Common (Translated Scientific) Name: American Searocket - Oysterleaf Sparse Beach Vegetation

Colloquial Name: Northern Maritime Beach Strand

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This subboreal maritime vegetation is characteristic of North Atlantic beaches from northern New England. It occurs in the upper beach zone that is subject to irregular tidal flooding, generally spring or storm tides. The substrate varies from sand to gravel or cobble. Vegetation cover is variable, depending on the amount of exposure to wave and wind action, but overall is sparse. Annual or biennial species more or less restricted to beach habitats and adapted to withstand the drying effects of salt spray and wind are characteristic of this community. Woody plants and bryophytes are absent. Forbs are more abundant than graminoids; the most typical species are Cakile edentula ssp. edentula, Lathyrus japonicus, Atriplex patula, Salsola kali, Suaeda maritima, Glaux maritima, Honckenya peploides, Carex silicea, and Elymus repens. Mertensia maritima is diagnostic, although rarely abundant and not necessarily present in all examples. The stout grasses Ammophila breviligulata or Leymus mollis may be present as sparse individuals, but are not dominant as they often are just landward of this association. This vegetation differs from ~Cakile edentula ssp. edentula - Chamaesyce polygonifolia Sparse Beach Vegetation (CEGL004400)$$, which occupies a similar ecological niche, in the presence of more boreal species such as Mertensia maritima and the absence of species of more southerly affinity such as Chamaesyce polygonifolia and Cenchrus tribuloides.

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