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CEGL006274 Ammophila breviligulata - Lathyrus japonicus Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Beachgrass - Beach Pea Grassland

Colloquial Name: Northern Beachgrass Dune

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This dune grassland of maritime beaches occurs along the North Atlantic Coast from New Jersey north to central Maine. This association primarily occurs on active maritime dunes, on both foredunes that are exposed to onshore winds and salt spray as well as more protected interdunes. The substrate is wind-deposited sand with no soil development. Ammophila breviligulata is the dominant species, often occurring monotypically. Lathyrus japonicus is a common associate and can be codominant. Other associated species include Solidago sempervirens, Lechea maritima, Aristida tuberculosa, Schizachyrium scoparium, Carex silicea, Polygonella articulata, and Artemisia stelleriana. Dwarf-shrubs, such as Hudsonia tomentosa, can occur sporadically and form locally dominant patches. Vegetation cover is often sparse, and bare sand is usually evident.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The southern analog of this dune grassland association is ~Ammophila breviligulata - Panicum amarum var. amarum Grassland (CEGL004043)$$, which is differentiated by having Panicum amarum as a codominant species in addition to the presence of more southern species such as Cenchrus tribuloides and Oenothera humifusa, plus the absence of Lathyrus japonicus. These two Ammophila breviligulata-dominated associations overlap geographically in New Jersey. This association is often adjacent to Hudsonia tomentosa dwarf-shrublands and they have much species overlap; when dwarf-shrub cover exceeds 25%, the community is considered ~Hudsonia tomentosa - Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Dwarf-shrubland (CEGL006143)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association is characterized and dominated by Ammophila breviligulata, which can occur monotypically, especially on foredunes or other areas of active and rapid sand deposition. Lathyrus japonicus is the most common associate and can be codominant. Other associated species include Solidago sempervirens, Lechea maritima, Aristida tuberculosa, Schizachyrium scoparium, Carex silicea, Polygonella articulata, and Artemisia stelleriana. Dwarf-shrubs, such as Hudsonia tomentosa, Rosa rugosa, Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), or stunted Prunus maritima, can occur sporadically and form locally dominant patches within the grassland.

Dynamics:  This association occurs on the shifting sands of active dune systems. Sand is wind-deposited and tends to accumulate where vegetation slows the surface wind velocity (Martin 1959b). Rhizomes of Ammophila breviligulata stabilize the dunes, growing upward through layers of sand deposition. Ammophila breviligulata tends to grow best where there is relatively rapid sand deposition; it can grow through one meter of sand accumulation (Zaremba and Leatherman 1984). Species diversity of this association tends to increase landward in more protected areas where the substrate is more stable. This dune grassland can merge into beach strand vegetation seaward and maritime heath communities landward.
Environmental Description:  This association primarily occurs on active maritime dunes, on both foredunes that are exposed to onshore winds and salt spray as well as more protected interdunes. This grassland generally occurs beyond the influence of storm tides. Substrate is sand with no soil profile development.
Geographic Range: This association occurs along the northern Atlantic Coast from Maine to New Jersey.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE?, MA, ME, NH, NY, QC?, RI


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D026 2.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup M057 2.B.4.Na.2
Group 2.B.4.Na.2.c Northern Bayberry - American Beachgrass - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group G493 2.B.4.Na.2.c
Alliance A4470 <i>Ammophila breviligulata - Schizachyrium littorale - Spartina patens</i> Dune Grassland A4470 2.B.4.Na.2.c
Association CEGL006274 American Beachgrass - Beach Pea Grassland CEGL006274 2.B.4.Na.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ammophila breviligulata medium-tall grasslands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Coastal dune community (Rawinski 1984a)
= Dune Grass Community (Moul 1969)
= Dune grass community (Nelson and Fink 1980)
= Dunegrass community (Martin 1959b)
Concept Author(s): Northern Appalachian Planning Team

Author of Description: S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-10-02
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