Name:
Alnus incana Shrub Swamp
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alder swamp community is widespread in the midwestern and northeastern United States and southern Canada. Stands occur on shores, edges of beaver meadows in stream floodplains, swales associated with small streams in peatlands, or upland forests. Soils are well-decomposed peat, muck or mineral soils. The hydrology is typically seasonally flooded, with most sites remaining saturated. The vegetation is dominated by tall shrubs, 2-8 m in height, with a moderately open to dense shrub canopy. There is an understory of shorter shrubs and herbaceous species. The density of the understory varies inversely with the tall-shrub canopy. The overstory is usually overwhelmingly dominated by <i>Alnus incana</i>, but in the more southeastern portions of this type's range, <i>Alnus serrulata</i> can occur with <i>Alnus incana</i>. Where alder is not as dominant, other shrubs, such as <i>Cornus sericea, Ilex verticillata, Rubus idaeus, Salix</i> spp., <i>Spiraea alba, Spiraea tomentosa</i>, and <i>Viburnum</i> spp., can be found. At the southern range limit of this type in West Virginia, shrub layers may by be dominated or codominated by the Central Appalachian endemic <i>Ilex collina</i>. The herbaceous layer contains species such as <i>Symphyotrichum lanceolatum var. lanceolatum, Symphyotrichum puniceum, Calamagrostis canadensis, Caltha palustris, Carex lacustris, Carex prairea, Carex trisperma, Doellingeria umbellata, Eutrochium maculatum, Glyceria melicaria, Glyceria striata, Impatiens capensis, Lycopus uniflorus, Onoclea sensibilis, Osmunda cinnamomea, Rubus pubescens, Scirpus atrovirens, Symplocarpus foetidus, Thelypteris palustris, Typha</i> spp., and <i>Viola</i> spp. Mosses include <i>Climacium dendroides</i> and <i>Sphagnum</i> spp. Where the tall-shrub canopy is open, graminoids can become dense. Scattered trees are found in many stands, including <i>Acer rubrum, Fraxinus nigra</i>, and <i>Thuja occidentalis</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31289-{26EE9F96-4ABF-4A7E-8B4A-E3AE1C552B66}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
60
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