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A3922 Brasenia schreberi Aquatic Vegetation Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes aquatic floating vegetation where Brasenia schreberi is the dominant plant species; it occurs in natural ponds and impoundments. Stands occur in Pacific northwestern U.S. and western Canada.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Watershield Aquatic Vegetation Alliance
Colloquial Name: Western Watershield Aquatic Vegetation
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This aquatic floating alliance has Brasenia schreberi as the dominant plant species. Other floating aquatics present include Nelumbo lutea, Nymphaea odorata, and Utricularia spp., along with submersed aquatics such as Cabomba caroliniana and Ceratophyllum demersum. Other emergent species may include Leersia oryzoides, Lemna valdiviana, Juncus effusus, Nymphaea odorata, Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Stuckenia pectinata. It occurs in natural ponds and impoundments, including shallow ponds, ditches, beaver ponds, lake margins, and slow-moving streams.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Ponds, beaver ponds, and lake margins dominated by Brasenia schreberi.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Additional information is needed on the full range and variability of expression of this vegetation.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Brasenia schreberi is typically the single dominant floating or emergent species. Submersed aquatics may be common and include Nymphaea odorata and Utricularia spp. Other species may include Leersia oryzoides, Lemna valdiviana, Juncus effusus, Nymphaea odorata, Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Stuckenia pectinata (= Potamogeton pectinatus).
Dynamics: Brasenia schreberi is a perennial floating plant. Plants emerge in spring and may propagate through rhizomes, seeds or winter buds. Oval leaves (4-12 cm long and 3-8 cm wide) float on the water surface. Elongated purple petioles attach to the center of the leaves. A thick coating of gelatinous slime covers the young stems, buds, and the undersides of young leaves. Flowers are purplish and bloom in mid summer. Narrowly egg-shaped fruits ripen underwater and decay to release seeds. The rhizomes and leaves are used for food and medicinal purposes by Native Americans (Anonymous 2007). The plant may be strongly competitive with other macrophytes through its allelopathic properties (Frodge et al. 1990, Ding et al. 2007).
Environmental Description: This alliance consists of natural ponds and impoundments, including shallow ponds, ditches, beaver ponds, lake margins, and slow-moving streams dominated by Brasenia schreberi.
Geographic Range: Northwestern U.S. and western Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: BC, CA, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899973
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 5 Aquatic Vegetation Class | C05 | 5 |
| Subclass | 5.B Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Subclass | S13 | 5.B |
| Formation | 5.B.2 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Formation | F057 | 5.B.2 |
| Division | 5.B.2.Na North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Division | D049 | 5.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 5.B.2.Na.2 Rocky Mountain Pond-lily - Pacific Mosquito Fern - Western Waterweed Western North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Macrogroup | M109 | 5.B.2.Na.2 |
| Group | 5.B.2.Na.2.a Pond-lily species - Pondweed species - Duckweed species Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Group | G544 | 5.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A3922 Watershield Aquatic Vegetation Alliance | A3922 | 5.B.2.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL005200 Watershield Western Aquatic Vegetation | CEGL005200 | 5.B.2.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Anonymous. 2007. Floating leaved rooted plants: Brasenia schreberi Gmel., water-shield. Department of Ecology, State of Washington. [http://www.ecy.wa.gov/PROGRAMS/wq/plants/plantid2/descriptions/brasch.html] (accessed 12 February 2007).
- Ding, J. Q., Y. Wang, and X. Jin. 2007. Monitoring populations of Galerucella birmanica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Brasenia schreberi and Trapa natans (Lythraceae): Implications for biological control. Biological Control 43:71-77.
- 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.
- Frodge, J. D., G. L. Thomas, and G. B. Pauley. 1990. Effects of canopy formation by floating and submergent aquatic macrophytes on the water quality of two shallow Pacific Northwest lakes. Aquatic Botany 38(2):231-248.
- Wiersema, J. H., and R. R. Haynes. 1983. Aquatic and marsh plants of Alabama. III. Magnoliidae. Castanea 48:99-108.