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CEGL001588 Spartina gracilis Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alkali Cordgrass Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association has only been described from plots in northern Colorado, Utah and Oregon, but it is likely to occur throughout the western U.S. In Colorado, these wetland meadows occur in small patches in swales and on banks, terraces and overflow channels of gentle-gradient streams and rivers at low to middle elevations. Soils are alkaline, fine-textured silt loams and clay loams. The vegetation is a sparse to thick herbaceous layer of grasses and grasslike plants that is dominated by Spartina gracilis. Other herbaceous species that are known to occur include Equisetum hyemale, Distichlis spicata, Triglochin maritima, and Asclepias speciosa. Deciduous trees and shrubs occur with minimal cover and are usually restricted to the margins of stands. This association requires a seasonally high water table and alkaline soils in order to persist. Information on stands that occur outside Colorado will be added later as it becomes available.
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 herbaceous association is characterized by sparse to dense cover of Spartina gracilis with few other species. Other herbaceous species that are known to occur include Equisetum hyemale, Distichlis spicata, Triglochin maritima, and Asclepias speciosa. Deciduous trees and shrubs occur with minimal cover and are usually restricted to the margins of stands.
Dynamics: This association requires a seasonally high water table and alkaline soils in order to persist. Spartina gracilis tolerates burial from overbank flooding by resprouting readily. Changes in soil chemistry or water table will result in shifts in species dominance.
Environmental Description: This wet meadow association occurs in small patches in swales and on banks, terraces and overflow channels of gentle-gradient streams and rivers at low to middle elevations in northern Colorado. Soils are alkaline, fine-textured silt loams and clay loams.
Geographic Range: This association has been described from plots in northern Colorado, Utah and Oregon. It is likely to occur throughout the western U.S.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685270
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GU
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.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division | D036 | 2.C.5.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup | M082 | 2.C.5.Nd.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a Saltgrass - Lemmon''s Alkali Grass - Saltwort species Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group | G538 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
| Alliance | A1334 Alkali Sacaton - Scratchgrass - Alkali Cordgrass Alkaline Wet Meadow Alliance | A1334 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
| Association | CEGL001588 Alkali Cordgrass Wet Meadow | CEGL001588 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Spartina gracilis - Sporobolus airoides (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.030.01]
= Spartina gracilis Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Spartina gracilis association (Crawford 2003) [2 plots]
< Cordgrass Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) [This series includes coastal salt marshes, some of which are dominated by Spartina gracilis. These estuarine intertidal emergent wetlands should be included in their own association.]
= Spartina gracilis Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Spartina gracilis association (Crawford 2003) [2 plots]
< Cordgrass Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) [This series includes coastal salt marshes, some of which are dominated by Spartina gracilis. These estuarine intertidal emergent wetlands should be included in their own association.]
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