Name:
Carex prairea - Schoenoplectus pungens - Rhynchospora capillacea Fen
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This community type is found primarily in the northern tallgrass prairie region of western Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and eastern Dakotas, where calcium-rich groundwater emerges as springs. These springs are commonly associated with porous bedrock or coarse-textured deposits such as beach or outwash. The water is cold, anoxic, and circumneutral. These conditions promote the accumulation of peat. The vegetation is dominated by graminoids, but may contain small shrubs. Many species are inhibited by the water conditions and thus the vegetation cover is moderate. The predominant vegetation is 25-35 cm tall while some species grow to 75-85 cm. The most abundant species are <i>Calamagrostis stricta, Carex prairea, Carex sterilis, Eleocharis</i> spp., <i>Lobelia kalmii, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Parnassia glauca, Rhynchospora capillacea, Schoenoplectus pungens, Spartina pectinata</i>, and <i>Triglochin maritima</i>. Shrubs that occur with the herbaceous species include <i>Betula pumila, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda</i>, and <i>Salix</i> spp. (<i>Salix candida</i> is highly characteristic; others include <i>Salix x bebbii</i> and <i>Salix discolor</i>). Prairie herb associates include <i>Andropogon gerardii, Doellingeria umbellata, Cirsium muticum, Liatris ligulistylis, Lilium philadelphicum, Solidago nemoralis, Oligoneuron riddellii, Zigadenus elegans</i>, and <i>Zizia aurea</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31176-{2CDF2FB1-1083-4E2D-ACD3-4EFBFBBCC360}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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