Name:
Andropogon gerardii - Campanula rotundifolia - Solidago simplex Sparse Vegetation
Reference:
Eastern Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This riverside rock outcrop community of the northeastern U.S. occurs on open flood-scoured bedrock exposures of major rivers, typically along river narrows. Emergent seepage is absent. Typically a gradient from dry acidic conditions higher on the bank to moist, fairly enriched conditions lower down may exist at any one site. This community is prone to flooding in the upper regions and deposition in the topographically lower areas. It is also prone to severe drought periods that may stress or kill some vegetation. Within the community, the species are distributed patchily, probably due to microsite conditions. The variability in species composition has not been measured, but it shows substantial variation from site to site and from year to year. Vegetation is typically sparse and occurs in the cracks and crevices of the bedrock. Typical vegetation is a mixture of riparian species, xeric-loving crevice plants, and calciphiles. Characteristic species include <i>Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Campanula rotundifolia, Solidago simplex, Toxicodendron radicans, Ionactis linariifolius, Sisyrinchium montanum, Packera paupercula (= Senecio pauperculus)</i>, and <i>Prunus pumila</i>. Other associates include <i>Anemone virginiana var. alba (= Anemone virginiana var. riparia), Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, Carex crawei, Carex crawfordii, Potentilla arguta, Campanula rotundifolia, Arabis lyrata, Aquilegia canadensis, Cornus amomum, Euthamia graminifolia, Juncus debilis</i>, and <i>Eupatorium perfoliatum</i>, among others. <i>Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii</i> occurs in limited areas along the upper Connecticut River. These sites are susceptible to invasion by <i>Lythrum salicaria</i> and <i>Melilotus officinalis (= Melilotus alba)</i>. This association is more temperate than the related <i>~Campanula rotundifolia - Packera paupercula - (Aquilegia canadensis)</i> Sparse Vegetation (CEGL006532)$$, which occurs on near-boreal rivers and lacks prairie elements such as <i>Andropogon gerardii</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31067.CEGL006284
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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