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A4105 Carex spp. - Calamagrostis canadensis Midwest Wet Meadow Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This herbaceous wetland alliance is found in the central midwestern United States and adjacent Canada where Carex spp. (especially Carex aquatilis, Carex lacustris, Carex pellita, Carex stricta) and Calamagrostis canadensis dominate sites that are flooded or saturated for much or all of the growing season.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sedge species - Canada Bluejoint Midwest Wet Meadow Alliance
Colloquial Name: Midwest Sedge - Bluejoint Wet Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This herbaceous wetland is found in the midwestern United States and adjacent southern Canada. Medium to tall (0.5-1.5 m) graminoids comprise most of the vegetation. Herbaceous cover is usually moderate to dense, unless recent severe disturbance has reduced it. Stands are dominated by Calamagrostis canadensis and tall Carex spp., especially Carex aquatilis, Carex lacustris, Carex pellita, Carex stricta, and, in the southern part of the alliance''s range, Carex cristatella, Carex stipata, and Carex vulpinoidea. Some sites are very strongly dominated by one or a few species. Others have a more diverse composition, including other graminoids such as Agrostis gigantea, Carex rostrata, Glyceria grandis, Poa compressa, Poa palustris, Scirpus cyperinus, and Typha latifolia and forbs such as Asclepias incarnata, Apocynum cannabinum, Campanula aparinoides, Comarum palustre, Epilobium leptophyllum, Eutrochium maculatum, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Impatiens capensis, Iris versicolor, Polygonum amphibium, and Symphyotrichum lanceolatum. Phalaris arundinacea is a common invasive species in this alliance and can come to dominate stands. Shrubs and trees have less than 25% cover. Alnus spp., Cornus racemosa, Salix spp., and Spiraea alba are among the most common. Soils of this alliance are often fine-textured but can be coarse-textured if there is a subsurface layer or source of water to keep the site flooded or saturated for most of the growing season. Organic matter tends to build up in the soils.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by dominance by Calamagrostis canadensis and tall Carex spp., especially Carex aquatilis, Carex lacustris, Carex pellita, Carex stricta and, in the southern part of the alliance''s range, Carex cristatella, Carex stipata, and Carex vulpinoidea.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance contains most of the Carex spp.- and Calamagrostis canadensis-dominated associations in the tallgrass prairie and southern parts of the Great Lakes region, i.e., south of the tension zone in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan (Curtis 1959). Sedge meadows north of the tension zone are treated in ~Appalachian-Northeast Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group (G903)$$ or ~Laurentian-Acadian Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group (G904)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Medium to tall (0.5-1.5 m) graminoids comprise most of the vegetation. Herbaceous cover is usually moderate to dense, unless recent severe disturbance has reduced it. Shrubs and trees can be present but shrubs have <25% cover and trees <10% cover.
Floristics: Stands are dominated by Calamagrostis canadensis and tall Carex spp., especially Carex aquatilis, Carex lacustris, Carex pellita, Carex stricta, and, in the southern part of the alliance''s range, Carex cristatella, Carex stipata, and Carex vulpinoidea. Some sites are very strongly dominated by one or a few species. Others have a more diverse composition, including other graminoids such as Agrostis gigantea, Carex rostrata, Glyceria grandis, Poa compressa, Poa palustris, Scirpus cyperinus, and Typha latifolia and forbs such as Asclepias incarnata, Apocynum cannabinum, Campanula aparinoides, Comarum palustre, Epilobium leptophyllum, Eutrochium maculatum (= Eupatorium maculatum), Eupatorium perfoliatum, Impatiens capensis, Iris versicolor, Polygonum amphibium, and Symphyotrichum lanceolatum. Phalaris arundinacea is a common invasive species in this alliance and can come to dominate stands. Alnus spp., Cornus racemosa, Salix spp., and Spiraea alba are among the most common.
Dynamics: Dominant species in this alliance can tolerate moderate (several months) of flooding and drying, but prolonged, deep flooding or prolonged drying favor other species. Fire could spread into this type from adjacent uplands, especially in the late summer or early fall when the site may be relatively dry.
Environmental Description: Soils of this alliance are often fine-textured but can be coarse-textured if there is a subsurface layer or source of water to keep the site flooded or saturated for most of the growing season. Organic matter tends to build up in the soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the midwestern United States and adjacent southern Canada.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: IA, IL, IN, MB, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, ON, SD, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.926862
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: This alliance contains associations dominated by Carex spp. and Calamagrostis canadensis in the central and upper Midwest. It has one association each from former alliances A.1367, A.1397, A.1400, A.1404, and A.1414.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- 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.