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CEGL006352 Eriocaulon parkeri - Polygonum punctatum Tidal Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Estuary Pipewort - Dotted Smartweed Tidal Marsh

Colloquial Name: Estuary Pipewort Freshwater Intertidal Flat

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This freshwater tidal community occurs in estuaries of the northern Atlantic Coast generally confined to low marsh where it is subjected to high levels of flood disturbance. As a result, the substrate is generally sandy or gravelly with low organic matter content. The vegetation is low, generally less than 35 cm in height, with variable cover of scattered to fairly dense Eriocaulon parkeri. Associates include Polygonum punctatum, Isoetes riparia, Lindernia dubia, Bidens eatonii, and Ludwigia palustris.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The floristics and environmental setting of this association show overlap with ~Isoetes riparia Tidal Marsh (CEGL006058)$$.

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

Floristics: This community is an herbaceous (95% cover) wetland dominated by annuals or herbaceous perennials. Eriocaulon parkeri is characteristic of this association. In the northern portion of the range, associated species include Zizania aquatica, Ludwigia palustris, Bidens eatonii, Bidens hyperborea, Crassula aquatica, and Schoenoplectus pungens. Farther south, associates additionally include Sagittaria latifolia, Pontederia cordata, Peltandra virginica, and Orontium aquaticum. Vegetation cover can be highly variable with significant fluctuations in floristic composition and species density from year to year. Seasonal variability also occurs; early in the season, Isoetes spp. can predominate. Several regionally rare species occur in this type including Eriocaulon parkeri, Limosella australis, Bidens eatonii, and Crassula aquatica.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community occurs within freshwater tidal wetland complexes in upper reaches of tides where there is seasonal flushing which removes accumulated fine-grained materials. The typical substrate consists of loamy sand with about 5% gravel. The moisture regime is very wet with the community being exposed during low tide and often remaining inundated during spring tides.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is restricted to shores of tidal rivers from southern Maine to North Carolina, with possible peripheral occurrences in South Carolina and New Brunswick, Canada, and excluding New York.

Nations: CA?,US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NB?, NC, NJ, NY, QC?, SC?, VA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

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.c <i>Zizania aquatica - Spartina patens - Amaranthus cannabinus</i> Freshwater Tidal Marsh Group G914 2.C.4.Ne.1.c
Alliance A3579 Riverbank Quillwort - Estuary Pipewort Intertidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance A3579 2.C.4.Ne.1.c
Association CEGL006352 Estuary Pipewort - Dotted Smartweed Tidal Marsh CEGL006352 2.C.4.Ne.1.c
Concept Lineage: Merged into this association

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Eriocaulon parkeri - Hypericum mutilum - Gratiola aurea community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
> Eriocaulon parkeri - Polygonum punctatum community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? FW Tidal Marsh (Rawinski 1984a) [formerly Southern New England FW Tidal.]
= Vegetation type VII - Polygonum (Barrett 1994)
Concept Author(s): Eastern Ecology Group

Author of Description: S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-13-02
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