Classification of Vegetation Communities of Maryland: First Iteration

III. SHRUBLAND
III.B.2.N.f. Semipermanently flooded cold-deciduous shrubland
III.B.2.N.f.3. DECODON VERTICILLATUS SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
Swamp-loosestrife Semipermanently Flooded Shrubland Alliance

Concept: Communities dominated by Decodon verticillatus are known from several New England states. These communities occur in association with the wettest portions of Sphagnum bog mats in southern New England, and on the shores of ponds and rivers. The status of these communities as an alliance remains in question. Further research is needed to determine the floristic relationship with similar vegetation. Communities of this alliance occur throughout the Eastern Region.

Comments: Formerly IV.B.3.g.ii.

Range: This alliance is found in West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Ontario, Canada.

States/Provinces: CT DE MA MD NH NY ON PA WV

TNC Ecoregions: 58:C, 61:C, 62:C, 64:P

USFS Ecoregions: 212Fc:PPP, 221Ai:CCC, 221Al:CCC, 221Bd:CPP, 232Ac:CCC, 232Bb:C??

Federal Lands: USFWS (Blackwater?)

Synonymy: Water-willow (Decodon verticillatus) shrub wetland (Fike 1999)

References: Fike 1999

Authors: ECS, East Identifier: A.1013

Concept: Shrub border that occurs as a fringe along aquatic edges of lakes, streams and bog mats in Lower New England and elsewhere. Decodon verticillatus forms a dense, often monotypic, tangle. Cephalanthus occidentalis can occur, but with less abundance than Decodon verticillatus. Herbaceous species vary widely, but may include Nuphar lutea ssp. variegata (= Nuphar variegata), Nymphaea odorata, Peltandra virginica, Pontederia cordata, Utricularia spp., and Potamogeton spp. Where this vegetation occurs adjacent to bog mats, Chamaedaphne calyculata and Myrica gale can begin to occur, as well as Carex canescens, Lysimachia terrestris, and Triadenum virginicum, plus Sphagnum recurvum, Sphagnum flexuosum, Sphagnum fimbriatum, and occasionally Sphagnum papillosum.

Comments: This vegetation is often considered a zone within other community types.

States/Provinces: CT:S?, DE:S?, MA:S5,S3, MD:S?, NH:S3, NY:S5, ON:S?, PA:S?, WV:S?

TNC Ecoregions: 58:?, 61:C, 62:C

USFS Ecoregions: 221Ai:CCC, 221Al:CCC, 232Ac:CCC

References: Bowman 2000, Edinger et al. 2002, Fike 1999, Metzler and Barrett 2001, Swain and Kearsley 2001

Authors: S.L. Neid, ECS Confidence: 3 Identifier: CEGL005089

- Maryland Vegetation Classification Subset Report III. Shrubland

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