Conservation Status and Classification

How vulnerable is a natural community to being eliminated? How similar or dissimilar is it to other natural communities? These questions are answered by naming and classifying natural communities, which helps us identify them and understand where each is found.

The U.S. National Vegetation Classification is the standard often used to classify natural communities.

Conservation Status

Conservation status indicates how vulnerable a natural community is. Learn more about conservation status, which can be measured globally and regionally.

Global Conservation Status: GNR – Not yet assessed

Subnational Conservation Status:

MD: SNR – Not yet assessed

;

VA: S2S3 – Imperiled to Vulnerable

;

WV: SNR – Not yet assessed

Classification

Official names reduce the confusion by providing a common language for talking about natural communities. Why so many names?

Abbreviated Common Name: Scour Bar Wet Meadow

Common Name: Scour Bar Wet Meadow (Piedmont-Central Appalachian)

Scientific Name: Eupatorium serotinum - Polygonum (lapathifolium, punctatum, pensylvanicum) Riverbar Wet Meadow

Scientific Name Translated: Late-flowering Thoroughwort - (Curlytop Knotweed, Dotted Smartweed, Pennsylvania Smartweed) Riverbar Wet Meadow

Classification Code: CEGL006481

Associated Ecological System: River Floodplains Ecological System in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park