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CEGL004188 Schoenoplectus pungens Tidal Salt Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Threesquare Tidal Salt Marsh

Colloquial Name: Atlantic Coast Brackish Tidal Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association occurs on fresh to brackish, mid-tidal, sandy/gravelly rivershores along the north and mid-Atlantic coast. It occurs in low areas where there is a longer duration of flooding. Wave and ice scour can have a significant influence on the year-to-year appearance of the vegetation, which tends to be sparse. This vegetation often occurs in nearly pure stands of Schoenoplectus pungens but can be intermixed with Spartina alterniflora or Spartina cynosuroides in more brackish areas. Species diversity tends to be low due to winter storm scour, but associates can include Amaranthus cannabinus, Polygonum punctatum, Cyperus bipartitus, and Bidens spp. Sagittaria graminea, Sagittaria latifolia, Eleocharis palustris, Gratiola virginiana, Elatine americana, Isoetes riparia, and Cyperus bipartitus can occur, but are absent in the northern part of the range. As the salinity decreases Zizania aquatica can also be an associate.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: This vegetation often occurs in nearly pure stands of Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens) but can be intermixed with Spartina alterniflora or Spartina cynosuroides in slightly brackish areas. Species diversity tends to be low due to winter storm scour, but associates can include Amaranthus cannabinus, Polygonum punctatum, and Bidens spp. Sagittaria graminea, Sagittaria latifolia, Eleocharis palustris (= Eleocharis smallii), Gratiola virginiana, Elatine americana, Isoetes riparia, and Cyperus bipartitus (= Cyperus rivularis) can occur but are absent in the northern part of the range. As the salinity decreases Zizania aquatica can also be an associate. At the southern end of the range in Maryland and Virginia, this type is more confined to fresh tidal shores. Here, Schoenoplectus pungens is often abundant, but composition is variable, and patch-dominants can also include Polygonum punctatum, Justicia americana, and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani.

Dynamics:  The species composition of brackish marsh associations is likely related to gradients in salinity and duration of tidal flooding. Schoenoplectus pungens may dominate in areas with higher average water levels, lower salinities, and lower frequency of flooding than areas typically dominated by Spartina patens.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs in fresh to brackish reaches of tidal rivers with sandy or gravelly rivershores. It occurs in low areas where there is a longer duration of flooding. Ice-scour can have a significant effect on the species composition and percent cover from year to year.
Geographic Range: This association occurs along the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to Maryland.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, MA, MD, NH, NJ, PA


Confidence Level: Low

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 CEGL004188 Common Threesquare Tidal Salt Marsh CEGL004188 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: > Eleocharis quadrangulata - Pontederia cordata - Schoenoplectus (pungens, tabernaemontani) (Coulling 2002)
> Peltandra virginica - Echinochloa walteri - Schoenoplectus (pungens, tabernaemontani) (Coulling 2002)
> Schoenoplectus pungens - Sagittaria spp. community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
> Schoenoplectus pungens - Schoenoplectus robustus community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Schoenoplectus pungens Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming 2007)
= Scirpus pungens Herbaceous Vegetation (Bartgis 1986)
? Scirpus marsh community (brackish mid-tidal marsh border) (Barrett 1989)
? Brackish Tidal Marsh (Rawinski 1984a) [formerly Southern New England and Gulf of Maine.]
Concept Author(s): Eastern Ecology Group

Author of Description: S.L. Neid and G.P. Fleming

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-17-17
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  • 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.
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  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
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