Name:
Cephalanthus occidentalis / Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. moscheutos Depression Pond Shrubland
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This buttonbush sinkhole pond type occurs in the south-central United States. This shrubland occupies the central portions of small shallow water depressions which have little or no arborescent overstory; adjacent trees are commonly <i>Quercus phellos</i> and <i>Liquidambar styraciflua</i>. <i>Cephalanthus occidentalis</i> and <i>Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. moscheutos</i> comprise the shrub stratum in water less than 1 m deep. Other woody species commonly encountered along drier margins of Tennessee examples include <i>Cornus amomum, Cornus foemina, Cornus racemosa, Nyssa biflora, Vaccinium fuscatum, Acer rubrum, Carpinus caroliniana, Oxydendrum arboreum, Itea virginica, Smilax rotundifolia</i>, and <i>Salix humilis</i>. Sedges and grasses are the dominant herbaceous species present and may include <i>Juncus repens, Rhynchospora corniculata, Carex gigantea, Carex intumescens, Leersia hexandra, Saccharum baldwinii, Glyceria septentrionalis, Panicum hemitomon</i>, and <i>Dulichium arundinaceum</i>. The last two species may develop into separate associations forming a mosaic within the small open depressions. Other herbs which may occur include <i>Polygonum hydropiperoides, Polygonum amphibium, Proserpinaca pectinata, Triadenum walteri</i>, and <i>Ludwigia</i> spp. In Missouri, species include <i>Bidens discoidea, Carex alata, Carex comosa, Decodon verticillatus, Galium tinctorium, Glyceria acutiflora, Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. lasiocarpos, Triadenum walteri (= Hypericum walteri)</i>, and <i>Hottonia inflata</i>. State-rare species that may be found in Tennessee examples of this community include <i>Ludwigia sphaerocarpa, Carex barrattii, Panicum hemitomon</i>, and <i>Dichanthelium dichotomum var. ensifolium (= Dichanthelium ensifolium)</i>. Inundation is usually continuous throughout the year, but these sites can become dry in mid or late summer or during periods of prolonged drought. Soils are silt loams, which are poorly drained soils derived from a thin layer of loess-like silt overlying cherty limestone residuum. They are also underlain by fragipans which may occur as little as 30 cm below the surface or up to 1 m deep. This layer is rarely uniform in thickness, ranging from 15-75 cm thick, or development, ranging from weakly to strongly developed. These soils have variable chemistry, but can be very acidic and low in nutrients.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.36161.CEGL004742
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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