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CEGL004406 Sesuvium portulacastrum - Atriplex spp. - Suaeda spp. Sparse Beach Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shoreline Sea-purslane - Saltbush species - Sea-blite species Sparse Beach Vegetation
Colloquial Name: Coastal Bay Shore Succulent Beach
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association represents irregularly flooded beach vegetation along the Atlantic and northern Gulf of Mexico coasts. Examples tend to occur on the backside of the ends of barrier islands where they are only irregularly flooded. In contrast to Salicornia- or Distichlis-dominated areas, they apparently accumulate less salt. Its physiognomy tends to be of scattered mound-like clumps of vegetation (mostly Sesuvium portulacastrum) in a wet sand flat.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Related vegetation in Virginia is treated in other salt flat / salt panne or upper beach / overwash associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation consists of widely scattered to fairly continuous mats of various succulent species, including most characteristically Sesuvium portulacastrum, Sesuvium maritimum, Atriplex patula, and Suaeda linearis. Other species which may occur are Spartina patens, Panicum amarum, Vigna luteola, Ipomoea imperati, Ipomoea sagittata, Sporobolus virginicus, and Cyperus sp.
Dynamics: This community develops on low-energy shores protected from strong wave action. It is, however, occasionally flooded by wind and storm tides, and strong storms destroy the vegetation, "resetting the clock."
Environmental Description: This vegetation tends to occur on the back side of the ends of barrier islands; it is irregularly flooded by wind and storm tides, but does not accumulate salt like Salicornia- or Distichlis-dominated areas. It is especially prevalent on low-energy, protected shorelines.
Geographic Range: This community occurs along the Atlantic Coast and portions of the northern Gulf of Mexico, from Delaware to Mississippi, but it is not verified from all states in this potential range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, DE, FL, GA?, MD, MS?, NC, SC
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687160
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.1 Eastern North American Coastal Beach & Rocky Shore Macrogroup | M060 | 2.B.4.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.1.a South Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Beach Group | G661 | 2.B.4.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A1868 Shoreline Sea-purslane - Spear Saltbush - Annual Seepweed Salt Flat Alliance | A1868 | 2.B.4.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL004406 Shoreline Sea-purslane - Saltbush species - Sea-blite species Sparse Beach Vegetation | CEGL004406 | 2.B.4.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sesuvium portulacastrum - Atriplex spp. - Suaeda spp. Sparse Vegetation (McManamay 2017b)
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data on file. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Auburn University.
- Coxe, R. 2009. Guide to Delaware vegetation communities. Spring 2009 edition. State of Delaware, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Natural Heritage Program, Smyrna.
- Harrison, J. W. 2011. The natural communities of Maryland: 2011 working list of ecological community groups and community types. Unpublished report. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. 33 pp.
- Harrison, J. W., and P. Stango, III. 2003. Shrubland tidal wetland communities of Maryland''s Eastern Shore: Identification, assessment and monitoring. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 118 pp.
- Harrison, J. W., compiler. 2004. Classification of vegetation communities of Maryland: First iteration. A subset of the International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation of the United States, NatureServe. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis. 243 pp.
- McManamay, R. H. 2017b. Vegetation mapping at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2017/1561. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 264 pp.
- Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
- Schafale, M. P. 2012. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina, 4th Approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh.
- Schafale, M. P., and A. S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the natural communities of North Carolina. Third approximation. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh. 325 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.