Hudsonia inland beach strand  (S1)

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In New Hampshire, hudsonia inland beach strand only occurs on Ossipee Lake, where ice-push and wave action have created large berms around portions of the lakeshore. These open berms are comprised of wind-blown sand (from the extensive sand plain in and around Ossipee Lake) mixed with organic matter deposited by waves. Scattered shrubs and herbs grow on the berms, starting at 1.0 - 1.5m above late-summer water levels. Dry site and coastal plain plant species are characteristic. This community is associated with several other regionally rare sandy pond shore communities that form narrow bands at slightly-lower elevations along the shore line.

Characteristic vegetation: This community is characterized by a regionally rare assemblage of species that includes hairy hudsonia (Hudsonia tomentosa var. intermedia), golden heather (Hudsonia ericoides), the rare hybrid Hudsonia x spectabilis, scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). Other frequent and characteristic species include eastern dwarf cherry (Prunus pumila), large cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), switch grass (Panicum virgatum), black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), pinweed (Lechea intermedia), poverty oatgrass (Danthonia spicata), ground juniper (Juniperus communis), purplish northern panic-grass (Panicum boreale), and deertongue (Panicum clandestinum). Occasional patches of trees may be present, including pitch pine (Pinus rigida), red maple (Acer rubrum), and gray birch (Betula populifolia).


A good example (though it is a disturbed one) occurs at the Ossipee Lake Natural Area along the southern shore of Ossipee Lake (Ossipee).

Hudsonia inland beach strand communities sometimes occur as part of larger sandy pond shore systems.

Hudsonia inland beach strand community (foregound) at Ossipee Lake (photo by Ben Kimball)

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Hudsonia inland beach strand community at Ossipee Lake
(photo 1 by Bill Nichols; photo 2 by Ben Kimball)


Hudsonia inland beach strand community at Ossipee Lake (photo by Dan Sperduto)

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