Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe

Rich Peat Fens: Midwestern Prairie Rich Fens
Cornus amomum - Salix spp. - Toxicodendron vernix - Rhamnus lanceolata Fen Shrubland
Silky Dogwood - Willow Species - Poison-sumac - Lanceleaf Buckthorn Fen Shrubland
Dogwood - Willow - Poison Sumac Shrub Fen
CEGL005087
DESCRIPTION: The vegetation is dominated by tall shrubs 1-3 m in height, with a mixture of herbaceous species in
the ground layer. Tall shrubs include Cornus amomum, Cornus sericea, Toxicodendron vernix, Salix discolor, Salix
sericea, and Viburnum lentago. Vaccinium corymbosum may also be present. Herbaceous species include
Cypripedium reginae, Filipendula rubra, Solidago patula, and Woodwardia virginica. The prairie species component in
this tall-shrub fen is a diagnostic characteristic (White and Madany 1978, Anderson 1982, Homoya et al. 1985, Eric
Epstein pers. comm. 1999).
Stands are found on moraines, especially where gravels permit calcareous seepage, and occur both in lake basins
and stream valleys. Soils are organic with calcareous seepage causing saturated conditions (White and Madany
1978, Anderson 1982, Homoya et al. 1985).
COMMENTS: 2, MCS. This type is found in western Ohio prairie shrub fens, as well as northern Indiana and Illinois
tall-shrub circumneutral fens. It is the tall-shrub counterpart to the low-shrub/herb prairie fen, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp.
floribunda / Carex sterilis - Andropogon gerardii - Arnoglossum plantagineum Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation
(CEGL005139). This type is very similar to the more circumneutral shrub fen/bog, Cornus spp. - Salix spp. -
Vaccinium corymbosum - Rhamnus alnifolia - Toxicodendron vernix Shrubland (CEGL005083) and the two types
could probably be combined. It is also similar to Cornus sericea - Salix spp. - (Rosa palustris) Shrubland
(CEGL002186), but that type is a shrub swamp rather than fen. However, these tall shrub swamps are difficult to
distinguish in terms of fen versus swamp. This type is found in southern Wisconsin and southern Michigan. However,
although the type is fairly distinctive, it is often a relatively small zone on the edge of low shrub/graminoid fens, and is
not always recognized or tracked.
CONSERVATION RANK: G2G3. There are probably fewer than 100 occurrences of this fen community rangewide. This
community is reported from Indiana (where it is ranked S3), Ohio (S2), and Illinois (S1S2). Currently 15 occurrences
have been documented from Indiana and Illinois. Individual occurrences are usually fairly small (under 20 acres); total
acreage rangewide is probably less than 2000 acres. Historical acreage is unknown, but some acres of this
community have probably been destroyed or degraded by alterations in wetland hydrology and agricultural
development.
DISTRIBUTION: This tall-shrub fen community type is found in the central midwestern United States and probably
adjacent Canada, ranging from western Ohio and probably southern Ontario to southern Wisconsin.
USFS ECOREGIONS: 222Ha:CCC, 222Hb:CCC, 222Jb:CCC, 222Jh:CCC, 222Ji:CCC, 222Kj:C, 251Cf:CCC, 251Dd:C
CONSERVATION REGIONS: 36:C, 45:C, 48:C
STATES: IL IN MI OH WI PROVINCES: ON
MIDWEST HERITAGE SYNONYMY: IL tall shrub fen =
IN circumneutral bog +
MI prairie fen
OH cinquefoil-sedge fen +
WI tall shrub fen (not tracked)
OTHER SYNONYMY:
USNVC HIERARCHY: CORNUS SERICEA - PHOTINIA MELANOCARPA - TOXICODENDRON VERNIX SATURATED SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
(III.B.2.N.g)
PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDWEST – 2001. APPENDIX: ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTIONS
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