Riverbar Tall Wet Meadow (Piedmont-Central Appalachian)
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Where to Explore It
The Riverbar Tall Wet Meadow is composed of tall native grasses and wildflowers—such as riverbank wildrye, wingstem, and giant goldenrod—growing on well-drained riverbanks. (There is more than one type of Riverbar Tall Wet Meadow; this type is found in the Piedmont and central Appalachians.)
The Riverbar Tall Wet Meadow is found on the banks of rivers and large streams in the Piedmont and central Applachians of Pennsylvania, Maryland, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, as well as the Green River of Kentucky.
The range map shows the states in which this natural community has been documented.
More About This Natural Community
This natural community typically occupies a narrow strip along riverbanks or on sandy depositional bars. During floods, the vegetation may be underwater for a few days. When the waters recede, they leave behind sediment with minerals and nutrients that enrich the soil.
Some grasses you might find in this natural community include riverbank wildrye, Virginia wildrye, Canadian wildrye, deertongue, and Indian woodoats.
Wildflowers here include giant goldenrod, wingstem, paleleaf woodland sunflower, smooth oxeye, golden ragwort, jumpseed, cutleaf coneflower, and Canadian germander.
For a more in-depth look at this community, click on a link under “Where to Explore It.”
Look for It in These National Parks
- Antietam National Battlefield
- Appalachian Trail (Central Appalachians)
- Bluestone National Scenic River
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
- Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- New River Gorge National River
Conservation Status
How vulnerable is a natural community? Is it at risk of elimination? Learn about conservation status.
Classification
Official names reduce confusion by providing a common language for talking about natural communities. Why so many names?