Print Report

A4064 Nymphaea odorata - Nuphar spp. - Brasenia schreberi Aquatic Vegetation Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This submerged aquatic alliance, common throughout most of the eastern and central United States and adjacent Canadian provinces, is dominated by hydromorphic-rooted aquatic plants, typically Brasenia schreberi, Nuphar spp., Nymphaea odorata, and Nymphoides aquatica. It may occur in a variety of slow-moving waterbodies, including rivers, millponds, streams, shallow ponds or lakes, or on shores of deeper waterbodies including freshwater tidal areas.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American White Water-lily - Pond-lily species - Watershield Aquatic Vegetation Alliance

Colloquial Name: Water-lily - Pond-lily Aquatic Vegetation

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance, common throughout most of the eastern and central United States and adjacent Canadian provinces, contains vegetation which may occur in a variety of slow-moving waterbodies, including rivers, millponds, streams, shallow ponds or lakes, or on shores of deeper waterbodies including freshwater tidal areas. Stands are dominated by hydromorphic-rooted aquatic plants, typically Nuphar spp., with or without Nymphaea odorata and Nymphoides aquatica. Emergent vegetation is less than 25%, and typically plant species diversity is low. Other species present may include Utricularia spp., Potamogeton spp., and others. In the north, Brasenia schreberi may be locally dominant. Other characteristic northern species include Nymphaea tetragona and Potamogeton amplifolius. Associates found in the Midwest include Polygonum amphibium. Stands of this alliance are permanently to semipermanently flooded, and water depth is generally greater than 0.5 m and up to 2 m.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by permanently flooded, low water energy wetlands dominated by Nuphar spp., Nymphaea odorata, Brasenia schreberi, and Nymphoides aquatica.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance consists of communities dominated by floating, rooted aquatic forbs. Typically these forbs have broad, flat leaves attached to elongated stems, allowing them to float on the water surface. Cover of the water surface by these forbs is variable, from somewhat sparse to very dense.

Floristics: Stands are dominated by hydromorphic-rooted aquatic plants, typically Nuphar spp. (any of the North American taxa), with or without Nymphaea odorata. Emergent vegetation is less than 25%, and typically plant species diversity is low. Other species present may include Utricularia spp., Potamogeton spp., and others. In the north, Brasenia schreberi may be locally dominant. Other characteristic northern species include Nymphaea tetragona and Potamogeton amplifolius (Harris et al. 1996). Associates found in the Midwest include Polygonum amphibium. In the Southeast, examples may include the floating or emergent "pad-leaved" species Nelumbo lutea or Nymphoides aquatica. Submerged aquatic species which may be present include Cabomba caroliniana, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Heteranthera dubia.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This alliance contains vegetation which may occur in a variety of slow-moving waterbodies, including rivers, millponds, blackwater rivers, streams, shallow ponds or lakes, or on shores of deeper waterbodies including freshwater tidal areas. The water depth is generally greater than 0.5 m and up to 2 m. Stands of this alliance are permanently to semipermanently flooded.
Geographic Range: This alliance is widespread in the eastern United States and adjacent Canada.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, ON, PA, QC, RI, SC, TN, TX, 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 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.1 Hornwort species - Pond-lily species - Pondweed species Eastern North American Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Macrogroup M108 5.B.2.Na.1
Group 5.B.2.Na.1.a American White Water-lily - Sago Pondweed - Pondweed species Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation Group G114 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Alliance A4064 American White Water-lily - Pond-lily species - Watershield Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A4064 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002386 Broadleaf Pond-lily - American White Water-lily Aquatic Vegetation CEGL002386 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002562 American White Water-lily - (Yellow Pond-lily, Variegated Yellow Pond-lily) Aquatic Vegetation CEGL002562 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002563 Pygmy Water-lily - (Yellow Pond-lily, Variegated Yellow Pond-lily) Aquatic Vegetation CEGL002563 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004297 Narrowleaf Pond-lily - Seven-angle Pipewort Lakeshore Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004297 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004323 American Lotus Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004323 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004326 American White Water-lily - Broadleaf Pond-lily - (Big Floatingheart, Small''s Yellow-eyed-grass) Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004326 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004327 Okefenokee Pond-lily Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004327 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004328 Narrowleaf Pond-lily Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004328 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004329 Florida Pond-lily Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004329 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004527 Watershield Eastern Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004527 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004601 Big Floatingheart - American White Water-lily - Sticky Hedge-hyssop Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004601 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004621 Big Floatingheart Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004621 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL006086 American White Water-lily - Robbins'' Spikerush Aquatic Vegetation CEGL006086 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: This alliance has eight associations from old A.1984, three from A.1751, one from A.1742, and one without an old alliance.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? L5D2aI1a. Nuphar lutea (Foti et al. 1994)
>< Spring-run Stream (FNAI 1990)
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
  • FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1990. Guide to the natural communities of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory and Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee. 111 pp.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Foti, T., M. Blaney, X. Li, and K. G. Smith. 1994. A classification system for the natural vegetation of Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 48:50-53.
  • Harris, A. G., S. C. McMurray, P. W. C. Uhlig, J. K. Jeglum, R. F. Foster, and G. D. Racey. 1996. Field guide to the wetland ecosystem classification for northwestern Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northwest Science and Technology, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Field guide FG-01. 74 pp. plus appendix.
  • Heineke, T. E. 1987. The flora and plant communities of the middle Mississippi River Valley. Ph.D. dissertation, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. 653 pp.
  • Hoagland, B. W. 1998a. Classification of Oklahoma vegetation types. Working draft. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 43 pp.
  • Penfound, W. T. 1952. Southern swamps and marshes. Botanical Review 7:413-446.
  • Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 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.
  • Wharton, C. H. 1978. The natural environments of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. 227 pp.
  • Wolfe, S. H., editor. 1990. An ecological characterization of the Florida Springs Coast: Pithlachascotee to Waccasassa rivers. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(21). Slidell, LA. 323 pp.