Print Report

CEGL003921 Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens / Panicum virgatum Saline Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Groundsel-tree - Jesuit''s-bark / Switchgrass Saline Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Irregularly Flooded Eastern Tidal Salt Shrub

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This maritime shrubland of the eastern states occurs in association with salt marshes, occurring along the upper edges of the marsh, at the transition to uplands. Iva frutescens is the most characteristic and dominant shrub species, and Baccharis halimifolia is a common associate. Other associated shrubs include Morella pensylvanica in the northern portion of the range, while Borrichia frutescens, Morella cerifera, and Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola are frequent associates in the southern part of the range. Spartina patens is a characteristic and usually abundant grass; other common herbaceous associates include Panicum virgatum, Distichlis spicata, Hibiscus moscheutos, Toxicodendron radicans, Teucrium canadense, Festuca rubra, Limonium carolinianum, Atriplex prostrata, Sabatia stellaris, Solidago sempervirens, Sabatia dodecandra, and in the north Hierochloe odorata and Juncus gerardii, and in the south Setaria parviflora. This community often forms an abrupt transition from salt marsh to upland reflecting the relatively higher elevation and less frequent tidal flooding. Shrub cover in this situation tends to be fairly dense, and herbs are sparsely distributed. Storm-induced disturbance causes periodic die-back of the shrubs restricting the extent of their spread.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association (CEGL003921) can be differentiated from the similar salt shrub association ~Iva frutescens / Spartina patens Saline Shrubland (CEGL006848)$$ by the relatively higher cover and frequency of Baccharis halimifolia, generally higher species diversity often characterized by the presence of Panicum virgatum, and the relatively higher elevation and more infrequent tidal flooding duration of CEGL003921. As shrub cover decreases, the community often grades into high salt marsh associations such as ~Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens - Carex silicea Salt Marsh (CEGL006150)$$ or Spartina patens-dominated high marsh associations. Southern analogs of this salt marsh-upland border shrubland include ~Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens - Morella cerifera - (Ilex vomitoria) Saline Shrubland (CEGL003920)$$ along the southern Atlantic Coast from the Carolinas to Florida west to Louisiana and ~Iva frutescens ssp. frutescens - Baccharis halimifolia / Spartina spartinae Saline Shrubland (CEGL004616)$$ along the Texas Gulf Coast. This community is differentiated from ~Morella cerifera / Spartina patens Wet Shrubland (CEGL003839)$$ by the presence of Iva frutescens and by the influence of tidal flooding.

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

Floristics: This tidal shrubland is dominated by Iva frutescens and Baccharis halimifolia. Other associated shrubs include Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica) in the northern portion of the range, while Borrichia frutescens, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), and Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola are frequent associates in the southern part of the range. Panicum virgatum is a characteristic and usually abundant grass; other common herbaceous associates include Distichlis spicata, Hibiscus moscheutos, Toxicodendron radicans, Teucrium canadense, Festuca rubra, Limonium carolinianum, and in the south Setaria parviflora. This community often forms an abrupt transition from salt marsh to upland reflecting the relatively higher elevation and less frequent tidal flooding. Shrub cover in this situation tends to be fairly dense, and herbs are sparsely distributed.

Dynamics:  This association occurs above mean high tide but can be flooded by storm tides. Heavy salt spray and tidal flooding from severe storms can cause die-back in the shrub layer. Seaward, this association grades into high salt marsh dominated by herbaceous vegetation. Landward, shrub cover becomes more dense.
Environmental Description:  This maritime and estuarine shrubland of the northeastern seaboard states occurs in association with salt marshes. It forms an ecotone between high salt marsh and adjacent upland vegetation. This shrubland occurs above mean high tide but can be flooded by storm tides. Substrate is organic peat over glacial till, sand, or sandy loam.
Geographic Range: This association ranges from Massachusetts to South Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, RI, SC, VA


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.5 Salt Marsh Formation F035 2.C.5
Division 2.C.5.Nb North American Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Salt Marsh Division D034 2.C.5.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.5.Nb.1 North American Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Salt Marsh Macrogroup M079 2.C.5.Nb.1
Group 2.C.5.Nb.1.c Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Jesuit''s-bark High Salt Marsh Group G121 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Alliance A4489 <i>Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens</i> Tidal Shrub Salt Marsh Alliance A4489 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL003921 Groundsel-tree - Jesuit''s-bark / Switchgrass Saline Shrubland CEGL003921 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Concept Lineage: LAS 7-07: description and name moved from CEGL006063.CEGL006905 is a compilation of 3 fairly disparate plots that share a common abundance of Scirpus pungens and nothing else. Each of the 3 plots fall within variability of 3 other associations: CEGL003921, CEGL006006, and CEGL004193.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens / Panicum virgatum Herbaceous Vegetation (Harrison and Stango 2003)
= Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens ssp. oraria / Spartina patens Shrubland (Bartgis 1986)
= Iva frutescens - Baccharis halimifolia / Spartina patens - Distichlis spicata Tidal Shrubland (Coulling 2002)
< Iva frutescens / Panicum virgatum community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Iva frutescens-Baccharis halimifolia (Good 1965)
= Iva frutescens and Baccharis halimifolia (Klemas et al. 1973)
= Estuarine scrub-shrub wetland (Tiner 1985a)
= Estuarine scrub-shrub wetland (Tiner 1985b)
? Salt Marsh (Rawinski 1984a)
? Salt bush - salt meadow marsh (Daiber et al. 1976)
< Salt marsh and upper border (Barry 1980)
< Salt marsh community (Hill 1986)
< Saltbush zone (Boule 1979)
< Shrub succession community (Higgins et al. 1971)
< Swamp thicket (Klotz 1986)
Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon

Author of Description: L.A. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-06-13
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