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CEGL002259 Eleocharis palustris - (Eleocharis compressa) - Leptochloa fusca ssp. fascicularis Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Spikerush - (Flat-stem Spikerush) - Maritime Bearded Sprangletop Marsh

Colloquial Name: Spikerush Playa Lake

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This spikerush basin wetland is found in the south-central Great Plains of the United States. Stands occur in wet depressions, bison wallows, interdunal swales, and playa lakes. Soils are poorly drained, dense clays. The vegetation is dominated by low (<0.5 m) graminoids and forbs. Eleocharis macrostachya is dominant or codominant. Other species that may be present include Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia grayi, Symphyotrichum subulatum, Coreopsis tinctoria, Eleocharis compressa, Hordeum jubatum, Leptochloa fusca ssp. fascicularis, Marsilea vestita, Polygonum pensylvanicum, and others.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Type may be in the eastern part of Oklahoma, rather than Great Plains part. Eleocharis macrostachya was treated as a synonym of Eleocharis palustris by Kartesz (1994), but it is treated as a distinct species by FNA (2002b). It is possible that some stands contain either or both species.

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

Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by low (<0.5 m) graminoids and forbs. Eleocharis macrostachya is dominant or codominant. Other species that may be present include Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia grayi, Symphyotrichum subulatum (= Aster subulatus), Coreopsis tinctoria, Eleocharis compressa, Hordeum jubatum, Leptochloa fusca ssp. fascicularis (= Leptochloa fascicularis), Marsilea vestita, Polygonum pensylvanicum (= Polygonum bicorne), and others (Hoagland 1997, Lauver et al. 1999).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands occur in wet depressions, bison wallows, interdunal swales, and playa lakes. Soils are poorly drained, dense clays (Hoagland 1997, Lauver et al. 1999).
Geographic Range: This spikerush basin wetland is found in the south-central Great Plains of the United States, particularly in Kansas and possibly Oklahoma.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  KS, OK


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

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.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.5 Prairie Cordgrass - Cattail species - Bulrush species Great Plains Marsh, Wet Meadow, Shrubland & Playa Macrogroup M071 2.C.4.Nd.5
Group 2.C.4.Nd.5.a Cattail species - Chairmaker''s Bulrush - Common Rivergrass Great Plains Freshwater Marsh Group G325 2.C.4.Nd.5.a
Alliance A3489 Common Spikerush Great Plains Marsh Alliance A3489 2.C.4.Nd.5.a
Association CEGL002259 Common Spikerush - (Flat-stem Spikerush) - Maritime Bearded Sprangletop Marsh CEGL002259 2.C.4.Nd.5.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eleocharis palustris - (Eleocharis compressa) - Leptochloa fusca ssp. fascicularis Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: C. Lauver, K. Kindscher, D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-31-00
  • Barkley, F. A., and C. C. Smith. 1933. A preliminary study of the buffalo wallows in the vicinity of Norman, Oklahoma. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 14:47-49.
  • Collins, S. L., and G. E. Uno. 1983. The effect of early spring burning on vegetation in buffalo wallows. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 110(4):474-481.
  • FNA Editorial Committee [Flora of North America Editorial Committee], editors. 2002b. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. 608 pp.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
  • Hoagland, B. 2000. The vegetation of Oklahoma: A classification for landscape mapping and conservation planning. The Southwestern Naturalist 45(4):385-420.
  • Hoagland, B. W. 1997. Preliminary plant community classification for Oklahoma. Unpublished draft document, version 35629. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 47 pp.
  • Hoagland, B. W. 1998c. Oklahoma riparian vegetation. In: A. Fallon and M. Smolen, editors. Riparian area management handbook. Publication number E-952. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.
  • Kartesz, J. T. 1994a. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. Second edition. Volume 1--Checklist. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 622 pp.
  • Lauver, C. L., K. Kindscher, D. Faber-Langendoen, and R. Schneider. 1999. A classification of the natural vegetation of Kansas. The Southwestern Naturalist 44:421-443.
  • Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Polley, H. W., and L. L. Wallace. 1986. The relationship of plant species heterogeneity to soil variation in buffalo wallows. Southwestern Naturalist 31:493-501.
  • Polley, H. W., and S. L. Collins. 1984. Relationships of vegetation and environment in buffalo wallows. The American Midland Naturalist 112(1):178-186.