Name:
Carex prairea - Schoenoplectus pungens - Rhynchospora capillacea Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This community type is found primarily in the northern tallgrass prairie region of western Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and eastern Dakotas, where calcium-rich groundwater emerges as springs. These springs are commonly associated with porous bedrock or coarse-textured deposits such as beach or outwash. The water is cold, anoxic, and circumneutral. These conditions promote the accumulation of peat. The vegetation is dominated by graminoids, but may contain small shrubs. Many species are inhibited by the water conditions and thus the vegetation cover is moderate. The predominant vegetation is 25-35 cm tall while some species grow to 75-85 cm. The most abundant species are Calamagrostis stricta, Carex prairea, Carex sterilis, Eleocharis spp., Lobelia kalmii, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Parnassia glauca, Rhynchospora capillacea, Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), Spartina pectinata, and Triglochin maritima. Shrubs that occur with the herbaceous species include Betula pumila, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), and Salix spp. (Salix candida is highly characteristic; others include Salix X bebbii and Salix discolor). Prairie herb associates include Andropogon gerardii, Doellingeria umbellata (= Aster umbellatus), Cirsium muticum, Liatris ligulistylis, Lilium philadelphicum, Solidago nemoralis, Oligoneuron riddellii (= Solidago riddellii), Zigadenus elegans, and Zizia aurea.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.25082.CAREXPRAIREASCH
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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