dynamics:  This group occurs within a variety of successional processes, including thaw lakes, ice-wedge polygons, and oriented lakes. Seral stages and the rate of succession are unclear.
Environmental Description:  Freshwater marshes occur as small patches throughout arctic and subarctic North America, typically on the margins of ponds, lakes, beaded streams, and ponds on large to small floodplains. Water is at or above the surface for most of the growing season (typically >10 cm above the surface).
Geographic Range: This group occurs throughout arctic and subarctic Alaska and Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AK, LB, NT, NU, QC, YT


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.Np Arctic & Boreal Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D320 2.C.4.Np
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Np.1 Pendantgrass - Water Sedge - Tall Cottongrass Arctic Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M870 2.C.4.Np.1
Group 2.C.4.Np.1.a Pendantgrass - Water Sedge Arctic Marsh Group G370 2.C.4.Np.1.a
Alliance A4354 Pendantgrass - Water Sedge Arctic Freshwater Marsh Alliance A4354 2.C.4.Np.1.a
Alliance A4355 Pendantgrass - Water Horsetail - Common Mare''s-tail Arctic Freshwater Marsh Alliance A4355 2.C.4.Np.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Arctophila fulva (Pendantgrass) (Clebsch 1957)
> Carex aquatilis (Water sedge) (Churchill 1955)
> Eleocharis palustris - Equisetum fluviatile - Equisetum palustre (Common spikerush - water horsetail - marsh horsetail) (Worley 1980b)
Concept Author(s): K. Boggs, J. Jorgenson, M. Raynolds, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: K. Boggs and M. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-16
  • Churchill, E. D. 1955. Phytosociological and environmental characteristics of some plant communities in the Umiat region of Alaska. Ecology 36(4):606-627.
  • Clebsch, E. E. C. 1957. The summer season climatic and vegetational gradient between Point Barrow and Meade River, Alaska. M.S. thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. 60 pp.
  • 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]
  • Viereck, L. A., C. T. Dyrness, A. R. Batten, and K. J. Wenzlick. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. General Technical Report PNW-GTR286. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 278 pp.
  • Worley, I. A. 1980b. Plant community analysis. Pages. 92-192 in: G. P. Streveler, I. A. Worley, and B. F. Molnia, editors. Lituya Bay environmental survey. U.S. National Park Service, Juneau, AK.