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CEGL004141 Phragmites australis ssp. australis Eastern Ruderal Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: This reed marsh, usually strongly dominated by Phragmites australis ssp. australis, with few or no other vascular plants present, is found across the east-temperate regions of the United States and Canada.


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: European Common Reed Eastern Ruderal Marsh

Colloquial Name: Eastern Ruderal Common Reed Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This reed marsh type is found across the east-temperate regions of the United States and Canada. Stands occur in semipermanently flooded marshes, ditches, impoundments, etc., that have often been disturbed by human activity. The vegetation is variable, as Phragmites australis will often invade into existing natural or semi-natural communities present on the site. Once firmly established, this community is usually strongly dominated by Phragmites australis ssp. australis, with few or no other vascular plants present.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This is not a native community but is the result of the invasion of alien Phragmites australis ssp. australis into natural or semi-natural vegetation. The vegetation has variable hydrology and, unless Phragmites is clearly dominant, is often treated as part of other marsh and meadow types. The geographic distribution of the type is arbitrarily limited to Bailey''s Humid Temperate Domain in eastern North America (Bailey 1997, 1998). Stands in northern Minnesota and farther north in Canada may represent native stands. If so, they should be tracked as a different type. Tidal vegetation of the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas dominated by Phragmites australis is classified in ~Sagittaria lancifolia Gulf Coast Tidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance (A1987)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The vegetation is often variable, as Phragmites australis ssp. australis will often invade into existing natural or semi-natural communities present on the site. Once firmly established, this community is usually strongly dominated by Phragmites australis, with few or no other vascular plants present.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  Stands occur in semipermanently flooded marshes, ditches, impoundments, etc. that have often been disturbed by human activity.

Geographic Range: This reed marsh type is found across the east-temperate regions of the United States and Canada, ranging from Maine west to the eastern Dakotas and Manitoba, south to Texas and east to Florida.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, ON, PA, QC?, RI, SC, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV?




Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: GNA

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: < Phragmites australis temporarily flooded grasslands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
< Semi-Natural (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
? Southern New England nutrient-poor streamside/lakeside marsh (Rawinski 1984a)
? Southern New England nutrient-rich streamside/lakeside marsh (Rawinski 1984a)

Concept Author(s): Great Plains Program

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen and M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-21-15

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