Print Report
CEGL002031 Distichlis spicata - Hordeum jubatum - (Poa arida, Iva annua) Wet Meadow
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saltgrass - Foxtail Barley - (Plains Bluegrass, Annual Marsh-elder) Wet Meadow
Colloquial Name: Central Tallgrass Saline Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This spikegrass saline meadow community is found in the central tallgrass region of eastern Nebraska on nearly level bottomlands and in upland depressions. During the spring, bottomland sites have a high water table that fluctuates from near the surface to 2-3 m underground. Occasional flooding occurs in lower portions of the community. Soils are loamy, somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained, and moderately to very strongly saline. The parent material is loess, glacial till, or alluvium. This community is dominated by salt-tolerant mid and short grasses. Trees and shrubs are very rare. In the saline prairie zone, Distichlis spicata, Elymus caninus, Hordeum jubatum, Panicum virgatum, and Poa arida are the dominant species. Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Helianthus annuus, Bassia scoparia, and Iva annua are also common. In the salt-flat zone, dominants include Distichlis spicata and Suaeda calceoliformis. Salicornia rubra is common in deeper, wet saline depressions.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Type concept has been taken from Nebraska state type Eastern Saline Meadow (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2000).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is dominated by salt-tolerant mid and short grasses (<1 m tall). Trees are very rare. In the saline prairie zone, Distichlis spicata, Elymus caninus, Hordeum jubatum, Panicum virgatum, and Poa arida are the dominant species. Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Helianthus annuus, Bassia scoparia (= Kochia scoparia), and Iva annua are also common. In the salt-flat zone, dominants include Distichlis spicata and Suaeda calceoliformis. Salicornia rubra is common in deeper, wet saline depressions. In less saline parts, prairie grasses typical of clay soils are present; species include Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides), and Pascopyrum smithii (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2000).
Dynamics: Fires were common during the dry season in this community.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on nearly level bottomlands and in upland depressions. The parent material is loess, glacial till, or alluvium (Steinauer 1989). Soils are silty clay loams, somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained, and moderately to very strongly saline. The salts accumulate from saline seeps associated with Dakota sandstone underlying these areas. During the spring, bottomland sites have a high water table that fluctuates from near the surface to 2-3 m underground. Occasional flooding occurs in lower portions of the community and salts can accumulate at the surface (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2000).
Geographic Range: This community is found in the central tallgrass region of eastern Nebraska on nearly level bottomlands and in upland depressions. It has a very restricted distribution, known only from Lancaster and Saunders counties, primarily in the valleys of Salt Creek, Little Salt Creek, and Rock Creek (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2000).
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NE
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685839
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.5 Salt Marsh Formation | F035 | 2.C.5 |
| Division | 2.C.5.Na North American Great Plains Saline Marsh Division | D033 | 2.C.5.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Na.1 Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow & Marsh Macrogroup | M077 | 2.C.5.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Na.1.a Saltgrass - Foxtail Barley - Western Wheatgrass Great Plains Saline Wet Meadow & Marsh Group | G324 | 2.C.5.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A1341 Saltgrass - Foxtail Barley Wet Meadow Alliance | A1341 | 2.C.5.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002031 Saltgrass - Foxtail Barley - (Plains Bluegrass, Annual Marsh-elder) Wet Meadow | CEGL002031 | 2.C.5.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Distichlis spicata - Hordeum jubatum - (Poa arida, Iva annua) Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Distichlis spicata Community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> Hordeum-Iva Community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> Salicornia rubra community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> Suaeda depressa community (Ungar et al. 1969)
= Eastern Saline Meadow (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2000)
> Prairie-Distichlis community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> dwarf Distichlis community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> Distichlis spicata Community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> Hordeum-Iva Community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> Salicornia rubra community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> Suaeda depressa community (Ungar et al. 1969)
= Eastern Saline Meadow (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2000)
> Prairie-Distichlis community (Ungar et al. 1969)
> dwarf Distichlis community (Ungar et al. 1969)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Rolfsmeier, S. B., and G. Steinauer. 2010. Terrestrial ecological systems and natural communities of Nebraska (Version IV - March 9, 2010). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 228 pp.
- Steinauer, G. 1989. Characterization of the natural communities of Nebraska. Appendix D, pages 103-114 in: M. Clausen, M. Fritz, and G. Steinauer. The Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, two year progress report. Unpublished document. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Natural Heritage Program, Lincoln, NE.
- Steinauer, G., and S. Rolfsmeier. 2000. Terrestrial natural communities of Nebraska. Unpublished report of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 143 pp.
- Ungar, I. A., W. Hogan, and M. McClennand. 1969. Plant communities of saline soils at Lincoln, Nebraska. The American Midland Naturalist 82(2):564-577.