Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

V. HERBACEOUS VEGETATION
V.C.2.N.a. Permanently flooded temperate or subpolar hydromorphic rooted vegetation
V.C.2.N.a.17. VALLISNERIA AMERICANA PERMANENTLY FLOODED TEMPERATE HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
Tape-grass Permanently Flooded Temperate Herbaceous Alliance

Concept: This alliance consists of aquatic vegetation in alluvial rivers and springs dominated by Vallisneria americana. The extent and distribution of this alliance is only partly understood. The habitat includes alluvial rivers, above or extending to the upper limit of tidal influence. Stands are dominated by submergent or emergent plants with only minor floating-leaved components. Stands in the northeastern United States may additionally contain Potamogeton perfoliatus, Potamogeton epihydrus, Utricularia spp., and Eriocaulon aquaticum. New River occurrences have Elodea canadensis, Potamogeton foliosus, and Potamogeton nodosus. Stands in Florida may have dominance or codominance by Sagittaria kurziana or Stuckenia pectinata (= Potamogeton pectinatus). In addition, Heteranthera dubia (= Zosterella dubia) may be locally abundant. Further study is needed to fully characterize the variability in this alliance.

Range: This alliance occurs in Iowa, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida; and in Canada in Ontario. It may occur in the Coastal Plain of Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. The species has a very broad range, extending from Nova Scotia to Minnesota and South Dakota south to Texas and east to Florida.

States/Provinces: AL? CT DE FL GA? IA KY MA MD ME MS? NC NH NJ NY ON PA RI SC? TN VA VT WV

TNC Ecoregions: 48:C, 50:C, 51:P, 52:C, 53:C, 55:C, 57:P, 59:C, 60:C, 61:C, 63:C

USFS Ecoregions: 212Cb:CCC, 212Fa:CCP, 212Fb:CCP, 212Fc:CCP, 212Ga:CCP, 221Bd:CCP, 221Hc:CCC, 231A:CC, 232Bf:CCC, 232Db:CCP, 232Dc:CCC, 251:P, M212:C, M221Aa:CCC, M221Ab:CCP, M221Ac:CCC, M221Ad:CC?, M221Ba:CPP, M221Bb:CP?, M221Bc:CP?, M221Bd:CP?, M221Be:CP?, M221Bf:CP?, M221Da:CP?, M221Db:CPP, M221Dc:CPP

Federal Lands: NPS (Acadia); USFS (Apalachicola, Daniel Boone, Jefferson?, Ocala)

Synonymy: Spring-run Stream, in part (FNAI 1990); Spring-run Stream, in part (FNAI 1992b); Tape-grass shallow shore (CAP pers. comm. 1998)

References: Allard 1990, CAP pers. comm. 1998, Campbell et al. 1990, FNAI 1990, FNAI 1992b, Faber-Langendoen et al. 1996, Schafale and Weakley 1990, Voss 1972, Wolfe 1990

Authors: M. PYNE, MP, East Identifier: A.1757

Concept: This aquatic vegetation of sheltered bays of the northeastern United States occurs on lakes and streams where it is not highly disturbed by wave action. The vegetation is dominated by submergent or emergent plants with only minor floating-leaved components. Characteristic species may include Vallisneria americana, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Potamogeton epihydrus, Potamogeton nodosus, Heteranthera dubia, Heteranthera reniformis, Myriophyllum spp., Elodea canadensis, Utricularia spp., and Eriocaulon aquaticum.

States/Provinces: CT:S?, DE:S4?, MA:S?, MD:S?, ME:S5, NH:S?, NJ:S4, NY:S?, PA:S?, RI:S?, VT:S?, WV:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 59:C, 60:C, 61:C, 63:C

USFS Ecoregions: 212Cb:CCC, 212Fa:CCP, 212Fb:CCP, 212Fc:CCP, 212Ga:CCP, 221Bd:CCP, 231:?, 232:P, M212:C, M221Aa:CCC, M221Ab:CC?, M221Ac:CCC, M221Ad:CC?, M221Ba:C??, M221Bb:C??, M221Bc:C??, M221Bd:C??, M221Be:C??, M221Bf:C??, M221Da:C??

Federal Lands: NPS (Acadia)

Synonymy: Tape-grass shallow shore (CAP pers. comm. 1998)

References: Breden et al. 2001, CAP pers. comm. 1998, Gawler 2002

Authors: ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL006196

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report V.C. Hydromorphic rooted vegetation

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