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CEGL006416 Bolboschoenus robustus - Spartina alterniflora Salt Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sturdy Bulrush - Smooth Cordgrass Salt Marsh
Colloquial Name: Bulrush Brackish Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This brackish marsh occurs as small patches on low sites in the interior of marshes on tidal rivers of Virginia and possibly elsewhere. Dominant species are Bolboschoenus robustus and Spartina alterniflora. Spartina cynosuroides is a nearly constant associate and frequently attains high cover. Other associates may include Borrichia frutescens, Symphyotrichum tenuifolium, Distichlis spicata, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii var. novi-belgii, Typha angustifolia, Rumex verticillatus, Pontederia cordata, Echinochloa walteri, Peltandra virginica, Amaranthus cannabinus, Polygonum punctatum, and Leersia oryzoides. In general, this association is depauperate with few other associated species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association differs from ~Spartina alterniflora - Lilaeopsis chinensis Salt Marsh (CEGL004193)$$ and ~Spartina alterniflora - Polygonum punctatum - Amaranthus cannabinus Salt Marsh (CEGL006418)$$ in that it is distinctly brackish with Bolboschoenus robustus as the primary dominant species. The former (CEGL004193) tends to occur on larger tidal rivers (i.e., Connecticut River, Delaware River), while the latter (CEGL006418) occurs in oligohaline habitat.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This brackish marsh is dominated by Bolboschoenus robustus (= Scirpus robustus) and Spartina alterniflora. Other associates may include Spartina cynosuroides, Borrichia frutescens, Symphyotrichum tenuifolium (= Aster tenuifolius), Symphyotrichum novi-belgii (= Aster novi-belgii), Typha angustifolia, Rumex verticillatus, Pontederia cordata, Echinochloa walteri, Peltandra virginica, Amaranthus cannabinus, Polygonum punctatum, and Leersia oryzoides. In general, this association is depauperate with few other associated species.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This marsh occurs along brackish sections of tidal rivers in Virginia.
Geographic Range: This association is currently described only from Virginia (Mattaponi, Pamunkey, and York rivers) and Massachusetts (Pamet River); it is also reported from New Jersey and Delaware and may occur in Maryland.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: DE, MA, MD?, NJ, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683192
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.Nb North American Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Salt Marsh Division | D034 | 2.C.5.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Nb.1 North American Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Salt Marsh Macrogroup | M079 | 2.C.5.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Nb.1.d Southern Cattail - Bulrush species - Awl-leaf Arrowhead Tidal Salt Marsh Group | G120 | 2.C.5.Nb.1.d |
| Alliance | A4493 <i>Spartina alterniflora - Spartina cynosuroides - Carex paleacea</i> Brackish Tidal Marsh Alliance | A4493 | 2.C.5.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL006416 Sturdy Bulrush - Smooth Cordgrass Salt Marsh | CEGL006416 | 2.C.5.Nb.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Bolboschoenus robustus Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (Walton et al. 2001)
= Schoenoplectus robustus - Spartina alterniflora Herbaceous Vegetation (Coulling 2002)
= Schoenoplectus robustus - Spartina alterniflora Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming et al. 2007b)
= Schoenoplectus robustus - Spartina alterniflora Herbaceous Vegetation (Coulling 2002)
= Schoenoplectus robustus - Spartina alterniflora Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming et al. 2007b)
- Coulling, P. P. 2002. A preliminary classification of tidal marsh, shrub swamp, and hardwood swamp vegetation and assorted non-tidal, chiefly non-maritime, herbaceous wetland communities of the Virginia Coastal Plain. October 2002. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-18. 30 pp.
- Coulling, Phil. Personal communication. Vegetation Ecologist. Department of Conservation & Recreation, Richmond, VA.
- Coxe, R. 2009. Guide to Delaware vegetation communities. Spring 2009 edition. State of Delaware, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna.
- Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
- Fleming, G. P. 2001a. Community types of Coastal Plain calcareous ravines in Virginia. Preliminary analysis and classification. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 4 pp.
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Fleming, G. P., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
- Patterson, K. D. 2008c. Vegetation classification and mapping at Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2008/129. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 369 pp.
- Sneddon, L. A., Zaremba, R. E., and M. Adams. 2010. Vegetation classification and mapping at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. Natural Resources Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2010/147. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA. 481 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/caco/cacorpt.pdf]
- Walton, D. P., P. P. Coulling, J. Weber, A. Belden, Jr., and A. C. Chazal. 2001. A plant community classification and natural heritage inventory of the Pamunkey River floodplain. Unpublished report submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Natural Heritage Technical Report 01-19. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond. 200 pp. plus appendices.