Print Report

A4066 Potamogeton spp. - Ceratophyllum spp. - Elodea spp. Aquatic Vegetation Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This submergent marsh alliance is widespread in the eastern United States and adjacent Canada where a variety of submergent species, typically including Ceratophyllum spp., Elodea spp., Potamogeton spp., and Utricularia macrorhiza, can be dominant.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pondweed species - Hornwort species - Waterweed species Aquatic Vegetation Alliance

Colloquial Name: Pondweed - Hornwort - Waterweed Aquatic Vegetation

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance is widespread in the eastern United States and adjacent Canada from the western tallgrass prairies to the Atlantic Coast. Submergent vegetation dominates. Typical dominants are Potamogeton spp., including Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton zosteriformis, and Potamogeton richardsonii; Ceratophyllum spp., including Ceratophyllum demersum; Elodea spp., including Elodea canadensis; and Myriophyllum spp., including Myriophyllum verticillatum. Other associated species include emergents such as Zizania palustris, Utricularia macrorhiza, Nuphar spp., Ranunculus longirostris, Chara spp., Lemna spp., Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Vallisneria americana. This common alliance is found in permanently flooded wetlands with water usually less than 2 m deep.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Permanently flooded wetlands in the eastern United States and Canada dominated by submergent vegetation, particularly Potamogeton spp., Ceratophyllum spp., and Elodea spp. Emergent vegetation is <25% cover.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: There are alliances with similar dominants in the Great Plains. Differential species for these alliances are not well-documented.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is dominated by submergent herbaceous species. Vegetation cover can be open to dense (>25%). Emergent species have <25% cover.

Floristics: The vegetation of this alliance is generally found in open water less than 2 m deep with emergent cover or floating-leaved aquatics up to 25% cover, and submerged aquatics at least 25%. Individual stands may be dominated by a single species, leading to any number of dominance types, and until the patterns are better understood, these are all grouped together in one alliance. In northern parts of the range, stands may be dominated by Potamogeton spp., including Potamogeton natans, Stuckenia pectinata (= Potamogeton pectinatus), Potamogeton zosteriformis, and Potamogeton richardsonii; Ceratophyllum spp., including Ceratophyllum demersum; Elodea spp., including Elodea canadensis; and Utricularia macrorhiza. Other associated species include emergents such as Zizania palustris, Utricularia macrorhiza, Nuphar spp., Ranunculus longirostris, Chara spp., Lemna spp., Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Vallisneria americana (Curtis 1959, Harris et al. 1996).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands are often found in sheltered bays of lakes and streams. Curtis (1959) suggests that water hardness may play an important role in species patterns within this group.
Geographic Range: This alliance is widespread in the eastern United States and adjacent Canada from the western tallgrass prairies to the Atlantic Coast.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AL, GA, IA, IL, IN, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, ND, NH?, NJ, NU, NY, OH, ON, PA, QC, 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 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 A4066 Pondweed species - Hornwort species - Waterweed species Aquatic Vegetation Alliance A4066 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL002282 Pondweed species - Hornwort species Midwest Aquatic Vegetation CEGL002282 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004661 Coon''s-tail - Common Bladderwort - American White Water-lily Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004661 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL004725 Pondweed species - Hornwort species - Waterweed species Aquatic Vegetation CEGL004725 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL005152 Flatstem Pondweed - Coon''s-tail - Canadian Waterweed Southern Great Lakes Shore Aquatic Vegetation CEGL005152 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL005273 Variableleaf Pondweed - Floating Pondweed Northern Great Lakes Shore Aquatic Vegetation CEGL005273 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL006340 Pondweed species - Coon''s-tail - Water Pygmyweed Aquatic Vegetation CEGL006340 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL006431 Canadian Waterweed - Pondweed species Eastern Aquatic Vegetation CEGL006431 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Association CEGL006770 Stonewort species / Pondweed species Nonvascular Aquatic Vegetation CEGL006770 5.B.2.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: This alliance contains six associations from old A.1754 and one from old A.1767.

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
  • Curtis, J. T. 1959. The vegetation of Wisconsin: An ordination of plant communities. Reprinted in 1987. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 657 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.
  • 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.