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CEGL004051 Muhlenbergia filipes - Spartina patens - Rhynchospora colorata Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gulf Hairawn Muhly - Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Star-rush Whitetop Marsh
Colloquial Name: Southern Atlantic Interdune Swale
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association represents moist interdune flats codominated by some combination of Muhlenbergia filipes, Spartina patens, Rhynchospora colorata, and Eustachys petraea. Additional graminoids may include lesser amounts of Andropogon glomeratus, Eragrostis spectabilis, Juncus megacephalus, Juncus scirpoides, Panicum virgatum, and the exotic Eremochloa ophiuroides. Forbs may include Centella erecta, Gaillardia pulchella, Heterotheca subaxillaris, Phyla nodiflora, Sisyrinchium atlanticum, and Solidago sempervirens. A sparse (0-10%) layer of emergent shrubs, including Baccharis halimifolia, Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola, Morella cerifera, Sideroxylon tenax, Smilax auriculata, and Smilax bona-nox, may also be present. In Florida this community occurs in narrow bands or swales alternating with higher ridges. These often fill with standing water after rains. In North Carolina and Georgia, it may occupy broader grassy flats between the outer dunes and the salt marsh on the inland side of barrier islands, as well as narrow dune swales. Succession to woody vegetation is indicated by increasing cover of Morella cerifera or Salix caroliniana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association (CEGL0004051) may be better placed in 2.C.4 ~Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation (F013)$$, 2.C.4.Ne ~Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division (D322)$$, ~Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Prairie & Marsh Macrogroup (M067)$$, ~Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Interdunal Marsh & Prairie Group (G777)$$ (J. Teague/M. Pyne 9-14).
Nomenclatural notes on Muhlenbergia (C. Nordman/M. Pyne 10-07): NatureServe Ecology varies from Kartesz (1999) on the nomenclature of three related southeastern Muhlenbergia taxa. The names in Kartesz (1999) for these plants are Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. capillaris; Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. filipes (M.A. Curtis) Chapman ex Beal; and Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. trichopodes (Ell.) Vasey. We have chosen to treat all three of these at the specific level, as (respectively) Muhlenbergia capillaris Lam.; Muhlenbergia filipes M.A. Curtis; and Muhlenbergia expansa (Poir.) Trin. A more recent innovation, which we will adopt at some point, is the recent recognition that Muhlenbergia sericea (Michx.) P.M. Peterson is the correct name (based on nomenclatural priority) for the plant formerly known as Muhlenbergia filipes M.A. Curtis (= Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filipes) (Gustafson and Peterson 2007). In Florida Eustachys petraea is seldom found in dune swales associated with Muhlenbergia filipes (A. Johnson pers. comm.?).
Nomenclatural notes on Muhlenbergia (C. Nordman/M. Pyne 10-07): NatureServe Ecology varies from Kartesz (1999) on the nomenclature of three related southeastern Muhlenbergia taxa. The names in Kartesz (1999) for these plants are Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. capillaris; Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. filipes (M.A. Curtis) Chapman ex Beal; and Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. trichopodes (Ell.) Vasey. We have chosen to treat all three of these at the specific level, as (respectively) Muhlenbergia capillaris Lam.; Muhlenbergia filipes M.A. Curtis; and Muhlenbergia expansa (Poir.) Trin. A more recent innovation, which we will adopt at some point, is the recent recognition that Muhlenbergia sericea (Michx.) P.M. Peterson is the correct name (based on nomenclatural priority) for the plant formerly known as Muhlenbergia filipes M.A. Curtis (= Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filipes) (Gustafson and Peterson 2007). In Florida Eustachys petraea is seldom found in dune swales associated with Muhlenbergia filipes (A. Johnson pers. comm.?).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is a sparse to very dense (20-100% cover), generally species-rich herbaceous layer (typically 0.5-1 m tall). It is dominated by the native grasses Muhlenbergia filipes (= Muhlenbergia sericea), Spartina patens, and Eustachys petraea (state-vulnerable), with Rhynchospora colorata (= Dichromena colorata). Additional graminoids may include lesser amounts of Andropogon glomeratus, Eragrostis spectabilis, Juncus megacephalus, Juncus scirpoides, Panicum virgatum, and the exotic Eremochloa ophiuroides. Forbs may include Centella erecta, Gaillardia pulchella, Heterotheca subaxillaris, Phyla nodiflora, Sisyrinchium atlanticum, and Solidago sempervirens. A sparse (0-10%) layer of emergent shrubs, including Baccharis halimifolia, Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola (= Juniperus silicicola), Morella cerifera, Sideroxylon tenax, Smilax auriculata, and Smilax bona-nox, may also be present. This community also supports additional species, including Chamaesyce bombensis, Iva imbricata, Mitreola petiolata, Opuntia pusilla, Phyla lanceolata, Physalis walteri, Scleria verticillata, and Spiranthes vernalis. In Florida, species associates of Muhlenbergia filipes include Eragrostis spp., Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon glomeratus, Fuirena scirpoidea, and Juncus scirpoides. In addition, Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense (= Cladium jamaicense) or Schoenoplectus pungens may occupy the deeper portions of the swales. Schizachyrium littorale or Uniola paniculata may be present in small amounts, often associated with small mounds of sand within the swale. Some examples in North Carolina may also lack Eustachys petraea (M. Schafale pers. comm.), and on Cumberland Island in southeastern Georgia, it is infrequent in this community. There may actually be 12 different dominants.
Dynamics: A study of succession at Crooked Island in Bay County, Florida, indicates that Muhlenbergia filipes occupies a late-successional herbaceous stage between pioneer colonizers (Fimbristylis spp., Eragrostis spp.) and woody vegetation (Johnson 1997, Table 2). In the panhandle of Florida, if a swale starts to fill in with blowing sand (after the surrounding dunes are disturbed), Spartina patens hangs on longer and can tolerate more burial than Muhlenbergia filipes (A. Johnson pers. comm. 2014).
Environmental Description: This association represents moist interdune swales or flats dominated (or codominated) by Muhlenbergia filipes occurring on sandy or sandy loam soils on barrier islands or coastal strands along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina south to Florida. These sites are subject to saturation or shallow flooding by seasonal high water tables, and potentially to seawater overwash during major storms, but not to typical tidewater influence.
Geographic Range: In Florida this community is found on prograding barrier islands around the state from Amelia Island (Nassau County) to Cape Canaveral (Brevard County) on the Atlantic Coast, from Dog Island (Gulf County) to Shell Island (Bay County) on the panhandle Gulf Coast, and from Caladesi Island (Pinellas County) to Sanibel Island (Lee County) on the southwest Gulf Coast (FNAI database 1999). Muhlenbergia filipes has not been reported from coastal swales on Santa Rosa Island, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties, Florida (Johnson et al. 1992a), or from South Padre Island, Texas (Lonard and Judd 1980). In North Carolina, it is abundant in numerous swales in the prograding area near Cape Hatteras, is extensive on flats on Ocracoke Island, and is present on a number of complex barrier islands. It is also known from South Carolina, and Cumberland Island, Georgia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: FL, GA, NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685395
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.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.c Marsh Fimbry - Spikerush species - Southern Umbrella-sedge Coastal Interdunal Marsh & Prairie Group | G777 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.c |
| Alliance | A3692 Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Common Threesquare Coastal Marsh Alliance | A3692 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.c |
| Association | CEGL004051 Gulf Hairawn Muhly - Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Star-rush Whitetop Marsh | CEGL004051 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Muhlenbergia filipes - Spartina patens - Eustachys petraea Herbaceous Vegetation (McManamay 2017b)
? Muhlenbergia Swale (Johnson 1997)
? Muhlenbergia Swale (Johnson 1997)
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 2010a. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. 228 pp. [https://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm]
- GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
- Hillestad, H. O., J. R. Bozeman, A. S. Johnson, C. W. Berisford, and J. I. Richardson. 1975. The ecology of the Cumberland Island National Seashore, Camden County, Georgia. Technical Report Series No. 75-5. Georgia Marine Sciences Center, Skidway Island, GA.
- Johnson, A. F. 1997. Rates of vegetation succession on a coastal dune system in northwest Florida. Journal of Coastal Research 13:373-384.
- Johnson, A. F., J. W. Muller, and K. A. Bettinger. 1992a. An assessment of Florida''s remaining coastal upland natural communities: Panhandle. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 12 pp. plus appendices.
- Johnson, Ann F. Personal communication. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee.
- Lonard, R. I., and F. W. Judd. 1980. Phytogeography of South Padre Island, Texas. Southwestern Naturalist 25:313-322.
- McManamay, R. H. 2017a. Vegetation mapping at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2017/1511. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 422 pp.
- McManamay, R. H. 2017b. Vegetation mapping at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2017/1561. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 264 pp.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Schafale, Mike P. Personal communication. Ecologist, North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.