Print Report

CEGL002026 Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani - Typha spp. - (Sparganium spp., Juncus spp.) Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Softstem Bulrush - Cattail species - (Bur-reed species, Rush species) Marsh

Colloquial Name: Bulrush - Cattail - Bur-reed Shallow Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shallow marsh mixed emergent community ranges broadly over the midwestern United States and adjacent Canada. It is found in basin-like depressions, backwater areas of floodplains, and shallow margins of lakes or ponds. Soils are shallow to deep, very poorly drained, consisting of peats, mucks, or mineral materials, often found in alluvium. Vegetation varies from zones dominated by tall emergents 1-2 m tall to those with hydrophytic annual and perennial forbs <1 m tall. In the tall emergent zone, Schoenoplectus acutus, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Typha angustifolia, and Typha latifolia may dominate, mixed with a variety of other herbaceous species, such as Eleocharis palustris, Juncus spp., Leersia oryzoides, and Sparganium spp. The hydrophytic annual and perennial forb zone is dominated by Alisma subcordatum, Alisma triviale, Sagittaria latifolia, Sparganium eurycarpum, Pontederia cordata, along with Bacopa rotundifolia and Heteranthera limosa. Occasional floating-leaved aquatics are sometimes present, including Azolla caroliniana, Lemna spp., Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Utricularia macrorhiza.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This is a very broadly defined type that intergrades between wet meadows and deep marshes. Shaw and Fredine (1971) (in Eggers and Reed 1987) define shallow marsh as "soils that are saturated to inundated by standing water up to 15 cm in depth, throughout most of the growing season." Depending on the local topographic context, the type may or may not be extensive. Any number of types could be separated within this coarsely defined type, but it is not yet clear how best to make such distinctions (e.g., the forb-dominated portions, such as Pontederia cordata or Sagittaria latifolia). [See e.g., ~Sagittaria latifolia - Leersia oryzoides Marsh (CEGL005240)$$.] See also Lee et al. (1998), who separate out a Sparganium eurycarpum type. Taxonomically, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani is equivalent to former Scirpus validus (Kartesz 1999). In Minnesota, Schoenoplectus acutus may be the more common bulrush (R. Dana pers. comm. 1999). Eleocharis spp. can also be typical of this type. Dominant and characteristic plants should always be described from stands to allow for adequate characterization. In Nebraska, the pond marsh extends to south-central Nebraska (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003).

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

Floristics: Vegetation varies from zones dominated by tall emergents 1-2 m tall to those with hydrophytic annual and perennial forbs <1 m tall. In the tall emergent zone, Schoenoplectus acutus (= Scirpus acutus), Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (= Scirpus fluviatilis), Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus tabernaemontani), Typha angustifolia, and Typha latifolia may dominate, mixed with a variety of other herbaceous species, such as Eleocharis palustris, Juncus spp., Leersia oryzoides, and Sparganium spp. The hydrophytic annual and perennial forb zone is dominated by Alisma subcordatum, Alisma triviale, Pontederia cordata, Sagittaria latifolia, and Sparganium eurycarpum, along with Bacopa rotundifolia and Heteranthera limosa. Other species that may dominate locally include Polygonum pensylvanicum (= Polygonum bicorne), Polygonum amphibium var. emersum (= Polygonum coccineum), and Polygonum lapathifolium. Occasional floating-leaved aquatics are sometimes present, including Azolla caroliniana, Lemna spp., Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Utricularia macrorhiza (Eggers and Reed 1987, Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community ranges broadly over the midwestern United States. It is found in basin-like depressions, backwater areas of floodplains and shallow margins of lakes or ponds. Soils are shallow to deep, very poorly drained, consisting of peats, mucks, or mineral materials, often found in alluvium (Lauver et al. 1999).
Geographic Range: This shallow marsh mixed emergent community ranges broadly over the midwestern United States and adjacent Canada, from Ohio and Ontario west to Manitoba, south to Oklahoma and northern Arkansas, and east to Indiana.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AR, DC?, IA, IL, IN, KS, MB, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, NM, OH, OK, ON, PA, QC?, SD, SK, VA?, WI, WV, WY


Confidence Level: Low

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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.2 Broadleaf Cattail - White Snakeroot - Rush species Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M069 2.C.4.Nd.2
Group 2.C.4.Nd.2.a Bulrush species - Cattail species Freshwater Marsh Group G125 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Alliance A1436 Narrowleaf Cattail - Broadleaf Cattail - Bulrush species Deep Marsh Alliance A1436 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Association CEGL002026 Softstem Bulrush - Cattail species - (Bur-reed species, Rush species) Marsh CEGL002026 2.C.4.Nd.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani - Typha spp. - (Sparganium spp., Juncus spp.) Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Shallow Marsh]
? Softstem Bulrush-Broadleaf Cattail CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-29-98
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