Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Classification of Natural Ponds and Lakes
in the Glaciated Prairie Region
Appendix A. - Characteristic Plant Species in Prairie Ponds and Lakes
The more important plant species characteristic of
classes and subclasses of prairie ponds and lakes are
listed here. Major groupings are the vegetational zones
and phases. In Classes III, IV, and VII, dominant and
subdominant categories are referred to. Dominant
species are relatively tall emergents that form the
canopy, or overstory, of plant associations;
subdominants are submerged, floating, or short,
emergent species that ordinarily compose the
understory. Plants are grouped as primary and
secondary species to show their prevalence as related to
cover under normal conditions within a plant community.
A more detailed description of wetland vegetation in
northern prairie ponds and lakes may be found in Stewart
and Kantrud (in press).
Except for a few extralimital species, the identification
of vascular plants is according to the eighth edition of
Gray's Manual (Fernald, 1950). A few western species of
vascular plants not treated in Gray's Manual follow the
nomenclature used by Stevens (1963). References to
algae are according to Smith (1950), while names of
mosses and liverworts follow Conard (1956). Altogether,
174 plant species are listed here. Scientific and common
names of all plants referred to are listed in appendix B.
Voucher specimens for all of these are preserved in the
herbarium at the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research
Center.
Class I - Emphemeral Ponds | Class II - Temporary Ponds | Class III - Seasonal Ponds and Lakes |
Class IV - Semipermanent Ponds and Lakes | Class V - Permanent Ponds and Lakes |
Class VI - Alkali Ponds and Lakes | Class VII - Fen Ponds
Class I - Emphemeral Ponds:
Central Wetland-low-prairie Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Poa pratensis
- Agropyron trachycaulum
- Anemone canadensis
- Symphoricarpos occidentalis
- Solidago altissima
- Aster ericoides
- Ambrosia psilostachya
- Secondary Species:
- Panicum virgatum
- Andropogon gerardi
- Carex brevior
- Zigadenus elegans
- Lilium philadelphicum
- Rosa woodsii
- Glycyrrhiza lepidota
- Zizia aptera
- Helianthus maximiliani
- Artemisia ludoviciana
- Taraxacum officinale
- Agoseris glauca
- Crepis runcinata
- Cropland Tillage Phase:
- Primary species:
- Setaria glauca
- Polygonum convolvulus
- Kochia scoparia
- Secondary species:
- Agropyron smithii
- Agropyron repens
- Salsola kali
- Amaranthus retroflexus
- Thlaspi arvense
- Brassica kaber
- Descurainia sophia
- Rosa arkansana
- Androsace occidentalis
- Ellisia nyctelea
- Erigeron canadensis
- Iva xanthifolia
Class II - Temporary Ponds:
Subclass A - Fresh:
Central Wet-meadow Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Poa palustris
- Carex praegracilis
- Carex sartwellii
- Carex lanuginosa
- Boltonia latisquama
- Aster simplex
- Secondary Species:
- Hordeum jubatum
- Calamagrostis canadensis var. macouniana
- Calamagrostis inexpansa
- Spartina pectinata
- Hierochloe odorata
- Carex vulpinoidea
- Carex laeviconica
- Juncus balticus
- Juncus dudleyi
- Juncus interior
- Rumex mexicanus
- Rumex occidentalis
- Ranunculus macounii
- Rorippa islandica
- Potentilla norvegica
- Epilobium glandulosum
- Lysimachia hybrida
- Apocynum sibiricum
- Asclepius speciosa
- Teucrium occidentale
- Stachys palustris
- Mentha arvensis
- Vernonia fasciculata
- Helenium autumnale
- Artemisia biennis
- Cirsium arvense
- Sonchus arvensis
- Cropland Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Agropyron repens
- Echinochloa crusgalli
- Polygonum lapathifolium
- Veronica peregrina
- Secondary Species:
- Hordeum jubatum
- Plagiobothrys scopulorum
- Xanthium italicum
- Bidens frondosa
- Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Subclass B - Slightly Brackish:
Central Wet-meadow Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Hordeum jubatum
- Calamagrostis inexpansa
- Spartina pectinata
- Carex sartwellii
- juncus balticus
- Aster simplex
- Secondary Species:
- Poa palustris
- Carex praegracilis
- Carex lanuginosa
- Juncus interior
- Juncus dudleyi
- Juncus torreyi
- Rumex mexicanus
- Epilobium glandulosum
- Stachys palustris
- Lycopus asper
- Mentha arvensis
- Artemisia biennis
- Cirsium arvense
- Sonchus arvensis
- Cropland Drawdown Phase: The species composition is the same as that of the cropland drawdown phase of the central wet-meadow zone in fresh temporary ponds (Class II-A).
- Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Class III - Seasonal Ponds and Lakes:
Subclass A - Fresh:
Central Shallow-marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Sparganium eurycarpum
- Alisma triviale
- Glyceria grandis
- Beckmannia syzigachne
- Carex atherodes
- Polygonum coccineum
- Secondary Species:
- Alopecurus aequalis
- Phalaris arundinacea
- Sium suave
- Subdominants:
- Primary Species:
- Riccia fluitans
- Lemna trisulca
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Secondary Species:
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Lemna minor
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Potamogeton gramineus
- Callitriche palustris
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Secondary Species:
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Potamogeton pusillus
- Eleocharis acicularis, submerged form.
- Ranunculus trichophyllus
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Eleocharis acicularis, terrestrial form.
- Secondary Species:
- Rumex maritimus
- Kochia scoparia
- Xanthium italicum
- Senecio congestus
- Cropland Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Eleocharis engelmanni
- Eleocharis acicularis
- Gratiola neglecta
- Secondary Species:
- Marsilea mucronata
- Cyperus acuminatus
- Bacopa rotundifolia
- Lindernia dubia
- Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wet-meadow zone of fresh temporary ponds. (Class II-A)
- Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Subclass B - Slightly Brackish
Central Shallow-marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Alisma triviale
- Scolochloa festucacea
- Beckmannia syzigachne
- Eleocharis palustris
- Carex atherodes
- Polygonum coccineum
- Secondary Species:
- Sparganium eurycarpum
- Alisma gramineum
- Sagittaria cuneata
- Alopecurus aequalis
- Phalaris arundinacea
- Polygonum amphibium, terrestrial form
- Sium suave
- Subdominants:
- Primary Species:
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Ricciocarpus natans
- Lemna trisulca
- Lemna minor
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Secondary Species:
- Riccia fluitans
- Ranunculus sceleratus
- Ranunculus cymbalaria
- Open-Water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Ranunculus trichophyllius
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Secondary Species:
- Potamogeton pusillus
- Eleocharis acicularis, submerged form
- Polygonum amphibium, aquatic form
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Hordeum jubatum
- Rumex maritimus
- Chenopodium rubrum
- Kochia scoparia
- Xanthium italicum
- Senecio congestus
- Cropland Drawdown Phase: The species composition is the same as that of the cropland drawdown phase of fresh seasonal ponds (Class III-A).
- Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wet-meadow zone of slightly brackish temporary ponds (Class II-B).
- Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Subclass C - Moderately Brackish:
Central Shallow-marsh Zone
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Alisma gramineum
- Scolochloa festucacea
- Beckmannia syzigachne
- Eleocharis palustris
- Secondary Species:
- Scirpus americanus
- Carex atherodes
- Subdominants:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Lemna trisulca
- Ranunculus cymbalaria
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Chara spp.
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Ranunculus trichophyllus
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Eleocharis acicularis
- Rumex maritimus
- Chenopodium rubrum
- Kochia scoparia
- Cropland Drawdown Phase:
- Primary species:
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Hordeum jubatum
- Calamagrostis inexpansa
- Spartina pectinata
- Juncus balticus
- Secondary Species:
- Distichlis stricta
- Atriplex patula
- Potentilla anserina
- Glaux maritima
- Lycopus asper
- Plantago eriopoda
- Aster simplex
- Artemisia biennis
- Cropland Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Hordeum jubatum
- Echinochloa crusgalli
- Xanthium italicum
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie azone fo ephemeral ponds (Class I)
Class IV - Semipermanent Ponds and Lakes:
Subclass A - Fresh:
Central Deep Marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Typha latifolia
- Scirpus fluviatilis
- Subdominants:
- Primary Species:
- Riccia fluitans
- Lemna trisulca
- Utricularis vulgaris
- Secondary Species:
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Ricciocarpus natans
- Lemna minor
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Potamogeton pusillus
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Secondary Species:
- Potamogeton richardsonii
- Ceratophyllum demersum
- Ranunculus trichophyllus
- Myriophyllum exalbescens
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Eleocharis acicularis
- Senecio congestus
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central shallow-marsh zone of fresh seasonal ponds and lakes (Class III-A).
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wet-meadow zone of fresh temporary ponds (Class II-A).
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Subclass B - Slightly Brackish
Central Deep-marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Typha "glauca"
- Scirpus acutus
- Scirpus fluviatilis
- Secondary Species
- Typha latifolia
- Scirpus validus
- Subdominants:
- Primary Species:
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Ricciocarpus natans
- Lemna trisulca
- Lemna minor
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Secondary Species:
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species
- Potamogeton richardsonii
- Potamogeton pusillus
- Ceratophyllum demersum
- Ranunculus trichophyllus
- Myriophyllum exalbescens
- Utricularia vulgaris
- Secondary Species:
- Chara spp.
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Zannichellia palustris
- Potamogeton pectinatus
- Callitriche hermaphroditica
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Eleocharis acicularis
- Rumex maritimus
- Chenopodium rubrum
- Kochia scoparis
- Senecio congestus
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central shallow-marsh zone of slightly brackish seasonal ponds and lakes (Class III-B).
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wet-meadow zone of slightly brackish temporary ponds (Class II-B).
Peripheral Wetlands-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Subclass C - Moderately Brackish:
Central Deep-marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Subdominants:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Lemna trisulca
- Utricularis vulgaris
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Chara spp.
- Zannichellia palustris
- Potamogeton pectinatus
- Secondary Species:
- Ranunculus trichophyllus
- Myriophyllum exalbescens
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species
- Hordeum jubatum
- Rumex maritimus
- Chenopodium rubrum
- Kochia scoparia
- Secondary Species:
- Panicum capillare
- Eleocharis acicularis
- Chenopodium salinum
- Aster brachyactis
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central shallow-marsh zone of moderately brackish seasonal ponds and lakes (Class III-C).
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the peripheral wet-meadow zone of moderately brackish seasonal ponds and lakes (Class III-C).
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Peripheral fen zone (marginal pockets): The species composition is the same as that of the central fen zone of fen ponds (Class VII).
Subclass D - Brackish:
Central Deep Marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Subdominants:
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Chara spp.
- Zannichellia palustris
- Potamogeton pectinatus
- Secondary Species:
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Hordeum jubatum
- Chenopodium salinum
- Kochia scoparia
- Aster brachyactis
- Secondary Species:
- Panicum capillare
- Rumex maritimus
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Puccinellia nuttalliana
- Eleocharis palustris
- Salicornia rubra
- Subdominants:
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Hordeum jubatum
- Aster brachyactis
- Secondary Species:
- Chenopodium salinum
- Kochia scoparia
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Distichlis stricta
- Hordeum jubatum
- Secondary Species:
- Triglochin maritima
- Muhlenbergia asperifolia
- Juncus balticus
- Polygonum prolificum
- Atriplex patula
- Potentilla anserina
- Lactuca scariola
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species compositions is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Peripheral Fen Zone (marginal pockets): The species composition is the same as that of the central fen zone of fen ponds (Class VII).
Subclass E - Subsaline:
Central Deep-marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Subdominants:
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Chara spp.
- Potamogeton pectinatus
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants
- Primary Species:
- Puccinellia nuttalliana
- Salicornia rubra
- Secondary Species:
- Scirpus nevadensis
- Scirpus americanus
- Suaeda depressa
- Subdominants:
- Open-water Phase:
- Natural Drawdown Phase:
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Triglochin maritima
- Hordeum jubatum
- Muhlenbergia asperifolia
- Spartina gracilis
- Atriplex patula
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Peripheral Fen Zone (Marginal pockets): The species composition is the same as that of the central fen zone of fen ponds (Class VII).
Class V - Permanent Ponds and Lakes:
Subclass B - Slightly Brackish:
Central Permanent-open-water Zone:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Deep-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central deep-marsh zone of slighlty brackish semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-B).
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central shallow-marsh zone of slightly brackish seasonal ponds and lakes (Class III-B).
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wet-meadow zone of slightly brackish temporary ponds (Class II-B).
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Peripheral Fen Zone (marginal pockets): The species composition is the same as that of the central fen zone of fen ponds (Class VII).
Subclass C - Moderately Brackish:
Central Permanent-open-water Zone:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Deep-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central deep-marsh zone of moderately brackish semipermanent poonds and lakes (Class IV-C).
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central shallow-marsh zone of moderately brackish seasonal ponds and lakes (Class III-C).
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the peripheral wet-meadow zone of moderately brackish seasonal ponds and lakes (Class III-C).
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Peripheral Fen Zone (marginal pockets): The species composition is the same as that of the central fen zone of fen ponds (Class VII).
Subclass D - Brackish:
Central Permanent-open-water Zone:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Deep-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central deep-marsh zone of brackish semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-D).
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the peripheral shallow-marsh zone of brackish semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-D).
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the peripheral wet-meadow zone of brackish semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-D).
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Peripheral Fen Zone (marginal pockets): The species composition is the same as that of the central fen zone of fen ponds (Class VII).
Subclass E - Subsaline
Central Permanent-open-water Zone:
- Primary Species
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Deep-marsh Zone: This zone is often poorly represented; when present, the characteristic species are the same as those of the central deep-marsh zone of subsaline semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-E).
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the peripheral shallow-marsh zone of subsaline semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-E).
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the peripheral wet-meadow zone of subsaline semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-E).
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Peripheral Fen Zone (marginal pockets): The species composition is the same as that of the central fen zone of fen ponds (Class VII).
Class VI - Alkali Ponds and Lakes
Central Intermittent-alkali Zone:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
Peripheral Shallow-marsh Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the peripheral shallow-marsh zone of subsaline semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-E).
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the peripheral wet-meadow zone of subsaline semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class IV-E).
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
Peripheral Fen Zone (marginal pockets): The species composition is the same as that of the central fen zone of fen ponds (Class VII).
Class VII - Fen Ponds
Central Fen Zone:
- Normal Emergent Phase:
- Dominants:
- Primary Species:
- Typha latifolia
- Glyceria striata
- Phragmites communis
- Scirpus validus
- Carex aquatilis
- Salix interior
- Salix candida
- Cicuta maculata
- Aster junciformis
- Secondary Species:
- Triglochin maritima
- Deschampsia caespitosa
- Calamagrostis inexpansa
- Muhlenbergia glomerata
- Eleocharis calva
- Eriophorum angustifolium
- Scirpus atrovirens
- Carex sartwellii
- Carex interior
- Carex aurea
- Carex lanuginosa
- Carex rostrata
- Juncus torreyi
- Hypoxis hirsuta
- Ranunculus septentrionalis
- Epilobium leptophyllum
- Lysimachia thrysiflora
- Gentiana procera
- Asclepias incarnata
- Scutellaria epilobiifolia
- Lobelia kalmii
- Eupatorium maculatum
- Solidago graminifolia
- Helianthus rydbergii
- Subdominants:
- Primary Species:
- Secondary Species:
- Lemna minor
- Parnassia palustris
- Viola nephrophylla
- Open-water Phase:
- Primary Species:
- Chara spp.
- Drepanocladus spp.
- Secondary Species:
- Zannichellia palustris
- Ceratophyllum demersum
- Ranunculus gmelini
- Hippuris vulgaris
- Utricularia vulgaris
Peripheral Wet-meadow Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wet-meadow zone of slightly brackish temporary ponds (Class II-B).
Peripheral Wetland-low-prairie Zone: The species composition is the same as that of the central wetland-low-prairie zone of ephemeral ponds (Class I).
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