Name:
Alnus serrulata - Kalmia carolina - Rhododendron catawbiense - Spiraea alba / Carex folliculata - Lilium grayi Shrubland
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This wetland community is dominated by shrubs, occurring over graminoids, forbs, and Sphagnum spp. It has a strong component of species of northern phytogeography occurring in combination with species endemic to the southern Appalachians, and in association with felsic gneisses or schists and acidic, nutrient-poor seepage. Shrub cover ranges from 25-100%, and trees may be scattered throughout or dominate in patches or on the edges. Ilex verticillata, Salix sericea, Spiraea alba, and Spiraea tomentosa are often dominant, occurring with Alnus serrulata, Rosa palustris, Photinia pyrifolia (= Aronia arbutifolia), Photinia melanocarpa (= Aronia melanocarpa), Rhododendron maximum, Rhododendron viscosum, Rhododendron catawbiense, Kalmia latifolia, Kalmia carolina, Hypericum densiflorum, Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina, and Menziesia pilosa. Typical tree species are Pinus strobus, Tsuga canadensis, Pinus rigida, and Picea rubens. Herbaceous cover may be sparse to dense and typically includes Carex atlantica, Carex intumescens, Carex folliculata, Schoenoplectus spp. (= Scirpus spp.), and Osmunda cinnamomea. Sphagnum spp. include Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum affine (= Sphagnum imbricatum), Sphagnum bartlettianum, Sphagnum recurvum, and, rarely, northern disjuncts such as Sphagnum fallax. Other characteristic species include Poa paludigena, Lilium grayi, Platanthera grandiflora, Melanthium virginicum, Stenanthium gramineum var. robustum, Arethusa bulbosa, Calopogon tuberosus, Chelone cuthbertii, Thelypteris simulata, Carex trisperma, Rhizomnium appalachianum, Polytrichum commune, Aulacomnium palustre, and Bazzania trilobata. This community can occur on flat areas in valley bottoms, on portions where wet conditions are maintained hydrologically by rainwater and a high water table rather than by flooding, or in the upper portions of stream watersheds, on slight slopes, hydrologically maintained by very nutrient-poor to fairly nutrient-rich seepage. This community occurs at elevations from 900-1250 m (3000-4200 feet) in the northern part of its range and, in the southern part of the range, at elevations from 1000-1800 m (3300-5800 feet).
Accession Code:
VB.CC.26680.ALNUSSERRULATAK
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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