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CEGL002634 Eleocharis palustris - Carex praegracilis - Berula erecta Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Spikerush - Clustered Field Sedge - Cutleaf Water-parsnip Marsh
Colloquial Name: Cienega Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is restricted to southeastern Arizona, north-central and southwestern New Mexico, and northern Sonora, Mexico. It is found along perennial streams in valleys and mountain foothills, from 1060-1700 m elevation. The habitats supporting cienega marshes are associated with perennial springs and headwater streams, with permanent, scarcely fluctuating sources of water. The valleys where they occur are typically wide and gently sloping, where flood velocities are readily dissipated. The soils consist of layers of organic peats and fine-textured silts, and can build to depths of several meters. These spongelike soils store water and provide a base flow during drought periods. As described here, this association is composed of the emergent, herbaceous vegetation found in the areas of shallower water between pools rather than the deeper zones of these cienegas. Vegetation is composed of a highly diverse mixture of perennial and annual forb and graminoid species. Structurally these herbaceous species form a dense mat of growth, typically around 0.5 m in height. Perennial, semi-aquatic sedges and rushes are typically dominant. Some of the more constant and abundant species include Eleocharis palustris, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Schoenoplectus americanus, Carex praegracilis, Carex pellita, and Cyperus spp. Some of the more common grasses include Panicum bulbosum, Polypogon monspeliensis, Muhlenbergia asperifolia, and Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus. Forbs can be locally common and include such species as Berula erecta, Bidens aurea, Bidens ferulifolia, Bidens laevis, Hydrocotyle spp., Ranunculus macranthus, Oenothera speciosa, and Mimulus guttatus. There are occasionally woody species occurring within the herbaceous matrix, primarily from nearby sites supporting riparian woodlands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Floristic composition is very diverse and highly variable within sites, in relation to wet and dry zones, and between sites due to local hydrology and history.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is composed of a highly diverse mixture of perennial and annual forb and graminoid species. Structurally these herbaceous species form a dense mat of growth, typically around 0.5 m in height. Perennial, semi-aquatic sedges and rushes are typically dominant. Some of the more constant and abundant species include Eleocharis palustris, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Schoenoplectus americanus (= Scirpus americanus), Carex praegracilis, Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), and Cyperus spp. Some of the more common grasses include Panicum bulbosum, Polypogon monspeliensis, Muhlenbergia asperifolia, and Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus. Forbs can be locally common and include such species as Berula erecta, Bidens aurea, Bidens ferulifolia, Bidens laevis, Hydrocotyle spp., Ranunculus macranthus, Oenothera speciosa, and Mimulus guttatus. Several endemic species occur in association with cienegas and in this association, including Spiranthes delitescens and Lilaeopsis schaffneriana var. recurva. There are occasionally woody species occurring within the herbaceous matrix, primarily from nearby sites supporting riparian woodlands. The broad-leaved deciduous trees Populus fremontii, Salix gooddingii, and/or Salix lasiolepis may occasionally be present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The association is found along perennial streams in valleys and mountain foothills, from 1060-1700 m elevation. The climate of the region is continental with hot summers and mild winters. Annual precipitation has a bi-modal distribution with summer convective storms and winter frontal storms contributing almost equal proportions, primarily as rainfall.
The habitats supporting cienega marshes are associated with perennial springs and headwater streams, with permanent, scarcely fluctuating sources of water. The valleys where they occur are typically wide and gently sloping, where flood velocities are readily dissipated. The hydrologic regimes are characterized as low-energy, with low probability of scouring from floods and rarely subjected to harsh winter conditions. There are gradients of water availability within these marshes, from areas of deep to shallow perennial water bordered by drier margins with intermittently saturated soils. The soils consist of layers of organic peats and fine-textured silts, and can build to depths of several meters. These sponge-like soils store water and provide a base flow during drought periods. As described here, this association is composed of the emergent, herbaceous vegetation found in the areas of shallower water between pools rather than the deeper zones of these cienegas.
The habitats supporting cienega marshes are associated with perennial springs and headwater streams, with permanent, scarcely fluctuating sources of water. The valleys where they occur are typically wide and gently sloping, where flood velocities are readily dissipated. The hydrologic regimes are characterized as low-energy, with low probability of scouring from floods and rarely subjected to harsh winter conditions. There are gradients of water availability within these marshes, from areas of deep to shallow perennial water bordered by drier margins with intermittently saturated soils. The soils consist of layers of organic peats and fine-textured silts, and can build to depths of several meters. These sponge-like soils store water and provide a base flow during drought periods. As described here, this association is composed of the emergent, herbaceous vegetation found in the areas of shallower water between pools rather than the deeper zones of these cienegas.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to southeastern Arizona, north-central and southwestern New Mexico, and northern Sonora, Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXSON, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685279
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D031 | 2.C.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nb.1 Arid West Interior Freshwater Marsh Macrogroup | M888 | 2.C.4.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.1.a Clubrush species - Cattail species Interior Freshwater Marsh Group | G531 | 2.C.4.Nb.1.a |
| Alliance | A3891 Common Spikerush - Pale Spikerush Marsh Alliance | A3891 | 2.C.4.Nb.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002634 Common Spikerush - Clustered Field Sedge - Cutleaf Water-parsnip Marsh | CEGL002634 | 2.C.4.Nb.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eleocharis macrostachya and Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Cross 1991)
- Cross, A. F. 1991. Vegetation of two southeastern Arizona desert marshes. Madrono 38(3):185-194.
- Davis, J. C. 1992. The hydrology and plant community relations of Canelo Hills Cienega, an emergent wetland in southeast Arizona. Unpublished thesis, University of Arizona, Tucson.
- Gori, D. F. 1992. The status of vegetation and birds at Arivaca Cienega following the removal of cattle. Unpublished report for the USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, by The Nature Conservancy, Phoenix, AZ.
- Hendrickson, D. A., and W. L. Minckley. 1984. Cienegas - Vanishing climax communities of the American Southwest. Desert Plants 6(3):131-175.
- Muldavin, E., A. Kennedy, C. Jackson, P. Neville, T. Neville, K. Schulz, and M. Reid. 2011b. Vegetation classification and map: Bandelier National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2011/438. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Reid, M. S., L. S. Engelking, and P. S. Bourgeron. 1994. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, Western Region. Pages 305-620 in: D. H. Grossman, K. L. Goodin, and C. L. Reuss, editors. Rare plant communities of the conterminous United States, an initial survey. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
- Schulz, K. A. 2004. Vegetation classification of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona. Unpublished report submitted to USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO.
- Stromberg, J. C. 1993b. Southern Arizona warm-temperate riverine marshes: Southern Arizona cienegas. Element Stewardship Abstract prepared for The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia. 35 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.