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CEGL004097 Spartina patens - Schoenoplectus pungens - Solidago sempervirens Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Common Threesquare - Seaside Goldenrod Grassland

Colloquial Name: Overwash Dune Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is an upland dune grassland or overwash area of Atlantic barrier islands on embryo dunes or back sides of beaches forming from wave-deposited sand during spring tides or storms. This vegetation sometimes arises when overwash sand is deposited on interdunal swales, resulting in the occasional presence of wetland indicators. This association ranges from Massachusetts to North Carolina.. Sand movement, plant burial, and dune formation rates are not so high as to form Ammophila breviligulata-dominated primary dunes, but can be found as a fringe around the outer edge of those dunes. Spartina patens is dominant, ranging from quite sparse (25% cover) to dense, and can be monotypic in early-successional expressions. Where it forms over buried interdunal swales, remnant individuals of Schoenoplectus pungens may be present. Solidago sempervirens is a common associate. Less common associates can include Cyperus grayi, Cenchrus tribuloides, Setaria parviflora, Festuca rubra, Schizachyrium littorale, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, and occasional scattered individuals of Toxicodendron radicans and seedlings of Baccharis halimifolia. Bare sand is often visible through the vegetation, and there is no soil profile development. Ammophila breviligulata and, at the southern end of the range, Uniola paniculata, Panicum amarum var. amarum, or Panicum amarum var. amarulum may invade from the surrounding dunes. On the Virginia Eastern Shore, a somewhat xerophytic variant of this community occurs on low, narrow, relatively stable backdune ridges between interdune swales, dominated by Spartina patens but supporting a number of drought-tolerant associates such as Triplasis purpurea, Oenothera humifusa, Opuntia humifusa, Physalis walteri, Cirsium horridulum var. horridulum, and Eragrostis spectabilis.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community differs ecologically from dune grasslands dominated by Ammophila breviligulata or Uniola paniculata, which are primarily impacted by wind-deposited sand. This community is impacted by wave-deposited sand. It is drier than brackish swales and vegetation that immediately colonizes water-borne sand from storm overwash, such as ~Spartina patens - Eleocharis parvula Marsh (CEGL006342)$$. ~Spartina patens - Schizachyrium maritimum - Solidago sempervirens Grassland (CEGL008445)$$ is a southern analog of this association that occurs along the Gulf Coast.

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

Floristics: Spartina patens is dominant, ranging from quite sparse (25% cover) to dense, and can be monotypic in early-successional expressions. Where it forms over buried interdunal swales, remnant individuals of Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens) may be present. As the vegetation develops, common associated species can include Solidago sempervirens. Less common associates can include Cyperus grayi, Cenchrus tribuloides, Setaria parviflora, Festuca rubra, Schizachyrium littorale, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (= Gnaphalium obtusifolium), and occasional scattered individuals of Toxicodendron radicans and seedlings of Baccharis halimifolia. Ammophila breviligulata and, at the southern end of the range, Uniola paniculata may invade from the surrounding dunes. This community is characterized by upland maritime dune grassland vegetation. Spartina patens, and sometimes Schoenoplectus pungens, or both are dominant on dunes or overwash terraces. Total vegetation cover is variable, ranging from quite sparse (25% cover) to dense. Bare sand is often visible through the vegetation, and there is no soil profile development. Species diversity is variable; although it may be quite low and confined to the nominate species in the northern part of the range, it may be of greater diversity, including Strophostyles helvola, Solidago sempervirens, Cenchrus tribuloides, Setaria parviflora, Distichlis spicata, Sabatia stellaris, Ammophila breviligulata, Suaeda linearis, Bassia hirsuta, Atriplex patula, Fimbristylis castanea, and Cakile edentula ssp. edentula. On the Virginia Eastern Shore, associates of the drier microhabitats supporting this community include Triplasis purpurea, Oenothera humifusa, Opuntia humifusa, Physalis walteri, Cirsium horridulum var. horridulum, and Eragrostis spectabilis.

Dynamics:  This association forms a drier, later successional phase of an overwash community begun from water-deposited sand of storm overwash; it appears to be a successional step between interdunal herbaceous wetlands and interdunal herbaceous/shrub uplands. Undisturbed water-deposited sand is colonized by Spartina patens and/or Schoenoplectus pungens plus additional associates like Suaeda linearis, Bassia hirsuta, Atriplex patula, and Fimbristylis castanea that have low percent cover. This wetter, early-successional phase is currently covered by ~Spartina patens - Eleocharis parvula Marsh (CEGL006342)$$. With time since overwash, sand movement, plant burial, and dune formation rates increase, but are not so high as to form Ammophila breviligulata-dominated primary dunes. However, this association can be found as a fringe around the lower, outer edge of those dunes.
Environmental Description:  This community is an upland dune grassland or overwash area of Atlantic barrier islands on embryo dunes or back sides of beaches forming from overwash terraces. The plants of this community are influenced by water-deposited sand caused by storm surges. They differ ecologically from dune grasslands dominated by Ammophila breviligulata or Uniola paniculata, which are primarily impacted by wind-deposited sand. Storm overwash is a prevalent natural disturbance to this community. On the Virginia Eastern Shore, a somewhat xerophytic variant of this community occurs on low, narrow, relatively stable backdune ridges between interdune swales.
Geographic Range: This community is an upland dune grassland or overwash area of Atlantic barrier islands from Massachusetts to North Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  DE, MA, MD, NC, NJ?, NY, VA


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.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 CEGL004097 Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Common Threesquare - Seaside Goldenrod Grassland CEGL004097 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: = Spartina patens - Schoenoplectus pungens - Solidago sempervirens Herbaceous Vegetation (Bowman 2000)
= Spartina patens - Schoenoplectus pungens - Solidago sempervirens Herbaceous Vegetation (McManamay 2017b)
= Spartina patens - Schoenoplectus pungens - Solidago sempervirens Herbaceous Vegetation (TNC 1997a)
< Dry community of barrier flats (Travis and Godfrey 1976) [North Carolina]
? Dry maritime grassland (Lea 2002b) [Assateague Island]
= Grassland community (Baumann 1978b) [Virginia]
= Low dune community (Boule 1979) [Virginia]
< Secondary dunes (Klotz 1986) [Virginia]
= Wash (Higgins et al. 1971) [Assateague Island]
= Wash (Hill 1986) [Assateague Island]
Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon and A. Berdine

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon and S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-06-13
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