Print Report
A3651 Vaccinium macrocarpon Coastal Wet Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is made up of interdunal swales, as well as peaty basin wetlands underlain by morainal deposits, from New England south to Delaware. The dwarf-shrub Vaccinium macrocarpon forms a low thicket, sometimes overtopped and obscured by other shrubs and tall herbs. Scattered Morella pensylvanica, Vaccinium corymbosum, Clethra alnifolia, and other shrubs may be prominent.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Cranberry Coastal Wet Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Coastal Cranberry Wet Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is made up of interdunal swales, as well as and peaty basin wetlands underlain by morainal deposits, from New England south to Delaware. The dwarf-shrub Vaccinium macrocarpon forms a low thicket, sometimes overtopped and obscured by other shrubs and tall herbs. Scattered Morella pensylvanica, Vaccinium corymbosum, Clethra alnifolia, and other shrubs may be prominent. Morella pensylvanica, although a minor component of the vegetation and generally restricted to the wetland edge, characterizes this community as coastal. Associated species commonly include Cladium mariscoides, Xyris torta, Xyris difformis, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rhynchospora alba, Cyperus spp., Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia, Drosera filiformis, Woodwardia virginica, Onoclea sensibilis, Pogonia ophioglossoides, and scattered clumps of Schoenoplectus pungens or Scirpus cyperinus in small wet pockets. Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum rubellum, Sphagnum compactum, and possibly others) cover the substrate. This alliance occurs most frequently in a maritime interdunal swale setting, seasonally flooded by groundwater and rainwater. It also occurs less commonly in saturated peaty basins of moraines, usually on coastal islands where Chamaedaphne calyculata is absent.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Presence of a combination of Vaccinium macrocarpon, Triadenum virginicum, Morella pensylvanica, and Sphagnum spp. in coastal wetlands of New England south to Delaware.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Although the individual species of this alliance range into Canada, the occurrence of this alliance in Quebec requires confirmation.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This vegetation is a dwarf-shrubland overtopped by a variable cover of graminoids. Scattered low shrubs may also occur.
Floristics: Vaccinium macrocarpon is the dominant species of this vegetation. Scattered Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), Vaccinium corymbosum, Clethra alnifolia, and other shrubs may be present. Morella pensylvanica, although a minor component of the vegetation and generally restricted to the wetland edge, characterizes this community as coastal. Associated species commonly include Cladium mariscoides, Xyris torta, Xyris difformis, Rhynchospora capitellata, Rhynchospora alba, Cyperus spp., Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia, Drosera filiformis, Woodwardia virginica, Onoclea sensibilis, Pogonia ophioglossoides, and scattered clumps of Schoenoplectus pungens or Scirpus cyperinus in small wet pockets. Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum rubellum, Sphagnum compactum, and possibly others) cover the substrate.
Dynamics: On coastal dunes, this vegetation is relatively stable, occurring in protected backdune swales. Groundwater and rainwater provide the source of seasonal flooding, and drying occurs as the water table drops during the growing season. On morainal bogs, the water table is more constant, and the substrate is generally deeper peat.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs most frequently in a maritime interdunal swale setting, seasonally flooded by groundwater and rainwater. It also occurs less commonly in saturated peaty basins of moraines, usually on coastal islands where Chamaedaphne calyculata is absent.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs from New England south to Delaware.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: DE, MA, NH, NJ, NY, QC, RI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899709
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 | A3651 Cranberry Coastal Wet Shrubland Alliance | A3651 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f |
| Association | CEGL006141 Smooth Sawgrass / Cranberry - Northern Bayberry Wet Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL006141 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f |
| Association | CEGL006456 Cinnamon Fern / Cranberry Wet Meadow | CEGL006456 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f |
Concept Lineage: This wetland alliance was removed from G493, an upland group. A.1094, A.1692
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Vaccinietum macrocarpi (Conard 1935)
< Cinnamon Fern / Cranberry Bog (NatureServe 2011b)
= Coastal Interdunal Swale Community (Lundgren et al. 2002)
< Cinnamon Fern / Cranberry Bog (NatureServe 2011b)
= Coastal Interdunal Swale Community (Lundgren et al. 2002)
- Conard, H. S. 1935. The plant associations of central Long Island. The American Midland Naturalist 16:433-516.
- 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., B. Hammond, J. Stone, and L. Sneddon. 2002. Vegetation classification and mapping of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, including the Islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget. Final Report. The Nature Conservancy, Eastern Conservation Science, Boston, MA.
- 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.