WMs92Southern Basin Wet Meadow/CarrOpen wetlands dominated by dense cover of broad-leaved sedges. Typically present in small, closed, shallow basins isolated from groundwater inputs.

Vegetation Structure & CompositionDescription is based on summary of vegetation data from 28 plots (relevés).•Mosses are typically absent or sparse, although the weedy and shade-tolerant spe-cies Drepanocladus aduncus is commonly present beneath dense sedge tussocks• Graminoid cover is continuous (75–100%); typically dominated by slough sedge (Carex atherodes), sometimes with whitetop (Scolo-chloa festucacea), bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), red-stalked spikerush (Eleocharis palustris), or lake sedge (Carex lacustris). •Forb cover is variable, ranging from absent to sparse (< 25%); common species include water smartweed (Polygonum amphibium), cattails (Typha spp.), common mint (Men-tha arvensis), rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper), water parsnip (Sium suave), and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).•Shrubcover is sparse; pussy willow (Salix discolor), slender willow (S. petiolaris), and red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) may be present.• Note: WMs92 has become uncommon across much of its range as a result of invasion by non-native species, especially reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), following alterations in wetland hydrology.

Landscape Setting & SoilsWMs92 occurs primarily in shallow wetland basins and rarely along shores of lakes and rivers. Surface water is derived from rainfall and surface flow; in general, sites are isolated from lateral groundwater flow. Water chemistry is basic (pH > 7) because of influence of calcareous soils. Relatively low precipitation in the prairie region and high rates of evaporation result in higher salinity in this community compared with other Wet Meadow/Carr communities in Minnesota. Soils are predominantly mineral or muck, but sapric peat of variable depth can also occur.

Natural HistoryWMs92 is subjected to moderate inundation following spring runoff and heavy rains and to periodic drawdowns during summer. Peak water levels are high and persistent enough to prevent trees (and usually shrubs) from becoming established, although standing water may be absent by the end of the growing season. As a result of water-level fluctuations, surface substrates alternate between aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Organic matter that accumulates over time on the substrate surface is usually oxidized during drought-influenced drawdowns or is removed by fire during periods of severe drought.The fluctuating water levels needed for development of this community typically occur in areas transitional between wet prairies and marshes. The diagnostic dominant species of WMs92—slough sedge (Carex atherodes) and whitetop—have a competitive advantage over other wet meadow sedges in wetland basins with relatively high salinity. These species may also be favored by high fire frequency, as WMs92 tends to occur in fire-prone landscapes. Frequent fire during periodic droughts eliminates or greatly reduces the presence of shrubs in WMs92 and also reduces peat accumulation.

Similar Native Plant Community Classes•WMs83SouthernSeepageMeadow/CarrWMs83 can be similar to WMs92 but occurs along streams, on sloping terraces, and at

302

WETMEADOW/CARRSYSTEMSouthern Floristic Region

WMs92 - continued -

bases of slopes in areas influenced by lateral groundwater flow. WMs83 is more likely to have abundant willows and other shrubs. WMs92 is more likely to have slough sedge (Carex atherodes) as a dominant graminoid species.

•WMp73PrairieWetMeadow/CarrWMp73 and WMs92 occur in similar landscape settings, but WMp73 is generally present on sites where the water table is below the rooting zone for longer periods of time. As a result, shrubs are more common in WMp73. WMs92 is more likely to have lake sedge (Carex lacustris) and slough sedge (C. atherodes) as dominant graminoids.

•WMn82NorthernWetMeadow/CarrWMn82 can be similar to WMs92 and the ranges of the two classes overlap in the northern MIM, central MDL, and likely in the northern CGP. WMn82 is more likely to occur along streams or drainageways or in small isolated basins surrounded by forest (rather than prairie) vegetation and is more likely to have significant shrub cover.

•WPs54SouthernWetPrairieWPs54 and WMs92 occur in similar settings, but WPs54 is present on soils only briefly saturated in late spring rather than throughout the summer. As a result, WMs92 is more likely to have species tolerant of long periods of inundation and saturated soils.

Native Plant Community Types in Class•WMs92aBasinMeadow/CarrWMs92a is the only community type recognized in this class at the present.

WMs92 Indicator Species (freq%)

WMs92 WMs83Slough sedge (Carex atherodes) 93 -Whitetop (Scolochloa festucacea) 41 -River bulrush (Scirpus fluviatilis) 14 -Giant bur reed (Sparganium eurycarpum) 14 3Water smartweed (Polygonum amphibium) 79 22Water parsnip (Sium suave) 31 10Germander (Teucrium canadense) 21 6Beaked sedge (Carex utriculata) 21 8

WMs83 Indicator Species (freq%)WMs92 WMs83

Prairie sedge (Carex prairea) - 33Flat-topped aster (Aster umbellatus) - 32Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) - 30Northern marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) - 30Dwarf raspberry (Rubus pubescens) - 27Porcupine sedge (Carex hystericina) - 25Common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) 3 51Northern bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus) 3 44

WMs92 Indicator Species (freq%)

WMs92 WMp73Whitetop (Scolochloa festucacea) 43 -Lake sedge (Carex lacustris) 29 -Marsh skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) 25 -Lesser-duckweed (Lemna minor) 21 -Beaked sedge (Carex utriculata) 21 -Slough sedge (Carex atherodes) 93 8Water parsnip (Sium suave) 32 8Cattails (Typha spp.) 43 13

WMp73 Indicator Species (freq%)WMs92 WMp73

Prairie loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora) - 42Dark green or Pale bulrush* - 38Silverweed (Potentilla anserina) - 33Buxbaum’s sedge (Carex buxbaumii) - 33Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) - 29Sartwell’s sedge (Carex sartwellii) 4 71Narrow reedgrass (Calamagrostis stricta) 7 88Woolly sedge (Carex pellita) 7 71

*Dark green or Pale bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens or S. pallidus)

303

WETMEADOW/CARRSYSTEMSouthern Floristic Region

WMs92 Indicator Species (freq%)

WMs92 WMn82Whitetop (Scolochloa festucacea) 43 1Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) 36 1Germander (Teucrium canadense) 21 1Slough sedge (Carex atherodes) 93 5Rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper) 36 4Red-stalked spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) 32 6Water parsnip (Sium suave) 32 6Water smartweed (Polygonum amphibium) 82 42

WMn82 Indicator Species (freq%)WMs92 WMn82

Northern marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris) - 41Marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) - 39Arrow-leaved tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum) - 28Crested fern (Dryopteris cristata) - 24Speckled alder (Alnus incana) - 24Northern bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus) 4 45Bulb-bearing water hemlock (Cicuta bulbifera) 7 46Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) 11 58

WMs92 Indicator Species (freq%)

WMs92 WPs54Slough sedge (Carex atherodes) 93 -Whitetop (Scolochloa festucacea) 43 -Common mint (Mentha arvensis) 32 -Water parsnip (Sium suave) 32 -Tufted loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora) 25 -Marsh skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) 25 -Great water dock (Rumex orbiculatus) 18 -Lake sedge (Carex lacustris) 29 2

WPs54 Indicator Species (freq%)WMs92 WPs54

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) - 80Heath aster (Aster ericoides) - 67Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) - 57Great blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) - 53Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) - 51Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea) - 49Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) - 47Golden or False golden ragwort* - 43

*Golden or False golden ragwort (Senecio aureus or S. pseudaureus)

phot

o by

R.P

. Dan

a M

N D

NR

Kettledrummer Prairie, Wilkin County, MN

WMs92 - continued -

WETMEADOW/CARRSYSTEMSouthern Floristic Region

305

WMs92 - continued -

WETMEADOW/CARRSYSTEMSouthern Floristic Region

Grasses &

Sed

ges

Slough sedge (C

arex atherodes)

93••••

Bluejoint (C

alamag

rostis canadensis)

45••••

Whitetop (S

colochloa festucacea)41

•••••P

rairie cordgrass (Sp

artina pectinata)

34••

Red-stalked spikerush (E

leocharis palustris)

31•••

Lake sedge (Carex lacustris)

31••••

Beaked sedge (C

arex utriculata)21

••••A

quatic sedge (Carex aq

uatilis)21

••T

ussock sedge (Carex stricta)

21••

Tall m

anna grass (Glyceria g

randis)

14•••

River bulrush (S

cirpus fluviatilis)

14•••

Com

mon reed grass (P

hragm

ites australis)10

••W

oolly sedge (Carex p

ellita)7

•F

owl bluegrass (P

oa palustris)

7•

Soft stem

bulrush (Scirp

us validus)

7•

Sm

all-fruited bulrush (Scirp

us microcarp

us)7

•Fo

rbs, Fern

s & Fern

Allies

Water sm

artweed (P

olygonum

amp

hibium

)79

••R

ough bugleweed (Lycop

us asper)

34•

Com

mon m

int (Mentha arvensis)

34•

Water parsnip (S

ium suave)

31•

Sw

amp m

ilkweed (A

sclepias incarnata)

28•

Tufted loosestrife (Lysim

achia thyrsiflora)24

•M

arsh skullcap (Scutellaria g

alericulata)24

•G

ermander (Teucrium

canadense)

21•

Spotted Joe pye w

eed (Eup

atorium m

aculatum)

21•

Eastern panicled aster (A

ster lanceolatus)21

•C

ut-leaved bugleweed (Lycop

us americanus)

17•

Great w

ater dock (Rum

ex orbiculatus)

17•

Linear-leaved, Marsh, or D

owny w

illow-herb*

17•

Giant bur reed (S

parg

anium eurycarp

um)

14••

Woundw

ort (Stachys p

alustris)14

•M

arsh vetchling (Lathyrus palustris)

14•

Clasping dogbane (A

pocynum

sibiricum

)14

•C

anada goldenrod (Solid

ago canad

ensis)14

••M

arsh bellflower (C

amp

anula aparinoid

es)14

•B

ur marigold and B

eggarticks (Bid

ens spp.)14

•R

ed-stemm

ed aster (Aster p

uniceus)10

•B

ulb-bearing water hem

lock (Cicuta b

ulbifera)

10•

Sw

eet flag (Acorus calam

us)10

•T

ouch-me-not (Im

patiens spp.)

10••

Stinging nettle (U

rtica dioica)

10•

Large yellow w

ater crowfoot (R

anunculus flabellaris)

10•

Bog aster (A

ster borealis)

10•

Spotted w

ater hemlock (C

icuta maculata)

10•

Bristly buttercup (R

anunculus pensylvanicus)

7•

Arrow

-leaved sweet coltsfoot (P

etasites sagittatus)

7••

Arum

-leaved arrowhead (S

agittaria cuneata)

7•

Spring w

ater starwort (C

allitriche palustris)

7•

Giant goldenrod (S

olidag

o gig

antea)7

•C

omm

on marsh m

arigold (Caltha p

alustris)7

•G

olden dock (Rum

ex maritim

us)7

•Tall S

hru

bs

Pussy w

illow (S

alix discolor)

17•

Red-osier dogw

ood (Cornus sericea)

14•

Slender w

illow (S

alix petiolaris)

10••••

Prickly w

ild rose (Rosa acicularis)

7•

WM

s92 So

uth

ern B

asin W

et Mead

ow

/Carr —

SpeciesF

requen

cy&Cover

*Linear-leaved, Marsh, or D

owny w

illow-herb (E

pilob

ium lep

tophyllum

, E. p

alustre, or E. strictum

)

freq%cover

freq%cover