Print Report

CEGL001840 Schoenoplectus acutus Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Hardstem Bulrush Marsh

Colloquial Name: Hardstem Bulrush Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is a common emergent herbaceous wetland found mostly in the interior western U.S. ranging from the Puget Sound of Washington to Montana south to California, Nevada and Utah. Stands occur along low-gradient, meandering, usually perennial streams, river floodplain basins, and around the margins of ponds and shallow lakes especially in backwater areas. Some sites are flooded most of the year with about 1 m of fresh to somewhat saline or alkaline water. Other sites, however, dry up enough in late summer to where the water table drops below the ground surface, though the soils are still partially saturated. Soils are generally deep, organic, alkaline, poorly drained and fine-textured, but range in soil textures from sand to clay to organic muck. The soils may be normal or saline. Vegetation is characterized by a dense tall herbaceous vegetation layer 1-3 m tall that is dominated by Schoenoplectus acutus, often occurring as a near monoculture. Associated species include low cover of Mentha arvensis, Polygonum amphibium, Sagittaria latifolia, and species of Carex, Eleocharis, Rumex, and Typha. Early in the growing season or at permanently flooded sites, aquatic species such as Potamogeton spp. and Lemna minor may be present to abundant. Stands of this association contain no tree or shrub layer, but a few sites have been invaded by the introduced shrub Tamarix spp.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association appears to be somewhat variable in flood regime. It is flooded less time than some of the other Schoenoplectus acutus associations in this semipermanently flooded alliance with some stands included in this association occurring in a seasonally flooded hydrologic regime. However, stands described by Kunze (1994) from western Washington were permanently flooded with shallow water (about 1 m deep). Additional research is needed to determine if the different hydrological regimes indicate a need to split out new associations.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Graminoids are 1-3 m tall.

Floristics: This wetland association is characterized by a dense tall herbaceous vegetation layer 1-3 m tall that is dominated by Schoenoplectus acutus (= Scirpus acutus), often occurring as a near monoculture. Associated species include low cover of Mentha arvensis, Hordeum jubatum, Asclepias speciosa, Polygonum amphibium, Sagittaria latifolia, and species of Carex, Eleocharis, Rumex, and Typha. Early in the growing season or at the more permanently flooded sites, aquatic species such as Potamogeton spp. and Lemna minor may be present to abundant. Stands of this association contain no tree or shrub layer, but a few sites have been invaded by the introduced shrub Tamarix spp.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association is a common emergent herbaceous wetland found mostly in the interior western U.S. Elevations range from near sea level to 2030 m. Stands occur along low-gradient, meandering, usually perennial streams, river floodplain basins, in overflow channels and around the margins of ponds and shallow lakes especially in backwater areas. Some sites are flooded most of the year with about 1 m of fresh to somewhat saline or alkaline water. Other sites, however, dry up enough in late summer to where the water table drops below the ground surface, though the soils are still partially saturated. Soils are generally deep, organic, alkaline, poorly drained and fine-textured, but range in soil textures from sand to clay to organic muck. The soils may be normal or saline.
Geographic Range: This association is a common emergent wetland found mostly in the interior western U.S. from Washington to Montana south to California, Nevada and Utah.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.1 Arid West Interior Freshwater Marsh Macrogroup M888 2.C.4.Nb.1
Group 2.C.4.Nb.1.a Clubrush species - Cattail species Interior Freshwater Marsh Group G531 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3895 Chairmaker''s Bulrush - Hardstem Bulrush - California Bulrush Marsh Alliance A3895 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL001840 Hardstem Bulrush Marsh CEGL001840 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Schoenoplectus acutus Association (Christy 2004)
> Schoenoplectus acutus Association (Sproul et al. 2011)
= Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
? Schoenoplectus acutus (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.122.01]
= Schoenoplectus acutus (McCain and Christy 2005) [7 plots]
? Schoenoplectus acutus Association (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Schoenoplectus acutus Pacific Coast Herbaceous Vegetation (Copass and Ramm-Granberg 2016a)
= Schoenoplectus acutus association (Crawford 2003) [3 plots]
= Scirpus acutus Community Type (Dethier 1990) [(p.36)]
= Scirpus acutus Dominance Type (Evans 1989a) [(p.30)]
< Scirpus acutus Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [Hansen et al. (1995) put stands dominated by Scirpus validus in this Habitat Type (p.458).]
= Scirpus acutus community type (Kunze 1994) [(p.24, 81) Kunze (1994) uses both Schoenoplectus acutus and Schoenoplectus validus as indicator species.]
= Scirpus pungens Plant Association (Bundy et al. 1996) [(p.F21)]
= Hardstem Bulrush Herbaceous Vegetation (Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus) (Christy et al. 1998) [(p.116)]
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-07-05
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