Print Report
A3471 Deschampsia cespitosa Serpentine Seep Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This serpentine seepage wetland community is dominated by herbaceous graminoid species, especially Deschampsia cespitosa. It occurs in groundwater seep areas of Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tufted Hairgrass Serpentine Seep Alliance
Colloquial Name: Tufted Hairgrass Serpentine Seep
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This serpentine wetland community is dominated by herbaceous graminoid species, especially Deschampsia cespitosa. Other important herbaceous species include Dichanthelium clandestinum, Juncus tenuis, Leersia oryzoides, Sorghastrum nutans, and Vernonia noveboracensis. This community is very open with woody plants limited to occasional trees, typically Acer rubrum, along the wetland edge and scattered Alnus serrulata within the wetland. It occurs in groundwater seep areas of low slope (1-3°) and variable aspect in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Soils are typically very wet (saturated) clay loams and sapric peats (muck) derived from serpentine bedrock. Soil depth is generally greater than 30 cm and can exceed 60 cm.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This serpentine wetland community occurs in groundwater seep areas of low slope. The dominant herbaceous species is Deschampsia cespitosa.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is based on only one association, which is limited to a certain area of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Associate Editor Orie Loucks made the following comment regarding the alliances in ~Appalachian Mafic Glade Group (G180)$$: "Seems like a lot of splitting of the group into distinct alliances. Too much focus on a specialized type, at association and alliance level? OK for now." There were four associations in old alliance Deschampsia caespitosa Saturated Herbaceous Alliance (A.1456), each is being assigned to a different new IVC alliance in four different IVC groups. Associations from the Rocky Mountains and New Jersey were previously included in Deschampsia caespitosa Saturated Herbaceous Alliance (A.1456). Further review of the literature is needed to determine if the disjunct associations should have remained in the same alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation in this alliance is characterized by a moderate cover of a tufted, perennial bunchgrass which varies from 5 cm to 1 m in height. Between the bunchgrass rosettes, small forbs and graminoids occur with moderate cover. This community is very open with woody plants limited to occasional trees.
Floristics: This serpentine wetland community is dominated by herbaceous graminoid species, especially Deschampsia cespitosa. Other important herbaceous species include Dichanthelium clandestinum (= Panicum clandestinum), Juncus tenuis, Leersia oryzoides, Sorghastrum nutans, and Vernonia noveboracensis. This community is very open with woody plants limited to occasional trees, typically Acer rubrum, along the wetland edge and scattered Alnus serrulata within the wetland.
Dynamics: These wetlands are characterized by seepage and saturation, which limits the plants that occur there.
Environmental Description: This serpentine wetland community occurs in groundwater seep areas of low slope (1-3°) and variable aspect in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Soils are typically very wet (saturated) clay loams and sapric peats (muck) derived from serpentine bedrock. Soil depth is generally greater than 30 cm and can exceed 60 cm.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: PA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899594
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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M506 | 2.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c Little Bluestem - Balsam Groundsel - Prairie Groundsel Appalachian Mafic Glade Group | G180 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Alliance | A3471 Tufted Hairgrass Serpentine Seep Alliance | A3471 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Association | CEGL006316 Tufted Hairgrass - New York Ironweed Serpentine Seep | CEGL006316 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
Concept Lineage: There were four associations in old alliance A.1456 Deschampsia caespitosa Saturated Herbaceous Alliance, each is being assigned to a different new IVC Alliance in four different IVC Groups. (pasted in from CEGL006316)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Bonham, C. D. 1966. An ordination of alpine hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa Beauv.) meadows. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 124 pp.
- Bonham, C. D., and R. T. Ward. 1970. Phytosociological relationships in alpine tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv.) meadows. Arctic and Alpine Research 2(4):267-275.
- 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.