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A3650 Morella pensylvanica Coastal Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes freshwater swales behind primary or secondary dunes or in wetlands of areas underlain by morainal deposits, characterized by, but not necessarily dominated by, Morella pensylvanica. Other associates may include Myrica gale, Vaccinium corymbosum, Clethra alnifolia, Ilex verticillata, and others. It occurs in the coastal zone in southern New England, New York, and New Jersey.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Northern Bayberry Coastal Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Coastal Northern Bayberry Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes freshwater swales characterized by, but not necessarily dominated by, Morella pensylvanica. Other associates may include Myrica gale, Vaccinium corymbosum, Clethra alnifolia, Ilex verticillata, and others. Herbaceous species tend to occur in openings and include Andropogon virginicus, Drosera intermedia, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scirpus cyperinus, Typha latifolia or Typha angustifolia, Thelypteris palustris, Toxicodendron radicans, and Triadenum virginicum. This alliance occurs in the coastal zone in southern New England, New York, and New Jersey in depressions behind primary or secondary dunes or in wetlands of areas underlain by morainal deposits. It occurs less commonly on slow-moving rivers of outwash deposits.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Morella pensylvanica occurring with other shrub species in a coastal wetland situations. Additional characteristic species may include Triadenum virginicum and Myrica gale.

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: This alliance is a wet shrubland of variable canopy closure, often supporting graminoids and forbs in openings.

Floristics: This alliance includes freshwater swales characterized by, but not necessarily dominated by, Morella pensylvanica. Other associates may include Myrica gale, Vaccinium corymbosum, Clethra alnifolia, Ilex verticillata, and others. Herbaceous species tend to occur in openings and include Andropogon virginicus, Drosera intermedia, Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda regalis, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scirpus cyperinus, Typha latifolia or Typha angustifolia, Thelypteris palustris, Toxicodendron radicans, and Triadenum virginicum.

Dynamics:  Standing water is commonly found in the spring, but water levels may drop substantially toward the end of the summer.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs in depressions behind primary or secondary dunes or in wetlands of areas underlain by morainal deposits. It occurs less commonly on slow-moving rivers of outwash deposits.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the coastal zone in southern New England, New York, and New Jersey.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MA, NH, NJ?, NY, RI


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.f Northern & Mid-Atlantic Coastal Wetland Group G752 2.C.4.Ne.2.f
Alliance A3650 Northern Bayberry Coastal Wet Shrubland Alliance A3650 2.C.4.Ne.2.f
Association CEGL006339 Sweetgale - Northern Bayberry Wet Shrubland CEGL006339 2.C.4.Ne.2.f
Association CEGL006444 Northern Bayberry - Eastern Poison-ivy / Broadleaf Cattail Wet Shrubland CEGL006444 2.C.4.Ne.2.f
Concept Lineage: This wetland alliance was removed from G493, an upland group. A.1010 and A.1022

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Bayberry Shrub Swamp (NatureServe 2011b)
? Bayberry Shrub Wetland (NatureServe 2010)
Concept Author(s): L. Sneddon, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: L. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Cowardin, L. M., V. Carter, F. C. Golet, and E. T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. FWS/OBS-79/31. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, DC. 103 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.
  • Lundgren, J. A. 1998. Natural communities of coastal Massachusetts: Inventory and assessment. Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Boston, MA.
  • NatureServe. 2010. Alliances and associations of Monomoy Natural Wildlife Refuge. International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA. U.S.A. Data current as of 19 November 2010.
  • NatureServe. 2011b. Alliances and associations of Noman''s Land Island Natural Wildlife Refuge. International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA. U.S.A. Data current as of 28 January 2011.