Print Report
CEGL004949 Cladium mariscus - Woodwardia virginica Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Swamp Sawgrass - Virginia Chainfern Marsh
Colloquial Name: Sawgrass Head
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This fresh marsh association dominated by Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense occurs in interdune depressions of the Alabama Gulf Coast and related areas of the Georgia Atlantic Coast, as well as open streamhead and flatwoods environments in northern Florida. Other typical species include Woodwardia virginica, Morella cerifera, Toxicodendron radicans, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Sagittaria lancifolia, Centella erecta, and Persea palustris. Although this is essentially an herbaceous type, shrubs (especially Morella cerifera and Cephalanthus occidentalis) may sometimes have substantial cover. All of these are treated here, even examples with scattered to open shrub cover.
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 association is dominated by Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense. Other typical species include Woodwardia virginica, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Toxicodendron radicans, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, Sagittaria lancifolia, Centella erecta, and Persea palustris. Shrubs (especially Morella cerifera and Cephalanthus occidentalis) may sometimes have substantial cover. Examples of this association along the Gulf Coast are now often being invaded by the alien tree Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum). An example in the South Atlantic Coastal Plain (Osceola National Forest) has an emergent layer of Taxodium ascendens and Pinus elliottii above a fairly species-rich ground cover which includes Ludwigia pilosa, Panicum hemitomon, Panicum rigidulum, and several Rhynchospora spp. (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data).
Dynamics: At least in some parts of its range, this type is subject to fire. The frequency of fire may help to explain the prominence of shrubs (especially Morella cerifera and Cephalanthus occidentalis) in some examples. The alien tree Triadica sebifera (Chinese Tallow) is now often invading examples of this community along the Gulf Coast. Inland examples may be maintained by fires which eliminate encroaching shrub and tree species; this phenomenon has apparently occurred recently on the Osceola National Forest (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data) and has been documented on Cumberland Island, Georgia (Davison 1984).
Environmental Description: This community occurs in broad to narrow interdune depressions as well as open, streamhead and flatwoods environments of the South Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). On Cumberland Island, Georgia, this type is found in a marsh complex that extends along the eastern two-thirds of the island, lying just behind the secondary dunes (Davison 1984). Areas supporting this community hold standing water throughout most years, drying down only during severe droughts when they may be subject to fire.
Geographic Range: This association is found in coastal/maritime-influenced habitats along the coast of Georgia and Alabama, with some inland examples known from northeastern Florida.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, FL, GA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685814
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.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.a Pickerelweed - Maidencane River & Basin Freshwater Marsh & Wet Meadow Group | G188 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.a |
| Alliance | A1369 Swamp Sawgrass Floodplain Marsh Alliance | A1369 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004949 Swamp Sawgrass - Virginia Chainfern Marsh | CEGL004949 | 2.C.4.Ne.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sawgrass Marsh (Davison 1984)
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data on file. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Auburn University.
- Davison, K. L. 1984. Vegetation response and regrowth after fire on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia. USDI National Park Service, Southeast Region, Research/Resources Management Report SER-69, Atlanta, GA. 121 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.