Print Report
A3670 Cephalanthus occidentalis - Decodon verticillatus Shrub Swamp Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This buttonbush swamp shrubland occurs in wetlands throughout glaciated regions of the midwestern and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Cephalanthus occidentalis or Decodon verticillatus typically comprises nearly 90% of the shrub layer in waters 1-2 m deep.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Buttonbush - Swamp-loosestrife Shrub Swamp Alliance
Colloquial Name: Appalachian-Northeast Buttonbush - Swamp-loosestrife Shrub Swamp
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: The alliance is wide-ranging, throughout glaciated regions of the midwestern and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. The vegetation is characterized by Cephalanthus occidentalis or Decodon verticillatus and occurs in depressions, oxbow ponds, and backwater sloughs of stream and river floodplains in waters 1-2 m deep. Occasional shrub associates include any number of Salix spp. or Cornus spp., as well as Ilex verticillata, Rosa palustris, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Viburnum dentatum. Floating aquatics, such as Lemna spp., can be common in deepwater habitats, whereas a variety of forbs and graminoids are associates under less flooded conditions. These include Bidens tripartita, Boehmeria cylindrica, Glyceria spp., Leersia oryzoides, Polygonum spp., Scutellaria lateriflora, Sium suave, and a wide variety of Carex spp. Inundation is usually continuous throughout the year, but these sites can become dry in mid or late summer or during periods of prolonged drought.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominance by either Cephalanthus occidentalis or Decodon verticillatus, in semipermanently flooded settings with water up to 2 m deep.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Review is needed to see if both Cephalanthus occidentalis and Decodon verticillatus stands share enough in common to be treated within the same alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands vary from dense tall-shrub thickets to open shrublands. Tree canopy may reach 10% in some stands.
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by Cephalanthus occidentalis or Decodon verticillatus as dominants. Occasional shrub associates include any number of Salix spp. or Cornus spp., as well as Ilex verticillata, Rosa palustris, Vaccinium corymbosum, and Viburnum dentatum. Floating aquatics, such as Lemna spp., can be common in deepwater habitats, whereas a variety of forbs and graminoids are associates under less flooded conditions. These include Bidens tripartita, Boehmeria cylindrica, Glyceria spp., Leersia oryzoides, Polygonum spp., Scutellaria lateriflora, Sium suave, and a wide variety of Carex spp. (Anderson 1982, Tyrrell 1987, Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1989).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This shrubland occupies shallow water depressions, oxbow ponds, sinkhole ponds, and backwater sloughs of stream and river floodplains throughout swampy forested areas. Inundation is usually continuous throughout the year, but these sites can become dry in mid or late summer or during periods of prolonged drought (Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1989). Cephalanthus appears to be very tolerant of extended periods of inundation which, by slowing canopy closure of trees and maintaining higher light levels, may favor this shrub (Conner et al. 1981). Soils can vary in texture from clays to sands, with organic horizons overlying these soils.
Geographic Range: The alliance is wide-ranging and is found throughout glaciated regions of the midwestern and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, ON, PA, QC, RI, VA, VT, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899722
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: I expanded on A3670 written by Jim Drake in G125.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Anderson, D. M. 1982. Plant communities of Ohio: A preliminary classification and description. Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus, OH. 182 pp.
- Conner, W. H., J. G. Gosselink, and R. T. Parrondo. 1981. Comparison of the vegetation of three Louisiana swamp sites with different flooding regimes. American Journal of Botany 68:320-331.
- 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.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., and P. F. Maycock. 1989. Community patterns and environmental gradients of buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis, ponds in lowland forests of southern Ontario. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 103(4):479-485.
- 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.
- Tyrrell, L. E. 1987. A floristic survey of buttonbush swamps in Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve, Franklin County, Ohio. The Michigan Botanist 26(1):29-36.