Name:
Alnus incana Swamp Shrubland
Reference:
Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description:
This alder swamp community type is widespread in the midwestern and northeastern United States and southern Canada. Stands occur on shores, edges of beaver meadows in stream floodplains, swales associated with small streams in peatlands or upland forests. Soils are well-decomposed peat, muck, or mineral soils. The hydrology is typically seasonally flooded, with most sites remaining saturated. The vegetation is dominated by tall shrubs, 2-8 m in height, with a moderately open to dense shrub canopy. There is an understory of shorter shrubs and herbaceous species. The density of the understory varies inversely with the tall-shrub canopy. The overstory is usually overwhelmingly dominated by Alnus incana, but where it is not as dominant, other shrubs, such as Cornus sericea, Rubus idaeus, Salix spp., Spiraea alba, Spiraea tomentosa, and Viburnum spp., can be found. The herbaceous layer contains species such as Symphyotrichum lanceolatum var. lanceolatum (= Aster simplex), Symphyotrichum puniceum (= Aster puniceus), Calamagrostis canadensis, Caltha palustris, Carex lacustris, Carex prairea, Carex trisperma, Doellingeria umbellata (= Aster umbellatus), Eupatorium maculatum, Impatiens capensis, Lycopus uniflorus, Onoclea sensibilis, Osmunda cinnamomea, Rubus pubescens, Scirpus atrovirens, Symplocarpus foetidus, Thelypteris palustris, Typha spp., and Viola spp. Mosses include Climacium dendroides and Sphagnum spp. Where the tall-shrub canopy is open, the graminoids can become dense. Scattered trees are found in many stands, including Acer rubrum, Fraxinus nigra, and Thuja occidentalis.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.26900.ALNUSINCANASWAM
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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