Print Report

CEGL006150 Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens - Carex silicea Salt Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Switchgrass - Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Beach Sedge Salt Marsh

Colloquial Name: Brackish Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This brackish meadow of the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to North Carolina occurs at the upland border of high salt marshes. It occurs on freely drained, shallow, sandy peat that is moist from upland seepage and brackish from irregular tidal flooding. Vegetation is dominated by Panicum virgatum and occasionally codominated by Spartina patens. Common associates can include Schoenoplectus americanus, Solidago sempervirens, Teucrium canadense, Distichlis spicata, Carex silicea, and Juncus spp. (Juncus gerardii in the north, Juncus roemerianus in the south). Additional species can include Kosteletzkya virginica, Hibiscus moscheutos, Amaranthus cannabinus, and Typha spp., especially in oligohaline situations. Shrubs may occur sporadically, especially Baccharis halimifolia, Morella pensylvanica, Prunus maritima, and Iva frutescens. Vegetation can be quite diverse and is a mixture of freshwater and brackish species. This association is best developed in salt marshes with a gradual elevation gradient that lends itself to vegetation zonation. The diagnostic species of this association is Panicum virgatum in brackish settings near upland-marsh borders.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is similar in species composition to the herbaceous component of ~Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens / Panicum virgatum Saline Shrubland (CEGL003921)$$. This association is less developed in the northern edge of its range (New Hampshire).

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

Floristics: This association is a tall grassland occupying brackish meadows at the upland border of high salt marshes. Vegetation is dominated by Panicum virgatum and occasionally codominated by Spartina patens. Common associates include Schoenoplectus americanus, Solidago sempervirens, Teucrium canadense, Distichlis spicata, Carex silicea, and Juncus spp. (Juncus gerardii in the north, Juncus roemerianus in the south). Shrubs may occur sporadically, especially Baccharis halimifolia, Morella pensylvanica (= Myrica pensylvanica), Prunus maritima, and Iva frutescens. Vegetation can be quite diverse and is a mixture of freshwater and brackish species. In addition to the common associates, other graminoids can include Setaria parviflora, Elymus virginicus, Panicum amarum, Cladium mariscoides, Cyperus polystachyos, Cyperus dentatus, Schoenoplectus pungens (= Scirpus pungens), and Fimbristylis castanea, and other forbs can include Polygala verticillata, Solidago sempervirens, Euthamia caroliniana (= Euthamia tenuifolia), Agalinis maritima, Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata, Sabatia stellaris, Sabatia dodecandra, and Asteraceae spp.

Dynamics:  This association generally forms as a band of vegetation between high salt marsh and upland vegetation. It is best developed in salt marshes with a gradual elevation gradient that lend themselves to vegetation zonation. In the northern part of the geographic range, this band gets progressively narrower as the transition to the upland border is more abrupt. With more frequent flooding, the community likely transitions to high salt marsh. Where salt spray and salinity influence decreases, shrubs tend to invade or the community can transition to maritime grasslands. Where tidal flooding becomes ponded, vegetation is classified as an interdunal swale. Vegetation can be more sparse, grading into sand flats.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs at the upland border of salt marshes on moist, sandy, shallow peat over glacial till. This is the highest elevation within the salt marsh; it is irregularly flooded by tides, high spring tides and storm tides, but is freely drained. It is also subject to salt spray. Soil salinity is low (oligohaline to mesohaline, 0.5-18 ppt). Similar vegetation can occur on anthropogenic dredge spoils where similar environmental conditions are created. Small patches of this association may also occur around coastal salt ponds.
Geographic Range: This association occurs from New Hampshire to North Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NJ, NY, RI, VA?


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.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 CEGL006150 Switchgrass - Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Beach Sedge Salt Marsh CEGL006150 2.C.5.Nb.1.d
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Panicum virgatum Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (Harrison 2001)
= Panicum virgatum Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (Clancy 1996)
< Panicum virgatum Wetland Association (Heckscher et al. 1995) [Delaware.]
< Panicum virgatum medium-tall grasslands (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
? Panicum virgatum upland border (Nixon 1982)
= Panicum virgatum upper border (Miller and Egler 1950)
? Brackish Tidal Marsh (Rawinski 1984a) [formerly Southern New England and Gulf of Maine.]
< Fresh marsh (Hill 1986) [Assateague Island.]
< Freshwater marsh (Fender 1937) [New Jersey.]
< Mesic shrub community (Higgins et al. 1971) [Assateague Island.]
? Salt Marsh (Rawinski 1984a) [formerly Southern New England and Gulf of Maine Salt Marshes.]
Concept Author(s): D. Hunt, L.A. Sneddon, and S.L. Neid

Author of Description: S.L. Neid after D. Hunt

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-05-12
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