Print Report

A1463 Rhynchospora oligantha - Sarracenia spp. - Ctenium aromaticum Seep Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes herbaceous bogs and seepage slope wetlands of the southern coastal plains which are influenced by groundwater seepage and are dominated by wetland herbaceous species, such as Aristida spp., Ctenium aromaticum, Rhynchospora spp., and carnivorous plants, especially Sarracenia spp.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Feather-bristle Beaksedge - Pitcherplant species - Toothache Grass Seep Alliance

Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Hillside Seep

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes herbaceous bogs and seepage slope wetlands of the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain or Gulf Coastal Plain ranging from Texas east to North Carolina. Such communities have been variously called seepage slopes, hillside seepage bogs, muck bogs, poor fens, sandhill seeps, and other names. Sites are dominated or codominated by wetland herbaceous plants, such as Aristida spp., Ctenium aromaticum, Rhynchospora spp., or Sarracenia spp. Rhynchospora spp. are especially prominent and diverse in most examples; with as many as ten taxa of Rhynchospora spp. present. Carnivorous plants are also usually present, especially Sarracenia spp. which are codominant to sparse but diagnostic. Several species of Sarracenia spp. may be present at a site, including Sarracenia alata, Sarracenia flava, Sarracenia leucophylla, Sarracenia psittacina, Sarracenia rosea, and Sarracenia rubra. Woody species are Arundinaria tecta, Clethra alnifolia, Cliftonia monophylla, Cyrilla racemiflora, Magnolia virginiana, Morella caroliniensis, Morella cerifera, Morella inodora, Smilax laurifolia, and Toxicodendron vernix. Woody species are low if burned recently, but may occur in scattered clumps and patches, with shrub cover dependent largely on fire frequency and seasonality. In some seeps shrubs can be very prominent, even when fire is relatively frequent. Examples are influenced by groundwater seepage and/or seasonally high water tables.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These seepage slope wetlands are on the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain or Gulf Coastal Plain, close to the Gulf Coast. They are dominated by Rhynchospora spp. and typically have Sarracenia spp.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is broad, but it could be split more finely if vegetation data analysis indicate that is warranted. Splitting out a West Gulf Coastal Plain alliance does not make sense using Sarracenia alata, because Sarracenia alata also occurs in Mississippi and southwestern Alabama. Sarracenia flava might be a diagnostic species to split out an eastern alliance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These sites are dominated by wetland herbaceous graminoids and forbs, and may be shrubby depending upon geographic location and fire history. Overstory trees are lacking due to wetland conditions and fire effects.

Floristics: All but the wettest associations are dominated or codominated by Ctenium aromaticum, Rhynchospora spp., and Aristida beyrichiana (from southeastern Mississippi eastwards to South Carolina). Rhynchospora spp. are prominent and diverse in all associations of this alliance, with Rhynchospora oligantha and Rhynchospora stenophylla being characteristic species; sites may have as many as ten Rhynchospora spp. The genus Sarracenia is generally present, ranging from dominant or codominant to sparse, and from a single species to several. Species include Sarracenia alata, Sarracenia flava, Sarracenia leucophylla, Sarracenia psittacina, Sarracenia rosea (= Sarracenia purpurea var. burkii), and Sarracenia rubra. Other characteristic species that are widespread in the alliance include Aristida palustris, Aristida stricta (Atlantic Coastal Plain of North and South Carolina only), Carphephorus pseudoliatris (East Gulf Coastal Plain only), Chaptalia tomentosa, Coreopsis linifolia, Helianthus heterophyllus, Lilium catesbaei, Lophiola aurea (= Lophiola americana) (East Gulf Coastal Plain only), Lycopodiella alopecuroides, Lycopodiella prostrata, Macranthera flammea (East Gulf Coastal Plain only), Muhlenbergia expansa, Pinguicula spp., Polygala spp., Pteridium aquilinum var. pseudocaudatum, Rhynchospora macra, Scleria baldwinii, Scleria muehlenbergii (= Scleria reticularis var. pubescens), Sphagnum spp., Triantha racemosa (= Tofieldia racemosa), Utricularia subulata, Xyris baldwiniana, Xyris spp., and Zigadenus spp. Scattered Pinus elliottii var. elliottii may occur and in some cases has been planted across the bog. Other typical woody species, occurring in scattered clumps and patches, are Arundinaria tecta (= Arundinaria gigantea ssp. tecta), Clethra alnifolia, Cliftonia monophylla, Cyrilla racemiflora, Magnolia virginiana, Morella caroliniensis (= Myrica heterophylla), Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera var. cerifera), Morella inodora (= Myrica inodora), Smilax laurifolia, and Toxicodendron vernix. In some seeps, shrubs can be very prominent, even when fire is relatively frequent.

Dynamics:  Saturation from seepage maintains wet conditions in these habitats. Shrubs can be very prominent, even when fire is relatively frequent, but in general wildland fires which spread from adjacent Pinus palustris woodlands have helped maintain these open herbaceous wetlands, which without fire can succeed to wet streamhead forests. Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) have altered the natural dynamics of herbaceous seepage wetlands by rooting up the natural vegetation.
Environmental Description:  Examples are influenced by groundwater seepage and/or seasonally high water tables. Soils can be peats or wet mineral soils, though generally this alliance occurs in sites wet enough to result in some organic accumulation. In Florida, wetland savanna soils are poorly drained Ultisols with argillic horizons, or Aquults. A seasonally high water table is perched near the soil surface during periods of heavy rainfall due to the presence of this argillic horizon which is slowly permeable to downward percolating water. A combination of high clay content and standing water contributes to sparse overstories.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs from southern North Carolina to central Georgia, primarily in the Fall-line Sandhills region, but it also occurs in other parts of the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain. It extends into the Gulf Coastal Plain region, across northern Florida, to Alabama, Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. On the Gulf Coastal Plain west of the Mississippi River, it is documented in eastern Texas and western Louisiana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA, LA, MD?, MS, NC, SC, 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.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 CEGL004152 Beyrich''s Three-awn - Beaksedge species - Chapman''s Crownbeard Seepage Meadow CEGL004152 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004153 Beyrich''s Three-awn - Beaksedge species - Rush-featherling - (Parrot Pitcherplant, Yellow Pitcherplant) Seepage Meadow CEGL004153 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004154 Beyrich''s Three-awn - Feather-bristle Beaksedge - Gulf Chaffhead - (Yellow Pitcherplant, Crimson Pitcherplant) Seepage Meadow CEGL004154 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004155 Beyrich''s Three-awn - Feather-bristle Beaksedge - Gulf Bog Panicgrass - (Thistleleaf Aster) Seepage Meadow CEGL004155 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004175 Yellow Trumpets - Slender Beaksedge - Roughleaf Coneflower - Yellow Sunnybell Seepage Meadow CEGL004175 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004177 Coastal Plain Beaksedge - Large Beaksedge - Gulf Bog Panicgrass - Black-bract Pipewort - Rush-featherling Seepage Meadow CEGL004177 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004467 Coastal Sweet-pepperbush - Poison-sumac / Pineland Three-awn - Cinnamon Fern - Pitcherplant species Shrub Seepage Meadow CEGL004467 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004468 Blue Huckleberry - Coastal Sweet-pepperbush - Switch Cane / Pineland Three-awn - Western Brackenfern Seepage Meadow CEGL004468 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004667 Large Beaksedge - Coastal Plain Beaksedge - Gulf Bog Panicgrass - Chapman''s Yellow-eyed-grass - Coastal Sedge Seepage Meadow CEGL004667 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL004687 Feather-bristle Beaksedge - (Yellow Trumpets, Parrot Pitcherplant) - Gulf Chaffhead Seepage Meadow CEGL004687 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
Association CEGL007717 Baldwin''s Nutrush - Bunched Beaksedge - Tall Pinebarren Milkwort - Southern Umbrella-sedge Seepage Meadow CEGL007717 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL008417 Shallow Sedge - Bushy Bluestem - Yellow Trumpets - Purple-stem Aster - Southern Whitetop Seepage Meadow CEGL008417 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL008595 Bear Tupelo / Beyrich''s Three-awn - (Chapman''s Beaksedge, Short-bristle Horned Beaksedge) Seepage Meadow CEGL008595 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Association CEGL008596 Pinewoods Bluestem - Chapman''s Beaksedge Seepage Meadow CEGL008596 2.C.4.Ne.2.e
Concept Lineage: (pasted in from old alliance A.1463, with edits in track changes)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Drosera Sandy/Loamy Wet Herbaceous Seeps (Turner et al. 1999)
= Gulf Coast pitcher plant bogs (Folkerts 1982)
= Sandhill Seep (Schafale and Weakley 1990)
= Seepage Slope (FNAI 2010a)
Concept Author(s): G.W. Folkerts (1982)

Author of Description: C. Nordman and A.S. Weakley

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • Bridges, E. L., and S. L. Orzell. 1989a. Longleaf pine communities of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Natural Areas Journal 9:246-263.
  • Clewell, A. F. 1971. The vegetation of the Apalachicola National Forest: An ecological perspective. Unpublished document. USDA Forest Service, Tallahassee, FL. 152 pp.
  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
  • FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 2010a. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. 228 pp. [https://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm]
  • 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.
  • Folkerts, G. W. 1982. The Gulf Coast pitcher plant bogs. American Scientist 70:260-267.
  • Hermann, S. M. 1991. Pitcher plant habitats of the Southeast: A community profile. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.
  • LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 1992. Survey of threatened and endangered plants and animals on U.S. Army Fort Polk Military Reservation, Louisiana. Unpublished report. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge. 32 pp.
  • 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]
  • MacRoberts, B. R., and M. H. MacRoberts. 1988. Floristic composition of two west Louisiana pitcher plant bogs. Phytologia 65:184-190.
  • MacRoberts, B. R., and M. H. MacRoberts. 1991. Floristics of three bogs in western Louisiana. Phytologia 70:135-141.
  • Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
  • Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1993. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Evangeline and Catahoula districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 274 pp.
  • 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.
  • SCWMRD [South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Columbia.
  • 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.
  • Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. 1999. Ecological classification system for the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX. 95 pp. plus appendices.