Vegetation

Adaptations• Plants w/in riparian wetlands are extremely

adaptable• Able to survive periods of high flow or very little flow• 3 different types of adaptation:• Morphological• Physiological• Whole plant strategies

Morphological(Adaptation to structure)

• Most common adaptation in NE riparian plants = the development of aerenchymous systems• Diffusion of oxygen• Potentilla palustris, Juncus effusus, Glyceria grandis

• Adventitious Organs (Cottonwood, Giant Reed)• Stem Hypertrophy (American Elm)• Rapid Vertical Growth• Prop Roots

Physiological

• Diffusion of oxygen to roots• Oxygenation of root rhizosphere• Decrease water uptake• Altered nutrient absorption• Anaerobic respiration

Whole Plant Strategies

• Delayed germination of seeds• Cottonwood Seeds (Populous Deltoids)

• Buoyant seedlings• Growth dormancy• Development of coleoptiles• Wild Rice (Zizania palustris)

Trees & BushesHoneylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos):

Easy to identify based on the thorny spines on the trunk.

Black Ash (Fraximus nigra): The northernmost ash, this ash is predominantly seen where soil drainage is poor, close to streams.

Green Ash (Fraxxinus pennsylvanica): Really likes alluvial soils and is the most widespread ash.

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): An elder that extends across most of the eastern portion of the U.S. Creates really good jam with fruit. Many uses like home remedies, whistles, maple taps, wine, etc.

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera): Commonly used for erosion control of stream banks. Looks like a large shrub with several stems and forms in clusters.

Black Willow (Salix nigra): Often seen with cottonwoods, these trees grow along stream banks and flood plains. Also has lots of uses as wood (furniture, barrels, toys, etc.)

Sandbar Willow (Salix exigua): Greatest range of all willows, very common near riverbanks, sandbars and silt flats.

Pussy Willow (Salix discolor): Notorious for their fuzzy catkins, these plants can be found across nearly all of New York State.

Bebb Willow (Salix bebbiana): Also called a diamond willow due to diamond patterns that appear on the plants trunks due to fungi.

American Elm (Ulmus americana): Very well known and abundant species that took a severe population loss in the 1930's due to a fungus spread by the elm bark beetles.

Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa): A shrub like plant that grows up to 20 feet and is distinguishable by the sunken veins on the leaves.

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides): Name refers to cottony seeds. This is one of the fastest growing trees, though they are generally short lived.

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor): Most common Oak seen in Riparian soils in the Northeast.

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum): Very rapid growth and popular as a shade tree, but has a lot of litter.

Red Maple (Acer rubrum): Greatest North to South distribution of any Maple.

Sycamore (Palantus occidentalis): Has very large trunk straight trunks with bark that peels off in large thin flakes. Extend across much of the Eastern U.S.

Other trees that may be seen

White-Cedar (Thuja occidentalis): Tend to grow in neutral to alkaline soils and stretch down to about New York's border.

River Birch (Betula nigra): Only birch that occurs at low altitudes.

Tamarack (Larix laricina): Deciduous tree sporadically grows in Western New York.

Other Plants

Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata): Seen in almost every state in the U.S.

Nodding Bur Marigold (Biodens cernua): Grows to about 3 feet and is can be seen where there is wet ground.

Golden Ragwort (Senecio aureus): Common in the eastern U.S. With yellow flowers.

Cowslip (Caltha palustris): Plant stands about 2 feet tall and resembles large Buttercups.

Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis): Hollow stems and bright yellow flowers distinguish this plant.

Seep-Spring Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus): Seen from mountains to lowlands this plant is extremely adaptable.

Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus): Seen along the edges of streams, this plant usually grows in clumps and has very apparent flowers.

Common Cattail (Typha latifolia): This plant is very common across the U.S. And while it is primarily seen in marshes, it will take root along the edges of streams and riverbanks.

Turtlehead (Chelone glabra): Especially common near stream banks and low ground wet land. The distinctive shape of the flower gives the name.

Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus): Though this species is usually found in the south it has bee seen all the way up to Ontario, Canada.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): Common along the borders of streams.

Water Parsnip (Sium suave): Closely resembles the Water Hemlock and can be seen along muddy shores.

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale): This plant is found throughout the U.S. And has a very pungent smell.

Tall Meadow Rue (Thalictrum polygamum): Tall plant which can grow up to 8 feet. During the blooming season this plant is constantly visited by bees and butterflies.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Has large cluster of pink flowers when in bloom.

Swamp Loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus): Can grow up to 8 feet tall and is a shrub like plant that can grow in pretty sizable patches.

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum): Grows mostly in Northeastern U.S. And has a stem with spots on it hence its name.

Blue Flag (Iris versicolor): Very colorful native Northeastern Iris with distinct violet-blue flowers.

True Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides): Seen along stream banks, this was initially introduced by Europeans.

Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea): Tall fern that is covered in cinnomon-brown wool in the spring.

Marsh Fern (Thelyperis palustris): The most common of the wetland ferns.

Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium): Similar to the Jack-in-the-pulpit, this plant is very rare.

Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis): Grows to a maximum of 4 feet and has small greenish flowers.

Clearweed (Pilea pumila): Small annual that grows just over 1 foot tall and has a distinctive clear stem.

Swamp Saxifrage (Saxifraga penslyvanica): Grows in wet areas along alluvial banks.

Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica) An annual grass that is seen where there is slow moving water and periodic flooding.

Wool Grass (Scirpus cyperinus): Especially important to waterfowl, providing cover and food.

Giant Reed (Phragmites australis): Tall and thick stemmed grass that is initially reddish, but then turns silver. Often seen in large clusters.

Soft Rush (Juncus effusus): Has a soft grasslike stem and is found along most of the Northern U.S.

Creeping Love Grass (Eragrostis hypnoides): Found mostly along muddy shores and sandbars of streams and rivers.

Annual Blue Grass (Poa annua): Sometimes found in flooded areas.

American Manna Grass (Glyceria grandis): Grows across most of U.S. Especially near water or wet places.

Vegetation Habitat

• Vegetation is an integral part of a web of fish aquatic and semi-aquatic vertebrates, microbes and organic detritus.

• Often times dependent on one another, if one part fails all will fail.• E.g. Beaver (Castor Canadensis)

Vegetation Diversity

Dependent on:• Location w/in system• Further downstream & wider = more vegetation

• Channel gradient• Lithology• Level of confinement

Effects of Vegetation

• Regulates runoff of alluvial systems• ET -> back into the system• Moderates soil condition• Leaf litter alters nutrients available• Temperature due to shading (effects nutrient

cycle)• Alters geomorphology of rivers• Undercut banks -> erosion

Viability of Vegetation• Natural Influences• Fires• Drought• Mass Wasting• Wind Throw• Herbivory

• Human Influences• Logging• Urbanization• Farming• Damming

Vegetation recovery time

Functions of Vegetation• Flood Mitigators• Erosion Prevention• Purify Water• phosphorous, nitrates,

sulphates, metals, carbon sinks

• Downside = when species die materials can reenter the system.