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A3669 Peltandra virginica - Pontederia cordata - Sagittaria spp. Marsh Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes very wet or partially submerged forb vegetation the northeastern and midwestern United States and adjacent Canada. Dominants vary greatly and may include Peltandra virginica, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Carex emoryi, Impatiens capensis, Pontederia cordata, Bidens cernua, and Verbena hastata.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Green Arrow-arum - Pickerelweed - Arrowhead species Marsh Alliance

Colloquial Name: North-Central & Northeast Forb Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes very wet or partially submerged forb vegetation in the northeastern and midwestern United States and adjacent Canada. Dominants vary depending on water levels, recent disturbances, etc. A wide variety of forbs can dominate, including Peltandra virginica, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Carex emoryi, Impatiens capensis, Pontederia cordata, Bidens cernua, and Verbena hastata. Typical associates include Nuphar ssp., Glyceria striata, Polygonum sagittatum, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Schoenoplectus americanus, and Sagittaria latifolia. Stands occur on the banks of rivers and lakes and sometimes of artificial ponds and impoundments.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance has a variety of dominant species, though all are low forbs in partially submerged rivershores and lakeshores. Common dominants include Peltandra virginica, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Carex emoryi, Impatiens capensis, Pontederia cordata, Bidens cernua, and Verbena hastata.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is highly variable and includes vegetation of the low zone of freshwater tidal marshes as well as the margins of inland lakes, rivers, and marshes. Dominants in individual stands vary greatly and the treatment of these dynamic shoreline wetlands should be considered across this alliance as well as similar ones in ~Eastern North American Wet Shoreline Vegetation Group (G756)$$ and possibly ~Appalachian-Northeast Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group (G903)$$ and ~Laurentian-Acadian Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group (G904)$$. This alliance should be compared to ~Polygonum spp. Shoreline Wet Meadow Alliance (A1881)$$, in particular. Some associations in these two alliances may be better moved between them.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is dominated by low forbs (generally <1 m tall). Graminoids and shrubs can occur but are uncommon.

Floristics: Dominants in this alliance vary depending on water levels, recent disturbances, etc. A wide variety of forbs can dominate, including Peltandra virginica, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Carex emoryi, Impatiens capensis, Pontederia cordata, Bidens cernua, and Verbena hastata. Typical associates include Nuphar ssp., Glyceria striata, Polygonum sagittatum, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus validus), Schoenoplectus americanus (= Scirpus americanus), and Sagittaria latifolia.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This alliance includes very wet or partially submerged forb vegetation of rivershores and lakeshores, and sometimes of artificial ponds and impoundments.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the northeastern and midwestern United States from Virginia north to New York and Maine and west to Minnesota, Iowa, and possibly into the Great Plains. It also occurs in southern Quebec.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AL?, AR, CT, DE, IA, IL, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH?, ON, PA, QC, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, 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.a Bulrush species - Cattail species Freshwater Marsh Group G125 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Alliance A3669 Green Arrow-arum - Pickerelweed - Arrowhead species Marsh Alliance A3669 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL004291 Pickerelweed - Green Arrow-arum Marsh CEGL004291 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL004986 Pickerelweed - Grassy Arrowhead - Broadleaf Arrowhead Marsh CEGL004986 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL005240 Broadleaf Arrowhead - Rice Cutgrass Marsh CEGL005240 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL006191 Pickerelweed - Green Arrow-arum - Broadleaf Arrowhead Marsh CEGL006191 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL006446 Nodding Beggarticks - Swamp Verbena - Smartweed species Marsh CEGL006446 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL007696 Green Arrow-arum - Lizard''s-tail - Small-spike False Nettle / American Tree Moss Marsh CEGL007696 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Concept Lineage: This alliance has five associations from old A.1669, one from each of A.3541, A.1675, and A.1754, and one that did not have an old alliance.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

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

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.
  • Fike, J. 1999. Terrestrial and palustrine plant communities of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forestry, Harrisburg, PA. 86 pp.
  • Smith, T. L. 1991. Natural ecological communities of Pennsylvania. First revision. Unpublished report. Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy, Middletown, PA. 111 pp.
  • Sneddon, L., M. Anderson, and K. Metzler. 1996. Community alliances and elements of the Eastern Region. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Eastern Heritage Task Force, Boston, MA. 235 pp.