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CEGL002030 Schoenoplectus acutus - Typha latifolia - (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) Sandhills Marsh
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Hardstem Bulrush - Broadleaf Cattail - (Softstem Bulrush) Sandhills Marsh
Colloquial Name: Sandhills Bulrush Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is found in the central Great Plains of the United States in floodplains or interdunal valleys. The soils are deep, poorly-drained sands or sandy loams that are rich in organic matter (muck or peat) and formed in eolian sand or alluvium. These sites are flooded for most of the growing season by water several centimeters to about 1 m deep. The water is usually slightly alkaline. The vegetation of this community varies in response to water depth, chemistry, turbidity, and temperature. The most abundant species in the more permanently flooded zone are tall hydrophytic graminoids, such as Schoenoplectus acutus, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani and Typha latifolia. Sagittaria latifolia is a common forb often present in openings among the dominants and in deeper water at the margin of the community. Submersed species present include Ceratophyllum demersum, Lemna trisulca, Potamogeton spp., and Zannichellia palustris. In more seasonally flooded portions of the marsh Phragmites australis may dominate and exclude other species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is a Sandhills version of the more broadly defined mixed emergent type, ~Typha spp. - Schoenoplectus spp. - Mixed Herbs Great Plains Marsh (CEGL002228)$$. Recent work by the Colorado NHP (Kittel et al. 1999b) may broaden the concept of this type into other sandhills regions in the central-western Great Plains.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetational composition of this community varies in response to water depth and other factors. This community is dominated by tall, emergent, hydrophytic graminoids. In areas flooded most of the season Schoenoplectus acutus (= Scirpus acutus) and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (= Scirpus tabernaemontani) are usually dominant, with Typha latifolia increasingly common in areas of deeper water. Scattered patches of Phragmites australis may be present, but are seldom common. Sagittaria latifolia frequently forms a sparse understory layer, but is often dense in openings in the overstory and in deeper water with Typha latifolia at the margin of the permanent water line. Other species found in openings include Carex lacustris, Polygonum amphibium var. emersum (= Polygonum coccineum), and Sparganium eurycarpum. In areas which experience a more frequent fluctuation in the water level, Phragmites australis dominates, and may spread extensively during extended periods of low water. Scattered Carex lacustris, Polygonum amphibium var. emersum (= Polygonum coccineum), and Schoenoplectus acutus are found with Phragmites australis in these sites. Species diversity is low (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003).
The vegetation may form two intergrading zones: a bulrush/cattail zone where areas are flooded most of the season and dominated by a mixture of species, and a reed zone where areas are seasonally flooded and dominated by Phragmites australis. Phragmites may spread extensively during periods when the water table is low. Understory vegetation is usually sparse in the denser stands, though scattered Typha and Schoenoplectus may be present along with other plants of the bulrush/cattail zone.
The vegetation may form two intergrading zones: a bulrush/cattail zone where areas are flooded most of the season and dominated by a mixture of species, and a reed zone where areas are seasonally flooded and dominated by Phragmites australis. Phragmites may spread extensively during periods when the water table is low. Understory vegetation is usually sparse in the denser stands, though scattered Typha and Schoenoplectus may be present along with other plants of the bulrush/cattail zone.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community occurs where the regionally high water table of the Sandhills intersects the land surface in interdunal valleys, and is commonly associated with lakes, though it may occur in smaller depressions as well. Soils are deep, very poorly drained, and contain much organic matter (peat or muck) and are formed in eolian sand or alluvium. Soils are flooded or waterlogged through much of the season. The water is usually slightly alkaline, and surface water levels fluctuate seasonally with groundwater levels (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003).
Geographic Range: This community is found in floodplains and interdunal valleys of the sandhills regions of the central Great Plains in the United States.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NE, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688782
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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 | A3487 Narrowleaf Cattail - Broadleaf Cattail - Bulrush species Marsh Alliance | A3487 | 2.C.4.Nd.5.a |
| Association | CEGL002030 Hardstem Bulrush - Broadleaf Cattail - (Softstem Bulrush) Sandhills Marsh | CEGL002030 | 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: = Schoenoplectus acutus - Typha latifolia - (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) Sandhills Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Schoenoplectus acutus - Typha latifolia - (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) Sandhills Herbaceous Vegetation (Butler et al. 2002)
= Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus - Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Scirpus acutus-Scirpus tabernaemontani (Kittel et al. 1999b)
< Bulrush - Reed Grass Association (Pool 1914)
= Sandhills Freshwater Marsh (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003)
= Softstem and Hardstem Bulrush (Scirpus acutus-Scirpus tabernaemontani) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
= Schoenoplectus acutus - Typha latifolia - (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) Sandhills Herbaceous Vegetation (Butler et al. 2002)
= Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus - Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Scirpus acutus-Scirpus tabernaemontani (Kittel et al. 1999b)
< Bulrush - Reed Grass Association (Pool 1914)
= Sandhills Freshwater Marsh (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003)
= Softstem and Hardstem Bulrush (Scirpus acutus-Scirpus tabernaemontani) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
- Butler, J., D. Crawford, S. Menard, and T. Meyer. 2002. Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota. USGS-USFWS Vegetation Mapping Program. Final report. Technical Memorandum 8260-02-02, Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Carsey, K., G. Kittel, K. Decker, D. J. Cooper, and D. Culver. 2003a. Field guide to the wetland and riparian plant associations of Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.).
- Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, A. McMullen, and J. Sanderson. 1999b. A classification of riparian and wetland plant associations of Colorado: A user''s guide to the classification project. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO. 70 pp. plus appendices.
- Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, and M. Damm. 1997a. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the South Platte Basin (and part of Republican River Basin), Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Pool, R. J. 1914. A study of the vegetation of the sandhills of Nebraska. Minnesota Botanical Studies 4:189-312.
- Rolfsmeier, S. B., and G. Steinauer. 2010. Terrestrial ecological systems and natural communities of Nebraska (Version IV - March 9, 2010). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 228 pp.
- Steinauer, G., and S. Rolfsmeier. 2003. Terrestrial natural communities of Nebraska. (Version III - June 30, 2003). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln. 163 pp.
- Tolstead, W. L. 1942. Vegetation of the northern part of Cherry County, Nebraska. Ecological Monographs 12(3):257-292.