Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Bell''s Honeysuckle, Morrow''s Honeysuckle, Tatarian Honeysuckle) - Smooth Sumac - Common Prickly-ash Ruderal Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Midwest Old-field Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is currently only described from Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Minnesota. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available. This association has a tall- to short-shrub layer (1-5 m tall) with at least 25% cover but this can range to nearly 100%. Tree cover is sparse (<25%) and herbaceous cover can be variable but tends to be dense (avg. 70%). The most abundant shrubs are exotic or weedy native species, particularly Lonicera x bella, Lonicera japonica, Lonicera tatarica, Rhus glabra, Rhus typhina, and Zanthoxylum americanum. Rubus spp. and Ribes spp. can be common low shrubs. These can occur in varying proportions from relatively even mixes to nearly monospecific stands. The herbaceous stratum mirrors the ruderal nature of the shrub layer and is usually dominated by grasses. Bromus inermis and Poa pratensis are often dominant though native grasses can be present or common. Achillea millefolium, Ageratina altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Asclepias syriaca, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos, Conyza canadensis, Monarda fistulosa, Solidago canadensis, and Solidago gigantea are typical components of the forb cover. This association occurs on a variety of landforms, slopes, and soil types. The common factor to all sites is a history of significant anthropogenic disturbance, often including planting of exotic species. Sites are found on flat to steep slopes and mostly on medium-textured soils but coarse or fine soils are possible. Sites range from wet-mesic to dry-mesic and are found on the floodplain, on valley slopes, and on flat uplands away from the floodplain. The ground cover is mostly litter (avg. 46%) with some bare sand (14%).

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association was identified based on information collected during the vegetation mapping project at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. It lacks characterization based on data from a larger region and thus lacks global information.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available