Name:
Carex lurida - Carex leptalea - (Carex atlantica, Carex interior, Parnassia grandifolia) Saturated Herbaceous Alliance
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This alliance is found on calcareous seepage fens and related sites in the central and southeastern United States, including Arkansas and Missouri (Ozarks), Kentucky (Interior Low Plateau), Tennessee (Interior Low Plateau, Ridge and Valley), as well as Virginia and possibly North Carolina (Southern Blue Ridge). This mixed grass or sedge fen is a complex of zoned vegetation dominated by hydrophytic plants, particularly graminoids, although shrubs are often found scattered or in thickets. Trees are sometimes present but never common. Herbaceous cover is high except in areas of marly ooze. Abundant herbaceous species include Andropogon gerardii, Carex interior, Carex leptalea, Carex lurida, Impatiens capensis, Lysimachia quadriflora, Rhynchospora capillacea, Oxypolis rigidior, Silphium terebinthinaceum (in prairie-like fens), and Thelypteris palustris. Shrubs include Alnus serrulata, Cornus amomum, Physocarpus opulifolius, Salix caroliniana, and Salix humilis. Acer rubrum is typical where trees are present. In Missouri, several zones or types of vegetation are recognized: (1) tussocks, dominated by Carex interior and Carex leptalea; (2) drier areas or margins dominated by Andropogon gerardii, Rudbeckia fulgida var. umbrosa, and Parnassia grandifolia; and (3) marly ooze areas dominated by Carex leptalea, Rhynchospora capillacea, and Scleria verticillata. In addition to the ones mentioned above, other species present in most Missouri examples include Carex lurida, Carex leptalea, Castilleja coccinea, Lysimachia quadriflora, Oxypolis rigidior, Pedicularis lanceolata, Physostegia virginiana, Pycnanthemum virginianum, Clinopodium arkansanum (= Calamintha arkansana), and Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus). Characteristic species in Missouri examples include Menyanthes trifoliata and Pogonia ophioglossoides. Kentucky and middle Tennessee examples from the Interior Low Plateau contain Carex atlantica ssp. atlantica and Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea (instead of Carex interior), Carex lurida, Carex leptalea ssp. harperi, Parnassia grandifolia, Juncus brachycephalus, Rudbeckia fulgida (var. umbrosa in Tennessee occurrences, Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa in the Kentucky occurrence), Cardamine bulbosa, Impatiens capensis, Juncus coriaceus, Juncus effusus, Lobelia puberula, Lobelia cardinalis, Oxypolis rigidior, Phlox glaberrima, Rhynchospora capitellata, Scirpus atrovirens, Scirpus cyperinus, Solidago patula var. patula, and Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens. An adjoining shrub zone is usually present, and woody species may invade the fen, including Alnus serrulata, Salix humilis, Salix caroliniana, Cornus amomum, and Acer rubrum. Some of these middle Tennessee examples provide habitat for Xyris tennesseensis. Southern Blue Ridge examples are graminoid-dominated but also contain conspicuous forbs and mat-forming species. Dominant or characteristic species include Carex leptalea, Packera aurea, Rhynchospora alba, Parnassia grandifolia, Houstonia serpyllifolia, and Drosera rotundifolia. Woody species may include Physocarpus opulifolius and Alnus serrulata. They are associated with ultramafic geology, influenced by magnesium-rich seepage and are found in open areas of gravel and muck associated with stream or spring heads.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.19023.CAREXLURIDACARE
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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