Print Report

CEGL004400 Cakile edentula ssp. edentula - Chamaesyce polygonifolia Sparse Beach Vegetation

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Searocket - Seaside Sandmat Sparse Beach Vegetation

Colloquial Name: North Atlantic Upper Ocean Beach

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This is a sparsely vegetated upper beach community occurring on unstable sands and often gravels and cobbles just above mean high tide on maritime beaches and foredunes along the middle and northern Atlantic Coast. It also occurs on small bay islands and bay sides of barrier beaches. This association occurs at the wrack line where there is regular deposition of wave-deposited flotsam. The setting of this association is often dry sand, but is irregularly flooded by spring or storm tides. Vegetation cover is variable, depending on the amount of exposure to wave and wind action, but is generally sparse and characterized by annuals and biennials. Species composition can change dramatically from year to year but frequently includes Cakile edentula ssp. edentula, as well as Salsola kali ssp. kali, Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Honckenya peploides, Cenchrus tribuloides, Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, Erechtites hieraciifolius, Xanthium strumarium, and Atriplex cristata. Panicum amarum var. amarum is a frequent component south of the Delaware Bay. Globally rare species such as Polygonum glaucum and Amaranthus pumilus occur in this habitat. Sparse Ammophila breviligulata can occur sporadically as a common associate, colonizing from the adjacent beachgrass community. Diagnostic species are Cakile edentula ssp. edentula, Salsola kali ssp. kali, Atriplex cristata, and Chamaesyce polygonifolia. This community occurs in maritime coastal areas from southern Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community is common on maritime dunes of the Northeast but is vulnerable to development and shifting wave action due to jetties. J. Harrison (pers. comm. 2006): "In the Chesapeake Marshlands, in Maryland, a small patch of this vegetation was observed on South Marsh Island [see Observation Point CM-15]. Please note many of the associated "maritime" species are not present in the refuge. Although not as well-developed in estuarine environments, consider expanding concept to include narrow sandy shorelines on bay islands."

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

Floristics: This is a sparsely vegetated association characterized by annuals and biennials. Species composition is variable, but frequently includes Cakile edentula ssp. edentula, Honckenya peploides, Salsola kali (= Salsola caroliniana), Atriplex patula, Cenchrus tribuloides, Chamaesyce polygonifolia, Atriplex cristata (= Atriplex arenaria, = Atriplex pentandra), Xanthium strumarium, and Chenopodium spp. Panicum amarum var. amarum is a frequent component south of the Delaware Bay. Globally rare species such as Polygonum glaucum and Amaranthus pumilus occur in this habitat. Ammophila breviligulata can occur sporadically, colonizing from the adjacent beachgrass community. Additional infrequent species can include Chenopodium rubrum, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium berlandieri var. macrocalycium, Cyperus filicinus, Triplasis purpurea, and Sesuvium maritimum. Bare substrate can comprise greater than 95% cover in this association.

Dynamics:  This association occurs at the wrack line; there is regular deposition of wave-deposited flotsam. It is irregularly flooded by very high tides, scoured by storm tides, and is constantly reworked by wind. Species composition is dominated by annuals and biennials and can change dramatically from year to year. If the habitat is protected from regular disturbance, perennial-dominated dune grass communities tend to develop.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on unstable sands and often gravels and cobbles just above mean high tide on beaches and foredunes washed over by spring and storm tides and impacted by wind erosion. It also occurs on small bay islands and bay sides of barrier beaches.
Geographic Range: This association ranges from southern Maine to North Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA


Confidence Level: High

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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D026 2.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Na.1 Eastern North American Coastal Beach & Rocky Shore Macrogroup M060 2.B.4.Na.1
Group 2.B.4.Na.1.b North Atlantic Coastal Beach Group G660 2.B.4.Na.1.b
Alliance A3639 American Searocket Atlantic Beach Alliance A3639 2.B.4.Na.1.b
Association CEGL004400 American Searocket - Seaside Sandmat Sparse Beach Vegetation CEGL004400 2.B.4.Na.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Cakile edentula - Chenopodium album community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Cakile edentula ssp. edentula - Chamaesyce polygonifolia Sparse Vegetation (Sneddon and Zaremba 2004)
= Cakile edentula ssp. edentula - Salsola caroliniana Sparse Vegetation (Bartgis 1986)
= Cakiletum edentula (Conard 1935) [New York.]
= Beach (Fender 1937) [New Jersey.]
= Beach (McDonnell 1979) [Massachusetts.]
= Beach (Higgins et al. 1971) [Assateague Island.]
= Beach community (Hill 1986) [Assateague Island.]
= Beach community (Baumann 1978b) [Virginia.]
? Beach community (Johnson 1985b)
= Beach vegetation (Moul 1973) [Massachusetts.]
? Coastal beach strand community (Rawinski 1984a)
< Dune and swale community (Stalter 1990) [Virginia portion of Assateague.]
= Dune community (Jenkins 1974) [Chesapeake Bay.]
= Dune-strand area (Clovis 1968) [Virginia.]
= Embryo dune (Klotz 1986)
= Marine sandy beach (Clancy 1993b) [Delaware.]
= Middle beach (Shreve et al. 1910) [Maryland.]
= Middle beach (Nichols 1920) [Connecticut.]
= Pioneer beach community (Boule 1979) [Virginia.]
= Sea-strand vegetation, beach formation (Harshberger 1900) [New Jersey.]
Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon

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

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-06-13
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