Print Report
CEGL001476 Spartina pectinata Western Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Prairie Cordgrass Western Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is common in wetlands and riparian areas of the Great Plains from eastern Montana south to Wyoming and Colorado, west to eastern Oregon and Washington, and occurs in small, scattered areas along rivers in the Colorado Plateau. Elevation ranges from 716-1770 m (2350-5800 feet). On large river floodplains, this type occurs as distinct patches and is distinguished from adjacent riparian types by micro-topography and degree of soil saturation. Substrates are usually poorly to moderately well-drained, finer textured soils, but vary to coarser textures. Stands generally occur as distinct patches in a matrix of other tallgrass and wetland associations, separated by differences in micro-topography and degree of soil saturation. This is a dense to moderately dense, tallgrass wet meadow that is characterized by being composed almost entirely of Spartina pectinata. Other herbaceous species such as Andropogon gerardii, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex nebrascensis, Carex pellita, Carex praegracilis, Equisetum hyemale, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Panicum virgatum, and Pascopyrum smithii may be present but contribute low cover. However, Schoenoplectus pungens may codominate some stands. Scattered woody species may also be present such as Amorpha fruticosa, Chrysothamnus linifolius, Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni, Salix exigua, and the invasive exotic Tamarix ramosissima. The invasive thistle Cirsium arvense may be abundant in some stands. Historic sources cite large stands in mudflats along the Missouri and Platte rivers. Large stands have been observed south of Denver that are now threatened by housing and golf course developments.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Compare this association with ~Spartina pectinata - Carex spp. Wet Meadow (CEGL001477)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a dense to moderately dense, tallgrass wet meadow that is characterized by being composed almost entirely of Spartina pectinata. Other herbaceous species such as Andropogon gerardii, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex nebrascensis, Carex pellita, Carex praegracilis, Elymus canadensis, Equisetum hyemale var. affine, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Panicum virgatum, Pascopyrum smithii, and Verbena hastata may be present but contribute low cover (Hansen et al. 1995, Jones and Walford 1995, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a). However, Eleocharis palustris or Schoenoplectus pungens may codominate some stands (Hansen et al. 1995, Jones and Walford 1995). Scattered woody species may also be present such as Amorpha fruticosa, Chrysothamnus linifolius, Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni, Salix exigua, and the invasive exotic Tamarix ramosissima. The invasive thistle Cirsium arvense or introduced forage species Agrostis stolonifera may be abundant in some stands.
Dynamics: Spartina pectinata is tolerant of sediment deposition and has sharp-pointed shoots that push their way upward through up to a foot of new sediment (Weaver 1965). It appears to be an early colonizer of flooded terraces along the South Platte River in eastern Colorado (Carsey et al. 2003a). Weaver (1965) described Nebraska stands and suggested that it once occurred over hundreds of square miles along the Missouri River and tributaries, at the edge of sluggish ponds and streams. In Nebraska it was a valuable forage resource with harvests of 3-5 tons of hay per acre. Spartina pectinata is propagated by rhizomes, and it is coarse and tall (2-3 m) enough to form dense pure stands that exclude other species (Weaver 1965). Disturbance can increase that amount of early-seral species such as Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Helianthus spp., or Hordeum jubatum (Hansen et al. 1995).
Environmental Description: This association is common in wetlands and riparian areas of the Great Plains west to eastern Oregon and Washington, and occurs in small, scattered areas along rivers in the Colorado Plateau. Historic sources cite large stands in mudflats along the Missouri and Platte rivers. Large stands have been observed south of Denver that are now threatened by housing and golf course developments. This seasonally flooded tallgrass meadow association occurs in swales, drainage bottoms and on river terraces up to 2 m above late-summer river levels. Elevation ranges from 716-1770 m (2350-5800 feet). On large river floodplains, this type occurs as distinct patches and is distinguished from adjacent riparian types by micro-topography and degree of soil saturation. Substrates are usually poorly to moderately well-drained, finer textured soils, but vary to coarser textures (Hansen et al. 1995, Jones and Walford 1995, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a). Stands generally occur as distinct patches in a matrix of other tallgrass and wetland associations, separated by differences in micro-topography and degree of soil saturation. Stands occurring in small swales on the plains and on floodplains of larger rivers are sometimes included in other tallgrass prairie plant associations.
Geographic Range: This association is common in wetlands and riparian areas of the Great Plains from Montana south to Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, and west to eastern Oregon and Washington; it occurs in small, scattered areas along rivers in the Colorado Plateau. Historic sources cite large stands in mudflats along the Missouri and Platte rivers.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, OR, UT, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683115
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.5 Salt Marsh Formation | F035 | 2.C.5 |
| Division | 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division | D036 | 2.C.5.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup | M082 | 2.C.5.Nd.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a Saltgrass - Lemmon''s Alkali Grass - Saltwort species Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group | G538 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
| Alliance | A1334 Alkali Sacaton - Scratchgrass - Alkali Cordgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance | A1334 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL001476 Prairie Cordgrass Western Wet Meadow | CEGL001476 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Spartina pectinata / Calamagrostis canadensis Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [cites Nebraska source (Keim et al. 1932).]
= Spartina pectinata (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Spartina pectinata Dominance Type (Evans 1989a) [(p.32)]
< Spartina pectinata Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [Included both Spartina pectinata and Spartina gracilis (more saline) dominated habits.]
= Spartina pectinata Western Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Spartina pectinata Western Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 2001)
< Coarse Grasses of Wet Land (Weaver 1965) [Once occurred over hundreds of square miles along the Missouri River and tributaries, at the edge of sluggish ponds and streams.]
= Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) Community (Jones 1992b)
= Prairie Slough grass, Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
= Spartina pectinata (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Spartina pectinata Dominance Type (Evans 1989a) [(p.32)]
< Spartina pectinata Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [Included both Spartina pectinata and Spartina gracilis (more saline) dominated habits.]
= Spartina pectinata Western Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Spartina pectinata Western Herbaceous Vegetation (Cooper et al. 2001)
< Coarse Grasses of Wet Land (Weaver 1965) [Once occurred over hundreds of square miles along the Missouri River and tributaries, at the edge of sluggish ponds and streams.]
= Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) Community (Jones 1992b)
= Prairie Slough grass, Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
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