Name:
Prunus pumila var. depressa / Deschampsia caespitosa Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This association is characteristic of broad, exposed cobble beaches on near-boreal northeastern rivers. The vegetation is patchy and dominated by a mixture of grasses and forbs, with some low shrubs mixed in. Trees are absent, and shrubs are kept to a low height by the ice-scour usually associated with spring snowmelt along these rivers. Total vegetation cover is about 60-90% but is locally variable. The dominant and characteristic grass is <i>Deschampsia caespitosa</i>; associated grasses include <i>Spartina pectinata, Agrostis scabra</i>, and <i>Phalaris arundinacea</i>. Forb richness may be relatively high and include species more-or-less restricted (in the east) to these rivershore habitats such as <i>Astragalus alpinus var. brunetianus, Prenanthes racemosa, Tanacetum bipinnatum ssp. huronense, Gentianella amarella, Hedysarum alpinum, Symphyotrichum anticostense</i>, and <i>Oxytropis campestris var. johannensis</i>. More common associates include <i>Desmodium canadense, Solidago juncea, Campanula rotundifolia, Apocynum cannabinum, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii (= Aster novi-belgii), Iris versicolor</i>, and <i>Argentina anserina</i>, along with the exotic <i>Silene vulgaris (= Silene cucubalus)</i>. Associated shrubs, aside from the diagnostic and locally extensive <i>Prunus pumila var. depressa</i>, include <i>Toxicodendron rydbergii, Cornus sericea, Spiraea alba, Rosa blanda</i>, and <i>Salix</i> spp. This association is distinguished by its river-channel setting, cobble substrate, and prominence of <i>Prunus pumila var. depressa</i> and <i>Deschampsia caespitosa</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31057.CEGL006437
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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