Print Report

CEGL004202 Zizania aquatica Tidal Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Annual Wild Rice Tidal Marsh

Colloquial Name: Atlantic Coast Wild Rice Tidal Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This is a freshwater tidal marsh characterized by Zizania aquatica that occurs in oligohaline zones of tidal rivers along the north and mid-Atlantic coast of North America. These marshes occur in the lower reaches of freshwater tidal systems, in fresh to slightly brackish areas along flats that are infrequently exposed at very low tides. Soils are highly variable and are composed of varying amounts of silts, silty mucks, fine peat, to very coarse sands. Zizania aquatica is dominant, although only conspicuously so in mid to late summer, when it overtops early season vegetation. This community can be codominated by species such as Pontederia cordata, Peltandra virginica, Polygonum arifolium, Polygonum punctatum, and/or Bidens spp. Common associates are generally a mixture of freshwater and brackish species and can include Sagittaria latifolia, Ludwigia palustris, Impatiens capensis, Leersia oryzoides, Amaranthus cannabinus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Sium suave, Acorus americanus, and Bolboschoenus fluviatilis. This vegetation provides an important food source for migratory birds.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Because of high seasonal variability, stands sampled in the early spring that may appear to be ~Peltandra virginica - Pontederia cordata Tidal Marsh (CEGL004706)$$ may be more appropriately classified as ~Zizania aquatica Tidal Marsh (CEGL004202)$$. This vegetation is best sampled later in the season.

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

Floristics: This freshwater tidal marsh community can be highly variable in species composition, but characterized by Zizania aquatica, which is dominant and monotypic in some examples, often forming a "canopy" over such species as Pontederia cordata, Peltandra virginica, Polygonum arifolium, Polygonum punctatum, and/or Bidens spp., among others. Common associates are generally a mixture of freshwater and brackish species and can include Sagittaria latifolia, Ludwigia palustris, Impatiens capensis, Leersia oryzoides, Amaranthus cannabinus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Sium suave, Acorus americanus, and Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (= Schoenoplectus fluviatilis). Nuphar advena (= Nuphar lutea ssp. advena) is a common associate in the southern portion of the range. This plant association shows extreme seasonal variability with Zizania aquatica becoming a conspicuous component only in mid to late summer and generally senescing by mid to late autumn. The exotic species Murdannia keisak can be a major component in many stands in Virginia. This vegetation provides an important food source for migratory birds.

Dynamics:  Freshwater tidal marshes are naturally dynamic systems that are best developed where there is a major input of freshwater, a daily tidal range of at least 0.5 m, and a geomorphology that tends to constrict and magnify tidal influence in the upper reaches of the estuary (Odum et al. 1984). They are subject to diurnal flooding by tides and seasonal and episodic flooding from river discharge. Plant composition of freshwater tidal marshes generally occurs as a mosaic of patches dominated by a few or a single species. Species composition is determined by species life history characteristics, especially lifeform, phenology and mode of regeneration in response to microhabitat conditions, and the frequency and duration of flooding. Plant composition has seasonal variation. Landward, this community can grade into other freshwater tidal marsh associations, especially ~Peltandra virginica - Pontederia cordata Tidal Marsh (CEGL004706)$$, and it can grade into tidal shrublands, such as ~Alnus serrulata / (Zizania aquatica, Zizaniopsis miliacea) Tidal Shrubland (CEGL004627)$$ in Virginia. Towards the shore of the river, this association grades into ~Nuphar advena Tidal Marsh (CEGL004472)$$.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs in the lower reaches of freshwater tidal marshes, in fresh to slightly brackish areas that are low within the marsh and are infrequently exposed at lowest tides. It occurs on alluvial soils that are commonly silts or silty clays, although occasionally have a greater sand component. Zizania flats are best developed in quiet waters conducive to sedimentation (Barrett 1989).
Geographic Range: This association occurs along the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Maine and Massachusetts south to South Carolina, possibly extending into Georgia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CT, DE, FL?, GA?, MA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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.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 A4484 Annual Wild Rice Northern Tidal Freshwater Marsh Alliance A4484 2.C.4.Ne.1.c
Association CEGL004202 Annual Wild Rice Tidal Marsh CEGL004202 2.C.4.Ne.1.c
Concept Lineage: This (CEGL006911) is well within parameters of CEGL004202 Zizania aquatica Herbaceous Vegetation. CEGL006908 lumped into CEGL004202.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Peltandra virginica - Polygonum punctatum - Sagittaria latifolia Freshwater Marsh (Walton et al. 2001)
= Pontederia cordata - Leersia oryzoides Tidal Freshwater Marsh (Walton et al. 2001)
? Zizania aquatica - Polygonum punctatum Tidal Herbaceous Vegetation (Coulling 2002)
= Zizania aquatica - Pontederia cordata community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Zizania aquatica var. aquatica Tidal Marsh (Walton et al. 2001)
? Zizania aquatica marsh community (Barrett 1989)
? FW Tidal Marsh (Rawinski 1984a) [formerly Southern New England FW Tidal.]
? Freshwater Tidal Marsh: Wild Rice - Smartweed Type (McCoy and Fleming 2000)
? Wild Rice Community Type (Odum et al. 1984)
Concept Author(s): A.S. Weakley

Author of Description: S.L. Neid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-09-07
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