Print Report

A3397 Rhynchospora spp. - Calamagrostis canadensis - Rhexia virginica Coastal Plain Pondshore Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Depression ponds with herbaceous graminoid wetland vegetation on the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain, not including the wetland vegetation of coastal interdunal swales.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Beaksedge species - Bluejoint - Virginia Meadowbeauty Coastal Plain Pondshore Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Mid-Atlantic Coastal Pondshore Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: These are depression ponds with herbaceous graminoid wetland vegetation on the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain. These do not include the wetland vegetation of coastal interdunal swales. This alliance includes seasonally flooded wetland depressions, often dominated by Calamagrostis canadensis, Rhexia virginica, Rhynchospora spp., and Woodwardia virginica, which occur in acidic sands of the Coastal Plain. Additional associates include Carex striata, Decodon verticillatus, Hypericum mutilum, and Triadenum virginicum. More information is needed on the expression of this small-scale alliance. The vegetation may be tall, reaching up to 1.5 m in height. It is attributed to various states in the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Virginia to Massachusetts, as well as Maine and Ontario.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Depression ponds with herbaceous graminoid wetland vegetation on the Northern Coastal Plain. These do not include the wetland vegetation of coastal interdunal swales.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: A mixed group of associations which are typical of Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain depression ponds, and are not included in other more floristically distinct alliances.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Depression ponds with graminoid herb wetland vegetation.

Floristics: Stands of this alliance are often dominated by Calamagrostis canadensis, Rhexia virginica, Rhynchospora spp., and Woodwardia virginica. The vegetation may be tall, reaching up to 1.5 m in height. Additional associates include Carex striata, Decodon verticillatus, Hypericum mutilum, and Triadenum virginicum. Woody associates typically occur at the periphery of the pond or depression, and may include scattered and stunted individuals of Acer rubrum, Clethra alnifolia, Liquidambar styraciflua, Pinus taeda, Rhododendron viscosum, or Vaccinium corymbosum. In addition, Sphagnum mosses (e.g., Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum palustre) are also typical components.

Dynamics:  These wetland depressions are prone to flooding, especially in the winter when evapotranspiration is low. They tend to dry out in the summer, especially during drought.
Environmental Description:  Stands of this alliance are seasonally flooded wetland depressions or ponds which occur in acidic sands of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found on the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain from Virginia to Massachusetts. Two associations included here also range north to Maine and Ontario.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, ON, QC?, RI, VA, VT


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.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.h beaksedge spp. - spikerush spp. - meadowbeauty spp. Pondshore Group G916 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Alliance A3397 Beaksedge species - Bluejoint - Virginia Meadowbeauty Coastal Plain Pondshore Marsh Alliance A3397 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL004120 Northern Peatland Sedge Marsh CEGL004120 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006016 Smooth Sawgrass - Horsetail Spikerush Marsh CEGL006016 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006332 Smooth Sawgrass - Wrinkled Joint-tail Grass Marsh CEGL006332 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006400 Yellow Spikerush - Bog Yellow-eyed-grass Marsh CEGL006400 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006415 Threeway Sedge - Canadian Rush - Brown-fruit Rush Marsh CEGL006415 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006608 Teal Lovegrass - Globe-fruit Primrose-willow - Swamp Smartweed Marsh CEGL006608 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006609 Sugarcane Plumegrass - (Eaton''s Rosette Grass, Warty Panicgrass) Marsh CEGL006609 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006610 Lesser Creeping Rush - White Doll''s-daisy Marsh CEGL006610 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006760 New Jersey Muhly - Brown Beaksedge Marsh CEGL006760 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006761 Switchgrass / Peatmoss species Wet Meadow CEGL006761 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006762 Smooth Sawgrass - Canadian Rush Marsh CEGL006762 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006763 <i>Dichanthelium spretum - Dichanthelium dichotomum var. dichotomum - Panicum verrucosum - Panicum rigidulum var. pubescens</i> Marsh CEGL006763 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006764 (Marsh-pepper Knotweed, Dotted Smartweed, Curlytop Knotweed) - Purple-stem Beggarticks - Rice Cutgrass Marsh CEGL006764 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL006853 Brown-fruit Rush - White Beaksedge - American White Water-lily Marsh CEGL006853 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL007744 Sugarcane Plumegrass - Globe-fruit Primrose-willow - Warty Panicgrass Marsh CEGL007744 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Association CEGL007745 Narrow Plumegrass - Southern Waxy Sedge - Short-bristle Horned Beaksedge Marsh CEGL007745 2.C.4.Ne.2.h
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
  • 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.
  • Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2001. Classification of natural communities of Massachusetts. September 2001 draft. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.