Print Report
CEGL004129 (Morella cerifera) / Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Wax-myrtle) / Switchgrass - Saltmeadow Cordgrass Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: Interdune Switchgrass Brackish Depression
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in seasonally flooded basins, or interdunal swales, landward of maritime backdunes along the mid-Atlantic Coast. The water table is at or close to the surface in the spring. Freshwater maintains these depressions as saturated or seasonally flooded and somewhat poorly drained. The community is generally strongly dominated by Panicum virgatum but can be variable in its expression. Associated species include Spartina patens, Juncus canadensis, Solidago sempervirens, Eleocharis palustris, Eleocharis albida, Eleocharis quadrangulata, Schoenoplectus pungens, Saccharum giganteum, Cladium mariscoides, Triadenum virginicum, Diodia virginiana, Toxicodendron radicans, Linum medium, Carex longii, and Euthamia caroliniana. This community is typically dominated by 40-85% cover of Panicum virgatum and occurs in larger interdunal depressions (up to one-half hectare). Variability occurs in the cover of Panicum virgatum and the richness of associated species. When Panicum virgatum is not as dense, it is most often associated with an even mixture of Schoenoplectus pungens or Spartina patens. In some cases, Morella cerifera or Baccharis halimifolia constitute less than 10% shrub cover, but shrub cover is usually much less or absent, and other herbs codominate. Soils are characterized by a shallow organic layer (usually a few centimeters in depth) overlying loamy sand or sand. The range of this vegetation is poorly known due to the low confidence of the classification. The vegetation is similar in total floristic composition to ~Morella (cerifera, pensylvanica) - Vaccinium corymbosum Wet Shrubland (CEGL003906)$$, but shrubs are generally lacking or at very low cover, and grasses are much more abundant. The community apparently occurs in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and may extend to North Carolina, but the full range will require further study.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In some cases, the vegetation is similar in total floristic composition to ~Morella (cerifera, pensylvanica) - Vaccinium corymbosum Wet Shrubland (CEGL003906)$$, but shrubs are generally lacking or at very low cover and grasses are much more abundant. It is somewhat similar to ~Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens - Carex silicea Salt Marsh (CEGL006150)$$, but that association is brackish, tidal, and occurs on the upper edges of salt marshes.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is generally strongly dominated by Panicum virgatum but can be variable in its expression. Associated species include Spartina patens, Juncus canadensis, Solidago sempervirens, Eleocharis palustris, Eleocharis albida, Eleocharis quadrangulata, Schoenoplectus pungens, Saccharum giganteum, Cladium mariscoides, Triadenum virginicum, Diodia virginiana, Toxicodendron radicans, Linum medium, Carex longii, and Euthamia caroliniana (= Euthamia tenuifolia). This community is typically dominated by 40-85% cover of Panicum virgatum and occurs in larger interdunal depressions (up to one-half hectare). Variability occurs in the cover of Panicum virgatum and the richness of associated species. When Panicum virgatum is not as dense, it is most often associated with an even mixture of Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens) or Spartina patens. In some cases, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera) or Baccharis halimifolia constitute less than 10% shrub cover, but shrub cover is usually much less or absent, and other herbs codominate.
Dynamics: This association likely comprises an intermediate phase of interdunal swale vegetation succession; as sites become less wet, shrub invade and the community may succeed to ~Morella cerifera - Vaccinium corymbosum Wet Shrubland (CEGL003906)$$. This association also has similarity to, and may be a southern analog of, ~Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens - Carex silicea Salt Marsh (CEGL006150)$$ (formerly Panicum virgatum - Carex silicea Herbaceous Vegetation), a brackish meadow association occurring from New Jersey northward. Freshwater interdunal swale wetlands occur in large dune systems that develop freshwater aquifers. Interdunal swale wetlands develop where the freshwater lens intersects the dune surface. The water table is a balance between input from precipitation and output from evapotranspiration or from drainage outlets. Perpetual drawdown tends to invoke successional shifts in vegetation from open water with or without submerged or floating aquatic plants, to emergent herbaceous vegetation to a series of shrubland associations as the duration of soil saturation decreases. Salix spp. are early pioneer shrubs, which can be displaced by other shrub species like Morella spp. as peat and or sediments accumulate.
Environmental Description: This association occurs in interdunal swales, or seasonally flooded basins, landward of maritime backdunes. The water table is at or close to the surface in the spring. Freshwater maintains these depressions as saturated or seasonally flooded and somewhat poorly drained. Soils are characterized by a shallow organic layer (usually a few centimeters in depth) overlying loamy sand or sand.
Geographic Range: The community apparently occurs in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and may extend to North Carolina and north to Massachusetts, but the full range will require further study.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: DE, MA?, MD, NC, NJ, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684954
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G4
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.2 Beaksedge species - Spikerush species - Panicgrass species Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Prairie & Marsh Macrogroup | M067 | 2.C.4.Ne.2 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f Northern & Mid-Atlantic Coastal Wetland Group | G752 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f |
| Alliance | A3652 Switchgrass Coastal Wet Meadow Alliance | A3652 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f |
| Association | CEGL004129 (Wax-myrtle) / Switchgrass - Saltmeadow Cordgrass Wet Meadow | CEGL004129 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation (Harrison and Stango 2003)
= Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation (Bowman 2000)
< Panicum virgatum Wetland Association (Heckscher et al. 1995)
< Fresh marsh community (Hill 1986)
< Freshwater marsh (Fender 1937)
< Mesic shrub community (Higgins et al. 1971)
= Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens Herbaceous Vegetation (Bowman 2000)
< Panicum virgatum Wetland Association (Heckscher et al. 1995)
< Fresh marsh community (Hill 1986)
< Freshwater marsh (Fender 1937)
< Mesic shrub community (Higgins et al. 1971)
- Bowman, P. 2000. Draft classification for Delaware. Unpublished draft. Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna, DE.
- Breden, T. F., Y. R. Alger, K. S. Walz, and A. G. Windisch. 2001. Classification of vegetation communities of New Jersey: Second iteration. Association for Biodiversity Information and New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Office of Natural Lands Management, Division of Parks and Forestry, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton.
- Brock, J. C., C. W. Wright, M. Patterson, A. Naeghandi, and L. J. Travers. 2007. EAARL bare earth topography - Assateague Island National Seashore. U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2007-1176. [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1176/start.html]
- 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.
- Fender, F. S. 1937. The flora of Seven Mile Beach, New Jersey. Bartonia 19:23-41.
- 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/]
- 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., and P. Stango, III. 2003. Shrubland tidal wetland communities of Maryland''s Eastern Shore: Identification, assessment and monitoring. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 118 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.
- Heckscher, C. M., W. A. McAvoy, and K. Clancy. 1995. Biological assessment of the Milford Neck Preserve. Division of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna, DE. 29 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.
- Metzler, K. J., and J. P. Barrett. 2001. Vegetation classification for Connecticut. Draft 5/21/2001. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources Center, Natural Diversity Database, Hartford.
- 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]. 1997a. Vegetation classification of Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Report to the NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. The Nature Conservancy. Eastern Regional Office, Boston, MA.