Name:
Carex stricta - Carex vesicaria Wet Meadow
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
These tussock sedge meadows are distributed across the northeastern United States. They occur in seasonally flooded basins or on stream or lake margins. The substrate is peat or muck of variable depth overlying mineral soil. Standing water may be present only at the beginning of, or through much of, the growing season depending on the site and the year's precipitation; even when the water drops, the soils remain saturated. Microtopography is characterized by large tussocks, particularly when the hydroperiod is extended. The physiognomy is strongly herbaceous or, in some cases, herbs mixed with shrubs (up to 25% shrub cover); trees are absent. Bryophyte cover is usually sparse but may occasionally reach over 50%. <i>Carex stricta</i>, in its tussock form, is the usual dominant. <i>Carex vesicaria, Carex utriculata</i>, and <i>Calamagrostis canadensis</i> may also be locally abundant. Associated graminoids include <i>Carex atlantica, Carex canescens, Carex comosa, Carex folliculata, Carex scoparia, Carex stipata, Carex vulpinoidea, Glyceria canadensis, Dulichium arundinaceum, Juncus effusus, Leersia oryzoides</i>, and <i>Scirpus cyperinus</i>; forbs and ferns include <i>Asclepias incarnata, Thelypteris palustris, Eutrochium maculatum, Campanula aparinoides, Osmunda regalis, Comarum palustre, Lysimachia terrestris, Angelica atropurpurea, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Lycopus americanus, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Galium obtusum, Polygonum sagittatum, Galium tinctorium</i>, and others. <i>Lythrum salicaria</i> may be invasive in some settings. Shrub associates vary with geography. In the northern part of the range, <i>Alnus incana, Myrica gale, Ilex verticillata, Chamaedaphne calyculata</i>, and <i>Spiraea alba</i> are often present. Bryophytes, where present, include <i>Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Drepanocladus aduncus</i>, and others. This association is differentiated from other wet meadows by the strong dominance of <i>Carex stricta</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:35055-{35434FE1-0092-4599-8A13-61128FA8A3C3}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
31
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