Print Report

CEGL007893 Eleocharis baldwinii - Hydrocotyle (ranunculoides, umbellata) Tidal Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Baldwin''s Spikerush - (Floating Marsh-pennywort, Many-flower Marsh-pennywort) Tidal Marsh

Colloquial Name: Spikerush Tidal Freshwater Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This fresh spikerush marsh is a prominent fresh flotant marsh (thin mat) type recently (1998) recognized in Louisiana in the Deltaic Plain, and it is apparently becoming more common. This type is codominated by Eleocharis baldwinii and Hydrocotyle spp., mainly Hydrocotyle ranunculoides and Hydrocotyle umbellata; Bidens laevis is a frequent codominant. Species richness in this marsh type is moderate. This association (Fresh Spikerush Marsh) appears to represent degraded ~Panicum hemitomon Marsh (CEGL004665)$$, which may convert to Fresh Spikerush Marsh as a consequence of intense herbivory (by nutria [or muskrat?]), changes in hydrology, changes in water quality, certain fire regimes, or other factors. It is unclear whether the type is a "natural" (i.e., non-anthropogenic) type or not. This marsh was described from Turtle Bayou in the western Terrebonne Basin of Louisiana. Its attribution to Jean Lafitte needs review and confirmation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Fresh Spikerush Marsh is a prominent fresh marsh type recognized in Louisiana in the Deltaic Plain, apparently increasing in area (C. Sasser pers. comm. 1998). Not recognized by Visser et al. (1998) in their analysis of 1968 marsh data for the same area. In Louisiana, present only in the Deltaic Plain. The type should remain a conservation target despite questions about its naturalness; it may yet prove to be a natural type in coastal Louisiana, and of value for biodiversity conservation. Sasser et al. have described additional fresh flotant types in recent years. The presence of this type at Jean Lafitte is thought to be unlikely (J. Visser pers. comm. 2015) and this attribution has been removed. Nolfo-Clements (2006) identified a thin-mat community at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve dominated or codominated by Eleocharis olivacea, Eleocharis radicans, and Eleocharis vivipara. Associated species included Hydrocotyle spp., Bacopa monnieri, Ludwigia repens, and occasionally Micranthemum umbrosum, Sagittaria latifolia, Pontederia cordata, Cyperus spp., Habenaria repens, Fuirena pumila, Juncus filipendulus, Ludwigia grandiflora, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Phyla lanceolata, Polygonum punctatum, and Schoenoplectus americanus. Occasional floating aquatic species include Salvinia minima, Lemna minor, Spirodela polyrrhiza, and Wolffiella gladiata. The relationship of this community to CEGL007893 is not clear, and it may be better affiliated with CEGL007081. More information is needed to better separate the fresh to oligohaline marshes along the coast of Louisiana into associations. These may be floating and non-floating and share many species [see Similar Associations]. These marshes appear to undergo seasonal shifts in vegetation composition. In addition, subsidence, sea-level rise, and hydrologic changes are likely causing shifts in species composition, adding to the difficulty in classifying this vegetation. In particular, the floristic differences among ~Eleocharis rostellata - Sagittaria lancifolia Oligohaline Tidal Marsh (CEGL007886)$$ and ~Eleocharis baldwinii - Hydrocotyle (ranunculoides, umbellata) Tidal Marsh (CEGL007893)$$, and ~Bacopa monnieri - Eleocharis spp. Thin Floating Marsh (CEGL007081)$$ need further clarification.

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

Floristics: The type is codominated by Eleocharis baldwinii and Hydrocotyle spp., mainly Hydrocotyle ranunculoides and Hydrocotyle umbellata; Bidens laevis is a frequent codominant. Species richness in this marsh type is moderate. Commonly occurring species include Typha spp., Sagittaria lancifolia, Eleocharis spp., Panicum hemitomon, Sagittaria latifolia, Ludwigia spp., Decodon verticillatus, Rhynchospora colorata (= Dichromena colorata), Sacciolepis striata, Zizaniopsis miliacea, and others (Sasser et al. 1996).

Dynamics:  This association (Fresh Spikerush Marsh) appears to represent degraded Fresh Maidencane Marsh. It is postulated that Fresh Maidencane Marsh may convert to Fresh Spikerush Marsh as a consequence of intense herbivory (by nutria [or muskrat?]), changes in hydrology, changes in water quality, certain fire regimes or other factors (C. Sasser pers. comm.). It is unclear whether the type is a "natural" (i.e., non-anthropogenic) type or not.
Environmental Description:  Relative to other flotant marshes of the Mississippi Delta, this type occurs on relatively thin mats of peat.
Geographic Range: This fresh spikerush marsh is a prominent fresh flotant marsh (thin mat) type recently (1998) recognized in Louisiana in the Deltaic Plain, and it is apparently becoming more common. It was originally described from Turtle Bayou in the western Terrebonne Basin of Louisiana (Sasser et al. 1996).

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  LA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4Q

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.Ne Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D322 2.C.4.Ne
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Ne.1 Annual Wild Rice - Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Pickerelweed Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Macrogroup M066 2.C.4.Ne.1
Group 2.C.4.Ne.1.b <i>Zizaniopsis milacea - Spartina patens - Panicum hemotimon</i> Freshwater Tidal Marsh Group G913 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Alliance A1987 Bull-tongue Arrowhead Gulf Coast Tidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance A1987 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Association CEGL007893 Baldwin''s Spikerush - (Floating Marsh-pennywort, Many-flower Marsh-pennywort) Tidal Marsh CEGL007893 2.C.4.Ne.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eleocharis Thin Mat Marsh (Sasser et al. 1996)
? Fresh Spikerush Marsh (Visser and Sasser 1998)
? Thin-mat (Nolfo-Clements 2006)
Concept Author(s): L.M. Smith

Author of Description: L.M. Smith and M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-06-15
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