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A3475 Dulichium arundinaceum - Carex spp. Central Interior Pond Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This graminoid wetland alliance is dominated by Dulichium arundinaceum, Carex aquatilis, Carex barrattii, Carex comosa, and Carex joorii plus other wetland sedges and grasses and occurs in the south-central United States in basins, swales, and along pondshores.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Threeway Sedge - Sedge species Central Interior Pond Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Interior Threeway Sedge Depression Pond Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance of basins, swales, and pondshores is dominated by Dulichium arundinaceum, a mix of Carex spp., including Carex aquatilis, Carex barrattii, Carex comosa, and Carex joorii, plus other wetland sedges and grasses. Scattered shrubs may be present but are sparse. Typical communities also contain a mix of graminoid herbs, such as low grasses, sedges, and rushes. This alliance occurs in depression ponds and sinkholes in the unglaciated areas of the south-central United States. Communities in this alliance typically occur in basins of porous substrate where the water level drops significantly during dry years. Substrate is variously mucky or sandy.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance contains basins, swales, and pondshores dominated by Dulichium arundinaceum, a mix of Carex spp., and other wetland sedges and grasses. Scattered shrubs may be present but are sparse.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This vegetation is floristically heterogeneous; some of the associations placed here do not have Dulichium arundinaceum but are dominated by some Carex spp.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Dominated by graminoid herbs.

Floristics: This alliance contains basins, swales, and pondshores dominated by Dulichium arundinaceum, a mix of Carex spp., and other wetland graminoids, especially sedges and grasses. Vegetation composition and cover can be variable, depending on yearly and seasonal fluctuations in water depth (Nelson 1985). Typical dominants include Carex comosa, Carex decomposita, Dulichium arundinaceum, Glyceria acutiflora, Nuphar advena, Scirpus spp. and/or Schoenoplectus spp., and Wolffia brasiliensis. Shrubs, especially Cephalanthus occidentalis, are sometimes present (Homoya and Hedge 1985).

Dynamics:  This vegetation is prone to flooding, and surface water may be present for much of the growing season.
Environmental Description:  Stands of this alliance are found in sinkholes and depressions of terraces and broad, level uplands, often in karst topography. The soils are very poorly drained, and surface water may be present for much of the growing season. Soils are deep peats or mucks, or sometimes mineral.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the south-central United States, in areas which were not affected by glaciation.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, IN, KY, MO, OK?, PA?, TN, VA, WV


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.2 Broadleaf Cattail - White Snakeroot - Rush species Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M069 2.C.4.Nd.2
Group 2.C.4.Nd.2.b Common Buttonbush / Sedge species Central Interior Wet Meadow & Shrubland Group G599 2.C.4.Nd.2.b
Alliance A3475 Threeway Sedge - Sedge species Central Interior Pond Marsh Alliance A3475 2.C.4.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002413 Longhair Sedge - Cypress-knee Sedge - Threeway Sedge - Taperleaf Water-horehound Marsh CEGL002413 2.C.4.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL004750 Narrow Plumegrass - Nuttall''s Reedgrass - Redtop Panicgrass - Brownish Beaksedge Marsh CEGL004750 2.C.4.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL007116 Cypress Swamp Sedge - Slender Spikerush - Rush species - Redtop Panicgrass Interior Highlands Channel Scar Depression Wooded Marsh CEGL007116 2.C.4.Nd.2.b
Concept Lineage: (pasted in from A.1398 with edits in track changes but proto-alliance A1398 was used by Gwen for PNW)

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: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: The past work of M.A. Homoya, C.L. Hedge, and P.W. Nelson is gratefully acknowledged.

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • 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.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., and Midwest State Natural Heritage Program Ecologists. 1996. Terrestrial vegetation of the midwest United States. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the United States. The Nature Conservancy, 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., and C. L. Hedge. 1985. The upland sinkhole swamps and ponds of Harrison County, Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 92:383-387.
  • 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.