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CEGL002623 Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Temperate Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Softstem Bulrush Temperate Marsh

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This relatively widespread wetland occurs on pond and lake margins, and in backwater areas. It also occupies basins where the water table may remain relatively high, but which can drop below the soil surface late in the growing season. Elevations range from sea level in coastal areas to 2045 m (6700 feet) in the Rocky Mountains. Stands are flooded for most or all of the growing season. Stands can have water from 0 (exposed soil) to approximately 1.5 m deep, but usually are less than 1 m. Within a stand, water levels can vary by up to 1 m during the year. The water can be fresh to mildly saline. Soils are deep, poorly drained muck, peat, or mineral. This association is often a monotypic stand of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, but is also often mixed with one or two other Schoenoplectus species. This association is described as only those stands where Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani is the dominant bulrush. Schoenoplectus acutus may be present, but only in subdominant amounts. Other species are largely absent or present in limited amounts and include Carex aquatilis, Carex buxbaumii, Carex utriculata, Eleocharis palustris, Nuphar polysepala, Polygonum spp., Potamogeton spp., Mentha arvensis, and Galium triflorum. Adjacent deeper water sites are typically dominated by Typha latifolia, while drier sites support herbaceous communities dominated by Carex spp., Poa pratensis, or other grasses.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is defined as a PNV vegetation type. If it were renamed as a dominance type the species would include Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani and Carex aquatilis. This association is described as only those stands where Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani is the dominant bulrush. Schoenoplectus acutus may be present, but only in subdominant amounts. The Scirpus acutus Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995), Scirpus acutus community type (Kunze 1994), and Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus - Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (Kittel et al. 1999b) each describe an association where either of the two species can be dominant, either alone or in any combination. The California reference only refers to several Schoenoplectus species but never Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani.

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

Floristics: This association is often a monotypic stand of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, but is also often mixed with one or two other Schoenoplectus species. This association is described as only those stands where Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Schoenoplectus validus; = Scirpus validus) is the dominant bulrush. Schoenoplectus acutus (= Scirpus acutus) may be present, but only in subdominant amounts. Other species are largely absent or present in limited amounts and include Carex aquatilis, Carex buxbaumii, Carex utriculata, Eleocharis palustris, Nuphar polysepala (= Nuphar lutea ssp. polysepala), Polygonum spp., Potamogeton spp., Mentha arvensis, and Galium triflorum.

Dynamics:  Schoenoplectus acutus and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani are early colonizers of suitable habitats (Hansen et al. 1995) and are able to persist under wet conditions. Schoenoplectus spp. stands are generally considered permanent wetland communities. They will remain in place unless the hydrologic regime is severely altered. If water levels have fallen, stands can burn in either late fall or early spring. Stands of Schoenoplectus are important to wildlife species, especially birds, by providing cover and nesting habitat.
Environmental Description:  This relatively widespread wetland occurs on pond and lake margins, and in backwater areas. It also occupies basins where the water table may remain relatively high, but which can drop below the soil surface late in the growing season. Elevations range from sea level in coastal areas to 2025 m (0-6700 feet) in the Rocky Mountains. Stands are flooded for most or all of the growing season. Stands can have water from 0 (exposed soil) to approximately 1.5 m deep, but usually are less than 1 m. Within a stand, water levels can vary by up to 1 m during the year. The water can be fresh to mildly saline. Soils are deep, poorly drained muck, peat, or mineral. Adjacent deeper water sites are typically dominated by Typha latifolia, while drier sites support herbaceous communities dominated by Carex spp., Poa pratensis, or other grasses.
Geographic Range: This is a relatively widespread wetland association, reported from throughout the Pacific Northwest, and the interior regions of Montana and Wyoming, south into California and Colorado.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  AB, BC, CA, CO, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.1 Arid West Interior Freshwater Marsh Macrogroup M888 2.C.4.Nb.1
Group 2.C.4.Nb.1.a Clubrush species - Cattail species Interior Freshwater Marsh Group G531 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3895 Chairmaker''s Bulrush - Hardstem Bulrush - California Bulrush Marsh Alliance A3895 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL002623 Softstem Bulrush Temperate Marsh CEGL002623 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus - Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (Kittel et al. 1999b) [Includes all combinations of Schoenoplectus acutus and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani.]
= Schoenoplectus validus Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
< Scirpus acutus Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1995) [Includes all combinations of Schoenoplectus acutus and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani.]
< Scirpus acutus community type (Kunze 1994) [(p.24,81). Includes pure stands of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani or Schoenoplectus acutus.]
= Scirpus validus Association (Kovalchik 1993) [(p.181)]
= Scirpus validus community type (Kunze 1994) [(p. 49)]
Concept Author(s): Western Ecology Group

Author of Description: Western Ecology Group

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-02-04
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