Print Report
A3381 Carex atlantica - Solidago patula - Parnassia asarifolia Seep Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This shrub- and herb-dominated vegetation of Southern Appalachian "bogs," seeps or poor fens is found at a variety of elevations in stream headwaters and on the edges of small stream floodplains, where groundwater seepage emerges.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Prickly Bog Sedge - Roundleaf Goldenrod - Kidneyleaf Grass-of-Parnassus Seep Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Acidic Seep
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance accommodates shrub- and herb-dominated vegetation of Southern Appalachian "bogs," seeps or poor fens, found at a variety of elevations. Physiognomy is variable and may include herbaceous-dominated patches, shrubby areas, and areas with an open canopy of trees. There may be a mosaic or zoned pattern of shrub thickets and herb-dominated areas, much of it underlain by Sphagnum mats. The shrub stratum is open to dense, and is dominated by Alnus serrulata, Kalmia latifolia, Lindera benzoin var. benzoin, Lyonia ligustrina, Rhododendron maximum, and Vaccinium fuscatum. Typical herbaceous species include Carex atlantica, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, Carex leptalea, Impatiens capensis, Juncus gymnocarpus, Mimulus ringens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Oxypolis rigidior, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata, Scirpus georgianus, Scutellaria lateriflora, Solidago patula var. patula, and Thelypteris noveboracensis. Sphagnum species include Sphagnum affine, Sphagnum bartlettianum, Sphagnum palustre, and Sphagnum recurvum. If a tree canopy is present, it will be open and contain species such as Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Betula lenta, Magnolia tripetala, and Nyssa sylvatica. Examples can be physiognomically mixed or variable, with shrubby examples interspersed with small to moderately large herbaceous openings. Examples may occur in stream headwaters and on the edges of small stream floodplains where groundwater seepage emerges and provides a relatively constant flow and saturated conditions. Examples also occur on slight to fairly steep slopes (1-15%) on shallow soils over bedrock.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Examples of this non-alluvial, palustrine vegetation can be physiognomically mixed or variable, with shrubby examples interspersed with small to moderately large herbaceous openings.
Floristics: Examples can be physiognomically mixed or variable, with shrubby examples interspersed with small to moderately large herbaceous openings. Typical herbaceous species include Carex atlantica, Carex folliculata, Carex gynandra, Carex leptalea, Carex trisperma, Chelone cuthbertii, Eriophorum virginicum, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Impatiens capensis, Juncus gymnocarpus, Lysimachia terrestris, Mimulus ringens, Osmunda cinnamomea, Oxypolis rigidior, Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus), Parnassia asarifolia, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata, Scirpus georgianus, Scutellaria lateriflora, Solidago patula var. patula, and Thelypteris noveboracensis. The low shrub Vaccinium macrocarpon may be present. Sphagnum species include Sphagnum affine (= Sphagnum imbricatum), Sphagnum bartlettianum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum recurvum, and Sphagnum warnstorfii. The shrub stratum, if present, may be open to dense, and is typically dominated by a combination of Alnus serrulata, Ilex verticillata, Kalmia latifolia, Lindera benzoin var. benzoin, Lyonia ligustrina, Rhododendron maximum, Rosa palustris, Salix sericea, Spiraea tomentosa, and Vaccinium fuscatum. Alnus serrulata may be a strong dominant component, and substantial Sphagnum cover may be present under the shrubs. If a tree canopy is present, it will be open and contain species such as Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Betula lenta, Magnolia tripetala, and Nyssa sylvatica.
Dynamics: Some occurrences may have formed as the result of logging or catastrophic fire, followed by beaver activity. Reduction of Sphagnum cover, due to siltation, trampling, or nutrient input, promotes succession by woody species. Little is known about the successional dynamics of mountain wetlands. It is thought that beaver may have been responsible for maintaining a shifting mosaic of boggy habitats which included this community (Weakley and Schafale 1994).
Environmental Description: These seepage-fed communities occur in the unglaciated southern and central highlands of the eastern United States, on flat to slightly sloping topography, often associated with small streams and rivers. Sites are fed by seepage from the adjacent substrate. Some examples are nearly flat and occur in the higher (rarely or never flooded) portions of the floodplains of creeks or small rivers, and receive minimal seepage. Water levels are very rarely above the ground (Sphagnum) surface, but are generally at or slightly below surface level. After extended droughts and late in the summer, the water table may drop substantially below the ground surface.
Geographic Range: This vegetation occurs in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent ecoregions of southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, northeastern Georgia, and northwestern South Carolina.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: GA, NC, SC, TN, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899505
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: Associations are from A.1014 (2/5); A.1450 (3/4); and A.1880 (4/9); one association in A.1880 was archived.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< IIE1b. Southern Appalachian Bog Complex (Allard 1990)
< Mountain Bog (Richardson and Gibbons 1993)
>< Southern Appalachian Bog, Long Hope Valley Variant (Weakley and Schafale 1994)
>< Southern Appalachian Bog, Typic Variant (Weakley and Schafale 1994)
< Mountain Bog (Richardson and Gibbons 1993)
>< Southern Appalachian Bog, Long Hope Valley Variant (Weakley and Schafale 1994)
>< Southern Appalachian Bog, Typic Variant (Weakley and Schafale 1994)
- 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.
- Chafin, L. 2011. Georgia''s natural communities and associated rare plant and animal species: Thumbnail accounts. Based on "Guide to the Natural Communities of Georgia," by Edwards et al. 2013. University of Georgia Press. Georgia Nongame Conservation Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. 125 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.
- Richardson, C. J., and J. W. Gibbons. 1993. Pocosins, Carolina bays, and mountain bogs. Pages 257-310 in: W. H. Martin, S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. Biodiversity of the southeastern United States: Lowland terrestrial communities. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.
- 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.
- Weakley, A. S., and M. P. Schafale. 1994. Non-alluvial wetlands of the Southern Blue Ridge: Diversity in a threatened ecosystem. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 77:359-383.