Print Report

CEGL001587 Schoenoplectus pungens Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Threesquare Marsh

Colloquial Name: Common Threesquare Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This bulrush wet meadow community is found in the western United States in the intermountain basins, as far north as southern British Columbia, as well as in western parts of the Great Plains north into Alberta, Canada. Stands are found along low-gradient, meandering, usually perennial streams and springs and around the margins of ponds and marshes. Substrates are generally dark, organic, fine-textured soils derived from alluvium. Schoenoplectus pungens dominates the dense, 0.3- to 0.6-m tall herbaceous vegetation layer. Other species that often are present include Bolboschoenus maritimus, Spartina gracilis, Hordeum jubatum, Pascopyrum smithii, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Eleocharis palustris, Lemna minor, Sagittaria latifolia, and Typha spp. Stands of this association contain no tree or shrub layer, but a few scattered trees and shrubs may be present, most commonly Populus deltoides, Populus fremontii, Salix amygdaloides, Salix exigua, Salix gooddingii, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, or Sarcobatus vermiculatus.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Muldavin et al. (2000a) described five Scirpus pungens community types from New Mexico. Most are codominated with an associated species listed in the vegetation description, e.g., Eleocharis palustris, Distichlis spicata, Paspalum distichum, and Equisetum laevigatum, with one being a Scirpus pungens Monotype Community Type reported from the Gila River basin. Muldavin et al.''s (2000a) concept of this community type states that it can be dominated by Schoenoplectus pungens or Schoenoplectus americanus. Hansen et al. (1995) also include Schoenoplectus americanus in their Scirpus pungens Habitat Type. The range of Schoenoplectus americanus, however, does not extend into Alberta, so this may be less of an issue moving north. This association needs further review to clarify whether to include stands where Schoenoplectus pungens is not the dominant species.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Graminoids are 0.3-0.6 m tall.

Floristics: This widespread wetland association is characterized by a dense, 0.3- to 0.6-m tall herbaceous vegetation layer that is dominated by Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens). Associated species include Bolboschoenus maritimus (= Scirpus maritimus), Equisetum spp., Spartina gracilis, Distichlis spicata, Hordeum jubatum, Muhlenbergia asperifolia, Pascopyrum smithii, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Eleocharis palustris, Lemna minor, Sagittaria latifolia, and Typha spp. Stands of this association contain no tree or shrub layer, but a few scattered trees and shrubs may be present, most commonly Populus deltoides, Populus fremontii, Salix amygdaloides, Salix exigua, Salix gooddingii, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, or Sarcobatus vermiculatus. The more northern stands are dominantly Schoenoplectus pungens with 50% cover or greater with no other constant or significant species.

Dynamics:  Stands of this association are flooded in the spring (Larson 1993). Schoenoplectus pungens becomes established on wet, bare sediments and often comes to dominate such sites quickly (Hansen et al. 1995).
Environmental Description:  Stands of this widespread association are found throughout much of the western U.S., north into British Columbia and east to Alberta, Canada, in appropriate wetland habitats. Elevations range from 1000-2400 m. Stands occur along low-gradient, meandering, usually perennial streams, along springs, around the margins of ponds and marshes, in low-lying swales, adjacent to perennial pools in intermittent washes, and abandoned or overflow channels where the soils remain saturated (Hansen et al. 1995, Jones and Walford 1995, Walford 1996, Kittel et al. 1999a). It also occurs on silt and sand bars within the active channel. Soils are generally derived from alluvium and are fine-textured or sandy, and often are black, alkaline, organic anoxic with gleying. Soils range from normal to saline with pH ranging from 7.4-9.1. Typical pH reported for Alberta stands is 8.5 (Thompson and Hansen 2002). Stands of this association have been sampled on Fluvaquents and Haplaquolls in Montana (Hansen et al. 1995). Textures of the upper soil horizons may be clay, clay loam, and sandy loam (Hansen et al. 1995, Jones and Walford 1995, Walford 1996). Loamy sand has been found deep in the soil profile (Walford 1996).
Geographic Range: This community is found in the western United States in the intermountain basins, as well as in western parts of the Great Plains, from east-central Alberta, Canada, and Montana south to Colorado, and west into Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, AZ, BC, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NM, NV, SD, UT, WY


Confidence Level: High

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.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 CEGL001587 Common Threesquare Marsh CEGL001587 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 pungens Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Schoenoplectus pungens Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Scirpus pungens (Kittel et al. 1999b)
? Scirpus pungens Association (Bundy et al. 1996)
= Scirpus pungens Community (Walford 1996) [described from Wyoming''s Bighorn Basin; synonymous]
= Scirpus pungens Community (Jones and Walford 1995) [described from eastern Wyoming; synonymous.]
< Scirpus pungens Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [includes vegetation dominated by all combinations of Schoenoplectus pungens and Schoenoplectus americanus.]
= Scirpus pungens Saline Marsh (Thompson and Hansen 2002)
< Scirpus pungens Series (MTNHP 1988) [apparently includes a wider range of vegetation types than does this association.]
= Sharp Bulrush Marsh Site Association (MacKenzie and Moran 2004)
= Threesquare Bulrush Monotype CT (Muldavin et al. 2000a)
Concept Author(s): G.P. Jones

Author of Description: G.P. Jones, K. Schulz, J. Coles and L. Allen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-05-06
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