NJ Natural Heritage Program, NJDEP Division of Parks and Forestry, Office of Natural Lands Management, 22 S. Clinton Ave, Plaza Bldg 4, Fl. 4, PO Box 404 Trenton, NJ, 08625-0404
From Newton, head W on Rt. 622 (Newton Swartswood Rd.) to Paulinskill Lake. Turn left onto Ridge Rd. after crossing the bridge over the lake, and make first right onto Dove Island Rd. Follow to parking area on N side of road. Follow horseback riding trails to the ponds.
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(1) occurrence plot: sufficient for determining type occurrence
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Field Cover
61.5
%
Nonvascular Cover
5
%
Dominant Stratum
Herb
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Community Type: calcareous sinkhole pond
General Description: This open, forb-dominated vegetation is currently described from the Ridge and Valley Province of New Jersey. It occurs on the slopes of calcareous sinkhole ponds formed in dolomite with surficial deposits of glacial till, with soils comprised of silt loam, silty clay loam, or silty clay, overlaying clay or bedrock. The dominant species are Boltonia asteroides var. asteroides, Symphyotrichum racemosum (= Aster racemosus), and Mentha arvensis. Associates include Asclepias incarnata, Cyperus strigosus, Carex cryptolepis, Carex lurida, Carex typhina, Carex viridula, Cuphea viscosissima, Eleocharis palustris, Eragrostis frankii, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Iris versicolor, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum (= Panicum lanuginosum var. tennesseense), Panicum capillare, Panicum rigidulum var. pubescens (= Panicum longifolium), Polygonum amphibium, and Sium suave. The alga Chara sp. is a common associate, as are the bryophytes Hypnum lindbergii, Campylium stellatum, and Amblystegium serpens.
Site specific description: Terrace of a pond above a rock wall slope, bordered by a dense thicket of Cornus stolonifera and Platanus/Fraxinus border.
