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CEGL004193 Spartina alterniflora - Lilaeopsis chinensis Salt Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Smooth Cordgrass - Eastern Grasswort Salt Marsh

Colloquial Name: Brackish Low Tidal Salt Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is a brackish, mid-tidal low marsh of larger tidal rivers along the mid- and north Atlantic coast. Spartina alterniflora is dominant, but occurs with various mixtures of species such as Bolboschoenus robustus, Schoenoplectus pungens, and Spartina cynosuroides, which may be locally prominent, especially as salinity decreases. Characteristic species in addition to Spartina alterniflora include Lilaeopsis chinensis, Bolboschoenus robustus, Polygonum punctatum, and Eleocharis parvula. Associated species that occur in low abundance can include Amaranthus cannabinus, Atriplex prostrata, Typha angustifolia, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Eleocharis halophila, Samolus valerandi ssp. parviflorus, Sagittaria calycina, and Crassula aquatica. Freshwater species increase as salinity decreases, such as Peltandra virginica, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, Sagittaria latifolia, Leersia oryzoides, and Pontederia cordata. Substrate is mud or muddy, fibrous peat.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Floristically, this community differs from the other communities of this alliance in that it is brackish rather than saline, indicated by the presence of brackish indicators such as Lilaeopsis chinensis, Eleocharis parvula, and Limosella australis. It occurs on large tidal rivers (i.e., Connecticut River, Delaware River).

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

Floristics: This association is dominated by Spartina alterniflora. Bolboschoenus robustus (= Schoenoplectus robustus), Schoenoplectus pungens, and Spartina cynosuroides may be locally prominent, especially as salinity decreases. Characteristic species in addition to Spartina alterniflora include Bolboschoenus robustus, Lilaeopsis chinensis, and Eleocharis parvula. Associated species that occur in low abundance can include Amaranthus cannabinus, Atriplex prostrata (= Atriplex hastata), Typha angustifolia, Bolboschoenus maritimus (= Schoenoplectus maritimus), Eleocharis halophila, Samolus valerandi ssp. parviflorus (= Samolus parviflorus), Sagittaria calycina, and Crassula aquatica (= Tillaea aquatica). Freshwater species increase as salinity decreases, such as Peltandra virginica, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (= Schoenoplectus fluviatilis), Sagittaria latifolia, Leersia oryzoides, and Pontederia cordata.

Dynamics:  Mid-tidal brackish marsh vegetation responds to interacting gradients of salinity and inundation. There is seasonal variation in inundation, with dramatic flooding events during the spring from snowmelt and precipitation in the upper watershed, which delay the growing season in these environmental settings (Barrett 1989). The brackish low marsh is regularly flooded by diurnal tides. Since the low marsh occurs adjacent to river and creek channels natural deposition occurs which builds natural levees. The riverbanks are freely drained and receive regular tidal flushing, which creates silty fibrous peat substrate. As brackish conditions diminish, species composition shifts to having more freshwater species, and the organic matter content in soils decreases.
Environmental Description:  This low brackish marsh occurs in the lower reaches of tidal rivers adjacent to the river channel subject to river flooding and annual ice-scour. It receives constant freshwater input from the upstream watershed. This association is regularly flooded by diurnal tides. Substrate is coarse, fibrous peat or mud.
Geographic Range: This association occurs along the north and mid-Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to South Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, NC, NH, NJ, RI, SC


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.d Southern Cattail - Bulrush species - Awl-leaf Arrowhead Tidal Salt Marsh Group G120 2.C.5.Nb.1.d
Alliance A4493 <i>Spartina alterniflora - Spartina cynosuroides - Carex paleacea</i> Brackish Tidal Marsh Alliance A4493 2.C.5.Nb.1.d
Association CEGL004193 Smooth Cordgrass - Eastern Grasswort Salt Marsh CEGL004193 2.C.5.Nb.1.d
Concept Lineage: 6907 is well within variability of 4193

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Spartina alterniflora - Lilaeopsis chinensis community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Spartina alterniflora cover type (Ferren et al. 1981)
? Spartina alterniflora cover type (Caldwell 1990)
? Brackish Tidal Marsh (Rawinski 1984a) [formerly Southern New England and Gulf of Maine.]
Concept Author(s): Eastern Ecology Group

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

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-13-02
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