Print Report

A1379 Panicum hemitomon Pondshore Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance encompasses a variety of temperate wetland communities dominated by Panicum hemitomon, found in the eastern and southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States, occurring in various ponds, lakes, depression meadows, flatwoods ponds, pineland ponds, and Carolina bays.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Maidencane Pondshore Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Maidencane Pondshore Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance encompasses a variety of temperate wetland communities dominated by Panicum hemitomon, including various ponds, lakes, depression meadows, flatwoods ponds, pineland ponds, and Carolina bays. It is wide-ranging, occurring throughout the eastern and southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States. It is very common in Florida, where it occurs in thousands of lakes and ponds. It is also common in Louisiana and occurs outside the Coastal Plain in Tennessee.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Includes wetland communities dominated by Panicum hemitomon, including various ponds, lakes, depression meadows, flatwoods ponds, pineland ponds, and Carolina bays.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: ~Panicum hemitomon - (Cladium mariscus, Muhlenbergia filipes) Marsh (CEGL007716)$$ is an interdunal swale and is not included here even though it is codominated by Panicum hemitomon. Kirkman and Sharitz (1994) report a vegetation type dominated by Panicum hemitomon in "Carolina Bays" in Allendale and Barnwell counties, South Carolina. This includes examples at the DOE Savannah River Site. It is not clear which association would accommodate these samples.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands of this alliance are dominated by Panicum hemitomon, a coarse perennial grass standing about a meter tall.

Floristics: Stands of this alliance are dominated by Panicum hemitomon. Common genera in many associations of this alliance include Carex, Cladium, Eleocharis, Hydrocotyle, Juncus, Ludwigia, Rhynchospora, Typha, and Xyris.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs in temperate wetlands, including various ponds, lakes, depression meadows, flatwoods ponds, and pineland ponds.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the eastern and southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States from Florida to New Jersey and west to Tennessee and Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, SC, TN, TX, VA?


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.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.g Beaksedge species - Spikerush species - Yellow-eyed-grass species Pondshore & Wet Prairie Group G915 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Alliance A1379 Maidencane Pondshore Marsh Alliance A1379 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Association CEGL004126 Maidencane - Threeway Sedge Marsh CEGL004126 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Association CEGL004127 Maidencane - Horsetail Spikerush - Narrow-fruit Horned Beaksedge Marsh CEGL004127 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Association CEGL004578 Maidencane - Flattened Pipewort - Short-bristle Horned Beaksedge Marsh CEGL004578 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Association CEGL006338 Maidencane - Warty Panicgrass Marsh CEGL006338 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Association CEGL007792 Maidencane - (Camphor Pluchea, Rosy Camphorweed) - Seedbox species Marsh CEGL007792 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Association CEGL008478 Maidencane - Globe-fruit Primrose-willow Marsh CEGL008478 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Association CEGL008588 Peanutgrass - (Maidencane) Marsh CEGL008588 2.C.4.Ne.2.g
Concept Lineage: (pasted in from A.1379, with minor edits)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IIE1f. Coastal Plain Small Depression Pond Complex (Allard 1990)
Concept Author(s): D.J. Allard, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Kirkman, L. K., and R. R. Sharitz. 1994. Vegetation disturbance and maintenance of diversity in intermittently flooded Carolina bays in South Carolina. Ecological Applications 4:177-188.
  • LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
  • Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
  • Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
  • Smith, L. M. 1996b. The rare and sensitive natural wetland plant communities of interior Louisiana. Unpublished document. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge. 38 pp.
  • Wolfe, S. H., editor. 1990. An ecological characterization of the Florida Springs Coast: Pithlachascotee to Waccasassa rivers. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(21). Slidell, LA. 323 pp.