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A3389 Carex crinita - Osmunda spp. / Sphagnum spp. Southern Interior Acidic Seep Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These are herbaceous acidic seeps found in the Ozark, Ouachita, and Interior Plateau regions of the southeastern United States.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Peatmoss species Southern Interior Acidic Seep Alliance
Colloquial Name: Southern Interior Acidic Seep
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This primarily herbaceous, acidic seep alliance, found in the Ozark, Ouachita, and Interior Plateau regions of the southeastern United States, is dominated by herbaceous species but can also have a significant shrub component. The most abundant herbaceous species include Athyrium filix-femina, Carex crinita, Carex lurida, and other Carex spp., Dryopteris carthusiana, Glyceria striata, Impatiens capensis, Leersia oryzoides, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, and Symplocarpus foetidus. In some stands of this alliance, Sphagnum spp. occur in patches. Common shrubs in some stands include Alnus serrulata, Aronia melanocarpa, and Physocarpus opulifolius. Stands often occur in a forested setting and are small enough that the surrounding trees cast shade and otherwise affect the microenvironment. Some stands contain trees from the surrounding forest communities. Where trees do occur, Acer rubrum, Betula nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Platanus occidentalis are typical. Stands of this alliance are found where groundwater flows to the surface at the edges of outwash plains, beach ridges, or at the contact between acidic gravel and bedrock. Soils are saturated sandy loams or sandy silts overlain with mucks and peats. They can be shallow to deep (40-100+ cm). There is weak nutrient input from the slightly to highly acidic (pH 3.7-6.0) groundwater. The groundwater flow is generally diffuse, but concentrated localized flows can occur, especially in the spring.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Ozark and Interior herbaceous acidic seeps dominated by Carex crinita, other Carex species, Dryopteris carthusiana, Glyceria striata, Osmunda cinnamomea, and Osmunda regalis with Sphagnum species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The specific conditions required to support stands of this alliance tend to occur in specialized locations. Thus, several stands of this alliance may be clustered in one valley or within a few kilometers of each other.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Examples are dominated by herbaceous species but can also have a significant shrub component. Stands often occur in a forested setting and are small enough that the surrounding trees cast shade and otherwise affect the microenvironment. Some stands contain trees from the surrounding forest communities.
Floristics: The most abundant herbaceous species in examples of this alliance include Athyrium filix-femina, Carex crinita, Carex lurida, and other Carex spp., Dryopteris carthusiana (= Dryopteris spinulosa), Glyceria striata, Impatiens capensis, Leersia oryzoides, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, and Symplocarpus foetidus (White and Madany 1978). In some stands of this alliance, Sphagnum spp. occur in patches. More southern stands (Missouri) contain Bartonia paniculata, Cyperus polystachyos var. texensis, Oldenlandia uniflora, Platanthera ciliaris, Platanthera clavellata, Sphenopholis pensylvanica (= Trisetum pensylvanicum), Woodwardia areolata, and the moss Campylopodiella stenocarpa (= Atractylocarpus costaricensis) (Nelson 1985). In Indiana, additional species may also include Carex bromoides, Carex lurida, Dryopteris cristata, Platanthera clavellata, Polygonum arifolium, and Sphagnum spp. (Homoya et al. 1985). Common shrubs in some stands include Alnus serrulata, Ilex opaca, Ilex verticillata, Aronia melanocarpa, and Physocarpus opulifolius. Where trees do occur, Acer rubrum, Betula nigra, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Platanus occidentalis are typical.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands of this alliance are found where groundwater flows to the surface at the edges of outwash plains, beach ridges, or at the contact between acidic gravel and bedrock (Homoya 1983, Nelson 1985). Soils are saturated sandy loams or sandy silts overlain with mucks and peats. They can be shallow to deep (40-100+ cm). There is weak nutrient input from the slightly to highly acidic (pH 3.7-6.0) groundwater. The groundwater flow is generally diffuse, but concentrated localized flows can occur, especially in the spring (White and Madany 1978).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Ozarks, Ouachitas, and Interior Low Plateau regions in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio in the midwestern and southeastern United States.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN, MO, OH
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899513
Confidence Level: Low
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.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D323 | 2.C.4.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nd.1 Shrubby-cinquefoil - Canadian Burnet / Inland Sedge Seep Macrogroup | M061 | 2.C.4.Nd.1 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b Inland Sedge - Shallow Sedge - Largeleaf Grass-of-Parnassus Seepage Fen Group | G182 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b |
| Alliance | A3389 Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Peatmoss species Southern Interior Acidic Seep Alliance | A3389 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002263 Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Peatmoss species Acidic Herbaceous Seep | CEGL002263 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002392 Fringed Sedge - Royal Fern species / Common Ninebark Acidic Herbaceous Seep | CEGL002392 | 2.C.4.Nd.1.b |
Concept Lineage: This alliance accommodates the Ozark-Interior seep part of old A.1451 (2/5 associations).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Acid Seep (Homoya 1983)
- 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.
- Homoya, M. A. 1983. A floristic survey of acid seep springs in Martin and Dubois counties, Indiana. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indianapolis.
- Homoya, M. A., D. B. Abrell, J. R. Aldrich, and T. W. Post. 1985. The natural regions of Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 94:245-268.
- Nelson, P. 2005. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Third edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO. 550 pp.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- Schwegman, J. E. 1969. Vegetation of some seep springs in the Cretaceous Hills of southern Illinois. Master''s thesis, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
- White, J., and M. Madany. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 311-405 in: Natural Areas Inventory technical report: Volume I, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL.