Name:
(Betula nigra, Ilex verticillata) / Andropogon gerardii - Solidago simplex var. racemosa Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Walton, D., and M. Anderson. 199...
Description:
This rivershore prairie occurs along the high-energy reaches of the Gauley, Tygart's Valley, Middle Fork, and Cheat rivers in West Virginia, and possibly elsewhere in the region. It occurs in small patches and linear zones subject to very frequent, high-energy flooding. The most well-developed occurrences are located along rapids created by constrictions in the river channel (bedrock outcrops, point bars, bends, islands, alluvial fans). Substrates are primarily sandstone bedrock and boulders. There is often an elevation range of a few meters within stands which creates wet and dry microsites and provides elevated rooting substrate. Bedrock and boulders also provide structure which protects vegetation from high-energy flows. Unvegetated ground cover in most plots is dominated by bedrock and large rocks, but a few areas have higher cover of small rocks and sand, and some have some standing water. The physiognomy is mixed shrub and herbaceous cover, with herbs dominating the general aspect; in places, it may include a few taller individuals of <i>Betula nigra</i> and <i>Platanus occidentalis</i> (0-30% cover, trees less than 10 m tall). Cover in the tall-shrub layer ranges from 0 to 30%, and cover in the short-shrub layer ranges from 0 to 60%. Common species in the shrub layers include <i>Betula nigra, Platanus occidentalis, Ilex verticillata, Cornus amomum, Physocarpus opulifolius var. opulifolius, Rhododendron arborescens, Hypericum prolificum, Alnus serrulata, Diospyros virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica, Xanthorhiza simplicissima, Rosa palustris, Cephalanthus occidentalis</i>, and <i>Salix caroliniana</i>. The federally listed threatened shrub <i>Spiraea virginiana</i> occurs in a few locations. Cover in the herb layer of plots ranges from 5 to 60%, and this stratum usually has the highest cover. Common herbs include <i>Andropogon gerardii, Solidago simplex var. racemosa, Packera paupercula, Eupatorium fistulosum, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Symphyotrichum laeve var. concinnum, Sorghastrum nutans, Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Euphorbia corollata, Clematis virginiana, Physostegia virginiana ssp. virginiana, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Viola pedata, Hypoxis hirsuta</i>, and <i>Lysimachia lanceolata</i>. Additional characteristic herbs include <i>Ionactis linariifolius, Linum virginianum, Zizia aptera, Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon var. isophyllum (= Dichanthelium polyanthes), Marshallia grandiflora, Liatris scariosa var. scariosa</i>, and <i>Baptisia tinctoria</i>. Vascular plant species richness in sampled plots ranges from 18 to 70 taxa (mean = 36.4). Nonvascular cover can be high, consisting mostly of bryophytes and lichens on rock
Accession Code:
VB.CC.37517.CEGL006623
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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