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CEGL006058 Isoetes riparia Tidal Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shore Quillwort Tidal Marsh

Colloquial Name: Shore Quillwort Tidal Flat

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This freshwater tidal flat community of the central and northern Atlantic coast occurs on mud, sand, or gravelly banks of freshwater tidal streams. The vegetation is sparse, but is characterized by Isoetes riparia. Associated species include Cyperus bipartitus, Elatine americana, Sagittaria graminea, Sagittaria subulata, Sagittaria calycina, Sagittaria montevidensis, Heteranthera reniformis, Crassula aquatica, Eriocaulon parkeri, Orontium aquaticum, Gratiola virginiana, Eleocharis obtusa, and in more muddy areas, Schoenoplectiella smithii. This is the potential habitat of Micranthemum micranthemoides.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The floristics of this association show overlap with ~Eriocaulon parkeri - Polygonum punctatum Tidal Marsh (CEGL006352)$$. This association may be too small to be mapped in most locations. More information is needed on the range of variability present in this association and its relationship to related vegetation, namely CEGL006352. There is a possibility that these associations may be similar enough to lump due to species overlap (S. Neid pers. obs.)

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

Floristics: The vegetation is sparse, but is characterized by Isoetes riparia. Associated species include Cyperus bipartitus (= Cyperus rivularis), Elatine americana, Sagittaria graminea, Sagittaria subulata, Sagittaria calycina, Sagittaria montevidensis, Heteranthera reniformis, Crassula aquatica (= Tillaea aquatica), Eriocaulon parkeri, Orontium aquaticum, Gratiola virginiana, Eleocharis obtusa (= var. peasei), and in more muddy areas, Schoenoplectiella smithii (= Scirpus smithii). This is the potential habitat of Micranthemum micranthemoides (considered extirpated).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on fresh tidal mudflats with soft to semi-soft substrate in shallow waters associated with embayments, occurring behind beaches and sand spits, as well as along margins of estuaries. These occur in quiet waters where fine sediments accumulate. Occurrence and extent of mudflats vary with coastline morphology and tidal amplitude. Mudflats are regularly flooded and exposed by diurnal tides (Whitlatch 1982).
Geographic Range: This community ranges from Massachusetts to North Carolina

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Ne Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D322 2.C.4.Ne
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Ne.1 Annual Wild Rice - Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Pickerelweed Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Macrogroup M066 2.C.4.Ne.1
Group 2.C.4.Ne.1.c <i>Zizania aquatica - Spartina patens - Amaranthus cannabinus</i> Freshwater Tidal Marsh Group G914 2.C.4.Ne.1.c
Alliance A3579 Riverbank Quillwort - Estuary Pipewort Intertidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance A3579 2.C.4.Ne.1.c
Association CEGL006058 Shore Quillwort Tidal Marsh CEGL006058 2.C.4.Ne.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Isoetes riparia Sparse Vegetation [Provisional] (Bartgis 1986)
= Freshwater Intertidal Quillwort Flat (Bowman 2000)
? Southern New England/Gulf of Maine Fresh/ Brackish Subtidal Estuarine Community. (Rawinski 1984a)
? Southern New England/Gulf of Maine Saline/ Brackish Intertidal Flat (Rawinski 1984a)
Concept Author(s): Eastern Ecology Group

Author of Description: S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-14-02
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  • Bowman, P. 2000. Draft classification for Delaware. Unpublished draft. Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna, DE.
  • Breden, T. F. 1989. A preliminary natural community classification for New Jersey. Pages 157-191 in: E. F. Karlin, editor. New Jersey''s rare and endangered plants and animals. Institute for Environmental Studies, Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ. 280 pp.
  • Breden, T. F., Y. R. Alger, K. S. Walz, and A. G. Windisch. 2001. Classification of vegetation communities of New Jersey: Second iteration. Association for Biodiversity Information and New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Office of Natural Lands Management, Division of Parks and Forestry, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton.
  • Coxe, R. 2009. Guide to Delaware vegetation communities. Spring 2009 edition. State of Delaware, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna.
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  • Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
  • Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
  • Rawinski, T. 1984a. Natural community description abstract - southern New England calcareous seepage swamp. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA. 6 pp.
  • Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
  • Swain, P. C., and J. B. Kearsley. 2014. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Version 2.0. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Westborough, MA. [http://www.mass.gov/nhesp/http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html]
  • Whitlatch, R. B. 1982. The ecology of New England tidal flats: A community profile. FWS/OBS-81/01. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Services Program, Washington, DC. 125 pp.