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CEGL003839 Morella cerifera / Spartina patens Wet Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wax-myrtle / Saltmeadow Cordgrass Wet Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Atlantic Coast Interdune Swale
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs in wetland flats, backdunes and interdune swales along the Atlantic coast from southern New Jersey to Florida. The substrate may be sand or loamy sand, sometimes with a thin layer of organic matter. It occurs beyond the reach of most storm tides but may be impacted by salt spray. The water table may often be less than half a meter below the surface, and may be dry at the end of the growing season. Canopy closure varies from densely closed to moderately open. This vegetation is dominated by Morella cerifera, sometimes intermixed with Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola (from North Carolina and possibly southern Virginia southward), Morella pensylvanica (from northern North Carolina northward), Rhus copallinum, Baccharis halimifolia, or Ilex vomitoria. The shrub layer can vary from 2-8 m in height. Occasionally, a sparse emergent canopy of trees (such as Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola or Sabal palmetto in the southern parts of the range) may be present. The herbaceous layer is characterized by Spartina patens. Other ground flora associates include Toxicodendron radicans, Eupatorium capillifolium, Eupatorium hyssopifolium var. hyssopifolium, Panicum virgatum, Andropogon virginicus, Juncus dichotomus, Solidago sempervirens, Smilax spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Vitis spp., and Schoenoplectus pungens. Small openings may have wetland graminoids, such as Juncus roemerianus, Spartina patens, Fimbristylis castanea, Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus, Muhlenbergia filipes, etc., and forbs, such as Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Sabatia stellaris, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Eleocharis spp., etc. In other cases, few herbs are present, because of the dense, thicket-like shrub layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This vegetation is characterized by a moderately open to densely closed canopy of Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera). Other canopy associates include Baccharis halimifolia, Morella pensylvanica (from northern North Carolina northward), Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola (from North Carolina and possibly southern Virginia southward), Sabal palmetto, and Rhus copallinum. The herbaceous layer is characterized by Spartina patens. Other ground flora associates include Toxicodendron radicans, Eupatorium capillifolium, Eupatorium hyssopifolium var. hyssopifolium, Panicum virgatum, Andropogon virginicus, Juncus dichotomus, Solidago sempervirens, Smilax spp., Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Vitis spp., and Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens). Small openings may have wetland graminoids, such as Juncus roemerianus, Spartina patens, Fimbristylis castanea, Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus, Muhlenbergia filipes, etc., and forbs, such as Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Sabatia stellaris, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Phyla nodiflora, Eleocharis spp., etc. In other cases, few herbs are present, because of the dense, thicket-like shrub layer.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs on maritime barrier islands and spits, usually on more protected backdunes, barrier flats, islands within salt marshes, and interdunal swales. It is not tidally flooded and occurs beyond the reach of most storm tides, but it is impacted by salt spray. The substrate may be sand or loamy sand, sometimes with a thin layer of organic matter. The water table is often less than half a meter below the surface, and may be dry at the end of the growing season.
Geographic Range: This type occurs along the Atlantic coast from New Jersey south to Florida.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, NJ?, SC, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685109
Confidence Level: Low
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.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 | A3649 <i>Morella cerifera - Persea palustris - Salix caroliniana</i> Maritime Scrub Swamp Alliance | A3649 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f |
| Association | CEGL003839 Wax-myrtle / Saltmeadow Cordgrass Wet Shrubland | CEGL003839 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.f |
Concept Lineage: CEGL003809 merged into CEGL003839.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Morella cerifera / Spartina patens Shrubland (McManamay 2017b)
< Mesic shrub community (Higgins et al. 1971)
? Salt grass sea myrtle red cedar savanna (Martin 1959b)
? Salt grass sea myrtle savanna (Martin 1959b)
? Shrub savannah (Godfrey and Godfrey 1976)
< Shrub succession community (Hill 1986)
= Thicket community (Boule 1979)
= Upland thicket (Klotz 1986)
< Mesic shrub community (Higgins et al. 1971)
? Salt grass sea myrtle red cedar savanna (Martin 1959b)
? Salt grass sea myrtle savanna (Martin 1959b)
? Shrub savannah (Godfrey and Godfrey 1976)
< Shrub succession community (Hill 1986)
= Thicket community (Boule 1979)
= Upland thicket (Klotz 1986)
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