Print Report

CEGL004201 Typha angustifolia - Hibiscus moscheutos Salt Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrowleaf Cattail - Crimson-eyed Rosemallow Salt Marsh

Colloquial Name: Cattail Brackish Tidal Salt Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is a brackish tidal marsh of the northern to central Atlantic coast, occurring along the margin of tidal rivers and at the upper margins of some high salt marshes and coastal salt ponds where water salinity ranges from 0.5-18.0 ppt. Brackish marshes are most extensive on large tidal rivers, but smaller marshes of this alliance also occur at the upper limits of larger tidal creeks. The vegetation of this tall grassland is a mixture of freshwater and saltmarsh species dominated by Typha angustifolia. Phragmites australis and/or Typha latifolia can be codominant. The Phragmites australis component is the native strain. Common associates include Hibiscus moscheutos, Schoenoplectus pungens, Impatiens capensis, Amaranthus cannabinus, Peltandra virginica, Pontederia cordata, and Bidens spp., plus Spartina cynosuroides in the south. Other infrequent associates include Mikania scandens, Polygonum punctatum, Pluchea odorata, Eleocharis spp., and Bolboschoenus robustus, plus Schoenoplectus americanus farther south. Species from adjacent high salt marsh may also be present. Substrate is muck or peat, and there is often an accumulation of Typha litter.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: A non-tidal barrier wetland documented at the Cove Point Wetland, Calvert County, Maryland (Steury 1999), appears to fit this concept.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The vegetation of this tall grassland is a mixture of freshwater and saltmarsh species dominated by Typha angustifolia. Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, Spartina cynosuroides, or Schoenoplectus pungens can codominate. The Phragmites australis component is the native strain (Saltonstall 2002). Common associates include Hibiscus moscheutos, Schoenoplectus pungens, Impatiens capensis, Amaranthus cannabinus, Peltandra virginica, Pontederia cordata, and Bidens spp., plus Spartina cynosuroides in the south. Other infrequent associates include Mikania scandens, Pluchea odorata, Polygonum punctatum, Eleocharis spp., and Bolboschoenus robustus (= Schoenoplectus robustus), plus Schoenoplectus americanus farther south. Species from adjacent high salt marsh may also be present.

Dynamics:  Brackish marsh complexes commonly occur as mosaics of patches dominated by a single graminoid species. Patches dominated by Typha angustifolia tend to occur where there is more freshwater influence near the upper reaches of estuaries or at the upland border of high salt marshes where there is freshwater input from the surrounding upland. As the marsh becomes more brackish, Schoenoplectus pungens or Spartina patens can become dominant. As the marsh becomes less brackish, Peltandra virginica, Pontederia cordata, Acorus calamus, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, and Zizania aquatica can become more prevalent. The pattern of alternating dominance between Typha angustifolia and Phragmites australis that can occur in these environmental settings may reflect disturbance history of the site and of the surrounding watershed.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs in oligohaline to mesohaline areas of tidal marshes (0.5-18 ppt). In estuarine systems, it can occur in the uppermost zone of brackish marshes where there is freshwater influence; it receives diurnal tidal flooding of brackish water. In salt marshes behind barrier beaches it can occur in the upper reaches of larger tidal creeks within brackish areas and also at the upland border where there is significant freshwater input from the adjacent upland; here it receives irregular tidal flooding only during high spring tides. Substrate is muck or peat, and there is often an accumulation of Typha litter.
Geographic Range: This association occurs along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Virginia and possibly to South Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, RI, SC?, VA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5

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 CEGL004201 Narrowleaf Cattail - Crimson-eyed Rosemallow Salt Marsh CEGL004201 2.C.5.Nb.1.d
Concept Lineage: covered by CEGL004201 in environment and species compositon

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Hibiscus marsh (Cahoon and Stevenson 1986) [Maryland]
= Typha (angustifolia, latifolia) - Hibiscus moscheutos Herbaceous Vegetation (Harrison 2001)
= Typha angustifolia - Hibiscus moscheutos community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Typha angustifolia Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (Coulling 2002)
? Typha angustifolia community (Good and Good 1975b) [New Jersey]
? Typha angustifolia type (Ferren et al. 1981) [New Jersey]
= Typha association (Shreve et al. 1910) [Maryland]
? Brackish Tidal Marsh (Rawinski 1984a) [formerly Southern New England and Gulf of Maine]
? Cattail Community Type (Odum et al. 1984)
? Fresh-brackish marsh (Klotz 1986) [Virginia]
? Narrowleaf cattail type (McCormick and Ashbaugh 1972) [New Jersey]
< Transitional fresh marsh (Hill 1986) [Assateague Island]
Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon

Author of Description: S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-14-06
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