Print Report

CEGL007886 Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Tidal Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Beaked Spikerush - Bull-tongue Arrowhead Oligohaline Tidal Marsh

Colloquial Name: Louisiana Deltaic Plain Intermediate Oligohaline Spikerush Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is an intermediate marsh type of the Deltaic Plain of coastal Louisiana. The type is dominated by Eleocharis rostellata, Eleocharis cellulosa, Eleocharis sp., and Sagittaria lancifolia, but numerous other species are present. Species richness in this marsh type is moderate. Additional common species include Typha spp., Ludwigia spp., Morella cerifera, Spartina patens, Hydrocotyle spp., Leersia spp., Thelypteris palustris, Schoenoplectus americanus, and others.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This vegetation was not recognized by Visser et al. (1998) in their analysis of 1968 marsh data for the same area. In Louisiana, it has only been documented in the Deltaic Plain, and therefore is probably not present in Texas. Eleocharis rostellata is reported on the "Excluded List" for Louisiana by the Atlas of the Vascular Flora of Louisiana by R. Dale Thomas and Charles Allen (Thomas and Allen 1993) because no confirmed specimen was seen in the state''s herbaria. However, C. Sasser reports with some conviction that this is indeed the species found in oligohaline wiregrass marshes of Louisiana. This positive determination of abundant Eleocharis rostellata at Jean Lafitte has been confirmed (2015) by Lowell Urbatsch, Chris Reid, and Milo Pyne (L. Urbatsch pers. comm. 2015). More information is needed to better separate the fresh to oligohaline marshes along the coast of Louisiana into associations. This vegetation may be floating and non-floating and share many species [see Similar Associations]. These marshes appear to undergo seasonal shifts in vegetation composition. In addition, subsidence, sea-level rise, and hydrologic changes are likely causing shifts in species composition, adding to the difficulty in classifying this vegetation. In particular, the floristic differences between ~Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Tidal Marsh (CEGL007886)$$ and ~Eleocharis baldwinii - Hydrocotyle (ranunculoides, umbellata) Tidal Marsh (CEGL007893)$$ need further clarification.

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

Floristics: The type is dominated by Eleocharis rostellata, Eleocharis cellulosa, Eleocharis sp., and Sagittaria lancifolia, but numerous other species are present. Species richness in this marsh type is moderate. Additional common species include Typha spp., Ludwigia spp., Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Spartina patens, Hydrocotyle spp., Leersia spp., Thelypteris palustris, Schoenoplectus americanus (= Scirpus americanus), and others.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This freshwater to oligohaline herbaceous marsh vegetation is located adjacent to estuarine and riverine tidal waters along coastal Louisiana.
Geographic Range: This community is an intermediate marsh type of the Deltaic Plain of coastal Louisiana. It is probably not present in Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  LA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.b <i>Zizaniopsis milacea - Spartina patens - Panicum hemotimon</i> Freshwater Tidal Marsh Group G913 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Alliance A1987 Bull-tongue Arrowhead Gulf Coast Tidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance A1987 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL007886 Beaked Spikerush - Bull-tongue Arrowhead Oligohaline Tidal Marsh CEGL007886 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Eleocharis thin mat marsh (Sasser et al. 1996)
= Oligohaline Spikerush Marsh (Visser and Sasser 1998)
? Thin-mat community (Nolfo-Clements 2006)
Concept Author(s): L.M. Smith

Author of Description: L.M. Smith and J. Teague

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-06-15
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