Print Report

CEGL004197 Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata - (Juncus roemerianus) Salt Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Saltgrass - (Black Needlerush) Salt Marsh

Colloquial Name: Mid- & Southern Atlantic High Salt Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is an irregularly tidally flooded high salt marsh of the mid- and southern Atlantic coast from Delaware south to Florida. It is dominated by Spartina patens, which forms meadows with a distinct "cowlicked" appearance. These meadows occur at slightly higher elevations than adjacent, regularly flooded low salt marsh occupying the zone extending from mean high tide landward approximately to the limit of high spring tides. The substrate is peat of variable depths overlying sand. Distichlis spicata can be codominant. Additional associated species that generally occur in low abundance and sporadically among examples can include Limonium carolinianum, Schoenoplectus americanus, Agalinis maritima, Salicornia depressa, Juncus roemerianus, Sabatia stellaris, Borrichia frutescens, Lythrum lineare, Solidago sempervirens, Pluchea odorata, Hibiscus moscheutos, or Atriplex prostrata. Shrub seedlings of Baccharis halimifolia, Iva frutescens, and/or Morella cerifera may occur sporadically. Diagnostic species are Spartina patens, Distichlis spicata, Borrichia frutescens, Kosteletzkya virginica, and Pluchea odorata. One unusual Virginia occurrence is dominated by Plantago maritima var. juncoides.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Although Juncus roemerianus may not be present or have minor cover in some stands, it is a differential species and was chosen as a nominal of this association to distinguish it from ~Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata - (Juncus gerardii) Salt Marsh (CEGL006006)$$, which occurs to the north. ~Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata - (Juncus roemerianus) Salt Marsh (CEGL004197)$$ is differentiated by the absence or relative infrequent occurrence of Juncus gerardii, Plantago maritima, and Triglochin maritima (in pannes), and by the importance of species of southern distribution, such as Borrichia frutescens, Kosteletzkya virginica, Fimbristylis castanea, and Lythrum lineare. If discrete patches of Juncus roemerianus occur in substantial size (several acres), the community is considered to be ~Juncus roemerianus Salt Marsh (CEGL004186)$$. Currently, some unusually diverse variants exist in Virginia that may warrant recognition as a separate association.

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

Floristics: This high salt marsh is dominated by Spartina patens with Distichlis spicata occurring as a common associate or a codominant species. Associated species that generally occur in low abundance and sporadically among examples can include Limonium carolinianum, Schoenoplectus americanus, Agalinis maritima, Salicornia depressa (= Salicornia virginica), Sabatia stellaris, Borrichia frutescens, Lythrum lineare, Juncus roemerianus, Solidago sempervirens, Pluchea odorata (= Pluchea purpurascens), Hibiscus moscheutos (= Hibiscus palustris), and/or Atriplex prostrata (= Atriplex patula var. hastata). Shrub seedlings of Baccharis halimifolia, Iva frutescens, and/or Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) may occur sporadically.

Dynamics:  Vegetation of this association occurs as a shifting mosaic of patches dominated by single graminoid species. Species composition results from hydroperiod, nutrient availability, salinity gradients, soil oxygen, concentrations of growth inhibitors in the soil, and interspecific competition. As sedimentation increases marsh elevation, vegetation shifts to upland border communities dominated by Panicum virgatum and Juncus gerardii. Local disturbance, i.e., from ice scouring, can cause invasion by Spartina alterniflora, or can lead to the formation of salt pannes.
Environmental Description:  This high salt marsh association generally occurs behind barrier beaches, but also in the outer reaches of estuaries, occupying the zone extending from mean high tide landward approximately to the limit of high spring tides. It often occurs adjacent to low salt marshes dominated by Spartina alterniflora (tall form), which are regularly flooded by diurnal tides. Spartina patens-dominated high marshes form very dense peat with high organic matter content. Peat forms over sand, silt or bedrock.
Geographic Range: This association occurs along the Atlantic coast from Delaware to Florida.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.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.c Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Jesuit''s-bark High Salt Marsh Group G121 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Alliance A4491 <i>Spartina patens - Juncus gerardii</i> High Salt Marsh Alliance A4491 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL004197 Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Saltgrass - (Black Needlerush) Salt Marsh CEGL004197 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Concept Lineage: type was based on single site in VA that is now tagged to 4197 (Coulling pers. comm.)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Aster tenuifolius - Distichlis spicata - Fimbristylis castanea - Borrichia frutescens - Spartina patens association (Adams 1963) [of the high marsh described from North Carolina]
= Spartina - Distichlis - Juncus associes (Penfound 1952) [of southern salt marshes]
= Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata - (Juncus roemerianus) Herbaceous Vegetation (McManamay 2017b)
= Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata - (Juncus roemerianus) Herbaceous Vegetation (Fleming et al. 2007b)
> Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata - Sarcocornia perennis - Limonium carolinianum Herbaceous Vegetation (Coulling 2002)
>< Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Vegetation (Harrison 2001)
> Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Vegetation (Coulling 2002)
= Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata Herbaceous Vegetation (Clancy 1996)
= Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata high marsh (Clancy 1993b) [Delaware]
= Spartina patens type (Cooper and Waits 1973) [North Carolina]
= High marsh (Cooper 1974) [of the high marsh of south Atlantic and Gulf coast marshes]
< Salt marsh (Higgins et al. 1971) [Assateague Island]
< Salt marsh community (Hill 1986) [Assateague Island]
Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon and S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-06-13
  • Adams, D. A. 1963. Factors influencing vascular plant zonation in North Carolina salt marshes. Ecology 44:445-456.
  • Clancy, K. 1993b. A preliminary classification of the natural communities of Delaware. Unpublished draft. Delaware Natural Heritage Inventory, Division of Parks and Recreation, Dover. 30 pp.
  • Clancy, K. 1996. Natural communities of Delaware. Unpublished review draft. Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Division of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Smyrna, DE. 52 pp.
  • Cooper, A. S. 1974. Salt marshes. In: H. T. Odum and B. J. Copeland, editors. Coastal Ecological Systems of the United States. II. The Conservation Foundation, Washington, DC.
  • Cooper, A. W., and E. D. Waits. 1973. Vegetation types in an irregularly flooded salt marsh on the North Carolina Outer Banks. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 89:78-91.
  • Coulling, P. P. 2002. A preliminary classification of tidal marsh, shrub swamp, and hardwood swamp vegetation and assorted non-tidal, chiefly non-maritime, herbaceous wetland communities of the Virginia Coastal Plain. October 2002. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report 02-18. 30 pp.
  • Coxe, R. 2009. Guide to Delaware vegetation communities. Spring 2009 edition. State of Delaware, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna.
  • Eastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boston, MA.
  • Fleming, G. P. 2001a. Community types of Coastal Plain calcareous ravines in Virginia. Preliminary analysis and classification. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. 4 pp.
  • Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
  • Fleming, G. P., K. Taverna, and P. P. Coulling. 2007b. Vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks, eastern region. Regional (VA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2007. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
  • Fleming, G. P., and K. D. Patterson. 2003. Preliminary vegetation classification for the National Capitol Region parks. Regional (VA-WVA-MD-DC) analysis prepared for NatureServe and USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, March 2003. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond.
  • GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
  • Govus, T. E. 1998. Fort Pulaski National Monument Inventory. Final report. Purchase Order # 1443PX509097564. Prepared for National Park Service, Southeast Region, Atlanta, GA. 33 pp. plus appendices and maps.
  • Harrison, J. W. 2001. Herbaceous tidal wetland communities of Maryland''s eastern shore: Identification, assessment and monitoring. Report submitted to the U.S. EPA (Clean Water Act 1998 State Wetlands Protection Development Grant Program). Biodiversity Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division. 30 June 2001. [U.S. EPA Reference Wetland Natural communities of Maryland''s Herbaceous Tidal Wetlands Grant #CD993724].
  • Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
  • Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
  • Higgins, E. A. T., R. D. Rappleye, and R. G. Brown. 1971. The flora and ecology of Assateague Island. University of Maryland Experiment Station Bulletin A-172. 70 pp.
  • Hill, S. R. 1986. An annotated checklist of the vascular flora of Assateague Island (Maryland and Virginia). Castanea 5:265-305.
  • McManamay, R. H, A.C. Curtis, and S.C. Heath. 2013b. Vegetation mapping at Fort Pulaski National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2013/718. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 180 pp.
  • McManamay, R. H. 2017a. Vegetation mapping at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2017/1511. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 422 pp.
  • McManamay, R. H. 2017b. Vegetation mapping at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2017/1561. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 264 pp.
  • Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
  • Peet, R. K., T. R. Wentworth, M. P. Schafale, and A.S. Weakley. No date. Unpublished data of the North Carolina Vegetation Survey. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
  • Penfound, W. T. 1952. Southern swamps and marshes. Botanical Review 7:413-446.
  • Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
  • Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
  • Sneddon, L., J. Menke, A. Berdine, E. Largay, and S. Gawler. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping of Assateague Island National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/ASIS/NRR--2017/1422. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 512 pp.
  • TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1995c. NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Vegetation classification of Assateague Island National Seashore. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Eastern Regional Office, Boston, MA.