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A3827 Andropogon gerardii - Spartina pectinata - Apocynum cannabinum Riverscour Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance comprises riverwash vegetation of northern New England and the Upper Midwest occurring on bedrock ledges, or sandy or cobble beaches receiving alluvial flooding and ice-scour. Physiognomy and species composition are variable but include Spartina pectinata and Apocynum cannabinum.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Andropogon gerardii - Spartina pectinata - Apocynum cannabinum Riverscour Alliance

Colloquial Name: Northeast Rivershore Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance comprises riverwash vegetation of northern New England and the Upper Midwest occurring on bedrock ledges, or sandy or cobble beaches receiving alluvial flooding and ice-scour. Physiognomy and species composition are variable but include Spartina pectinata and Apocynum cannabinum. Other characteristic species include Prunus pumila, Desmodium canadense, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, Iris versicolor, and Argentina anserina. Other shrub species sometimes present include Spiraea alba, Cornus sericea, and Rosa blanda.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Northern riverwash, patchy and usually treeless, occurring on bedrock ledges or cobble beaches. Spartina pectinata and Apocynum cannabinum are characteristic.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Further analysis is required to differentiate this alliance from ~Andropogon gerardii - Anemone virginiana var. alba Riverscour Alliance (A3826)$$. The current description is based on Gawler and Cutko (2010).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This vegetation is variable in cover, but is generally dominated by graminoids, with occasional and scattered low shrubs.

Floristics: Characteristic species include Prunus pumila, Spartina pectinata, Desmodium canadense, Apocynum cannabinum, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, Iris versicolor, and Argentina anserina. Other shrub species sometimes present include Spiraea alba, Cornus sericea, and Rosa blanda.

Dynamics:  It occurs close to the active river channel and is exposed to flood-scour.
Environmental Description:  This vegetation occurs on cobble river beaches, and on riparian sandy and bedrock substrates as well.
Geographic Range: This alliance ranges from northern New England and New York to Quebec, and southern Ontario.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  ME, MI, NH, NY, ON, QC, VT, WI


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.4 Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation Macrogroup M881 2.C.4.Nd.4
Group 2.C.4.Nd.4.d Gray Alder / <i>Spartina pectinata - Deschampsia cespitosa</i> Floodplain Vegetation G925 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Alliance A3827 <i>Andropogon gerardii - Spartina pectinata - Apocynum cannabinum</i> Riverscour Alliance A3827 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Association CEGL006232 Woolly Beach-heather - Silvery Nailwort Riverscour Dwarf-shrubland CEGL006232 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Association CEGL006427 Bluejoint - Parasol Whitetop - Prairie Cordgrass Riverscour Wet Meadow CEGL006427 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Association CEGL006437 Eastern Sandcherry / Tufted Hairgrass Riverscour Wet Meadow CEGL006437 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Association CEGL006518 Sandcherry / Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Riverscour Wet Meadow CEGL006518 2.C.4.Nd.4.d
Concept Lineage: A.1355, A.1843

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Laurentian River Beach (Gawler and Cutko 2010)
Concept Author(s): S.C. Gawler and A. Cutko (2010)

Author of Description: L. Sneddon

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.
  • Gawler, S. C., and A. Cutko. 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: A classification of vegetated natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation, Augusta.