The Alaska Vegetation Classification - Alaska Geobotany Center ...

Photographs-Figure 79, this publication.Figure ?%A freshwater aquatic burreed community of Sparganiumhyperboreum in a shallow pool in south-central AlaskaPrimary references-Racine 1976, 1978b; Racine and Anderson 1979; Spetzman1959.CommunltiecSparganiumhyperboreum (Heusser 1960, Johnson and others 1966,Murray 1974, Spetzman 1959). Sparganium hyperboreum-Pofamogeton perfohatus(Hulten 1966). Sparganium hyperboreurn-Potamogefonpectinatus (Racine 1978b,Young 1974b). Sparganium hyperboreurn-Ranunculspallasii(Racine 1976, Racineand Anderson 1979, Wiggins and Thomas 1962, Young 1974b).lll.D.l.e. Water MilfoilDescription-These communities are dominated by water milfoil (Myriophyllumspicafum). Common associated or codominant aquatic species include Pofamogetonspp., Sparganiumspp.. and Calliffiche spp. Emergent plants are absent or rare.Distribution and site characteristics-Water milfoil communities are common assmall stands in freshwater ponds, sloughs, oxbow lakes, and flooded depressionsthroughout interior, south-central, and western Alaska. They usually occur in shallowwater about 10 to 100 centimeters (4 to 40 in) deep. Substrates include mud, organicrichmuck, and peat.Successional status-Most of these communities probably will be replaced bymarshes or wet meadows as succession advances.Closely related types-Water milfoil communities are similar to other aquaticcommunities but have a dominant component of water milfoil. This species alsois common in the understory of some marshes (dominated by Scirpus validus orEquisetum fluviatile) and the wetter parts of some wet meadows (dominated byMenyanthes frifoliata or various sedges), but water milfoil communities have fewor no emergents.Photographs-Batten and others 1978, figure 16; Dachnowski-Stokes 1941,figure 17.Primary references-Racine and Anderson 1979, Ritchie and others 1981.207