Print Report

CEGL007713 Spartina bakeri - Woodwardia virginica - Saccharum giganteum Marsh

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand Cordgrass - Virginia Chainfern - Sugarcane Plumegrass Marsh

Colloquial Name: South Atlantic Coastal Pond

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: These seasonally flooded wetlands are dominated by Spartina bakeri, or at least with substantial cover of it. Circular ponds in which Spartina bakeri is typically the dominant species are found on marsh islands of the South Atlantic Coastal Plain of South Carolina and Georgia. Herbaceous dominants also include Woodwardia virginica, Hibiscus moscheutos, Juncus effusus, and Saccharum giganteum. Additional herbaceous species may include Panicum virgatum, Cyperus odoratus, and Juncus roemerianus. Scattered trees and shrubs also occur, including Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum, Pinus taeda, Pinus serotina, Morella cerifera, Salix nigra, Diospyros virginiana, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Persea palustris, and the exotic Triadica sebifera. Disturbance of these ponds may result in a reduction to less than 50% cover of Spartina bakeri. Fire is probably an infrequent event.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These ponds are readily recognizable on infrared aerial photos as circular white areas within marsh islands. These communities are not tidal marshes as they are not tidally flooded but are found in the interior of uplands. These areas are certainly affected by salt spray (but only during extreme storm events) and/or tidal flooding during extreme high tides. These infrequent tidal or storm flooding events maintain brackish soil conditions.

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

Floristics: These seasonally flooded wetlands are dominated by Spartina bakeri, or at least with substantial cover of it. Herbaceous dominants also include Woodwardia virginica, Hibiscus moscheutos, Juncus effusus, and Saccharum giganteum. Additional herbaceous species may include Panicum virgatum, Cyperus odoratus, and Juncus roemerianus. Scattered trees and shrubs also occur, including Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum, Pinus taeda, Pinus serotina, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Salix nigra, Diospyros virginiana, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Persea palustris, and the exotic Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum). Disturbance of these ponds may result in a reduction to less than 50% cover of Spartina bakeri.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: These seasonally flooded wetlands are restricted to marsh islands of the South Atlantic Coastal Plain of South Carolina and Georgia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  GA, SC


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?

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.2 Beaksedge species - Spikerush species - Panicgrass species Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Prairie & Marsh Macrogroup M067 2.C.4.Ne.2
Group 2.C.4.Ne.2.c Marsh Fimbry - Spikerush species - Southern Umbrella-sedge Coastal Interdunal Marsh & Prairie Group G777 2.C.4.Ne.2.c
Alliance A1389 Sand Cordgrass Coastal Marsh Alliance A1389 2.C.4.Ne.2.c
Association CEGL007713 Sand Cordgrass - Virginia Chainfern - Sugarcane Plumegrass Marsh CEGL007713 2.C.4.Ne.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Fresh Water Grass-Sedge Community (Hillestad et al. 1975)
Concept Author(s): C. Smith and M. Pyne

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-30-98
  • Aulbach-Smith, C. Personal communication. Botanical Services of SC.
  • GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
  • Hillestad, H. O., J. R. Bozeman, A. S. Johnson, C. W. Berisford, and J. I. Richardson. 1975. The ecology of the Cumberland Island National Seashore, Camden County, Georgia. Technical Report Series No. 75-5. Georgia Marine Sciences Center, Skidway Island, GA.
  • McManamay, R. H. 2017a. Vegetation mapping at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/SECN/NRR--2017/1511. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 422 pp.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.