Print Report

CEGL006848 Iva frutescens / Spartina patens Saline Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Jesuit''s-bark / Saltmeadow Cordgrass Saline Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Eastern Tidal Salt Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This maritime shrubland of the eastern Atlantic states occurs in association with salt marshes. In its natural condition, this community forms the ecotone between high salt marsh and adjacent upland vegetation. It also occurs in patches on areas of slightly higher elevation within the salt marsh or on spoil mounds adjacent to ditches. Iva frutescens is the most characteristic and dominant shrub species. Spartina patens is a characteristic and usually abundant grass, often occurring as a monoculture beneath the shrub canopy. Other common herbaceous associates include Distichlis spicata and Spartina alterniflora; Juncus gerardii may also occur at the northern end of the range. Other less common associates may include Cuscuta gronovii, Limonium carolinianum, Lythrum lineare, and Solidago sempervirens. The vegetation is characterized by an open and relatively evenly spaced shrub stratum of short stature, rarely exceeding one meter in height, with a well-developed herbaceous layer, reflecting an intergrading of this community with the adjacent high salt marsh. Storm-induced disturbance causes periodic die-back of the shrubs restricting the extent of their spread.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: As shrub cover decreases, the community often grades into high salt marsh associations such as ~Panicum virgatum - Spartina patens - Carex silicea Salt Marsh (CEGL006150)$$ or Spartina patens-dominated high marsh associations. Southern analogs of this salt marsh-upland border shrubland include ~Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens - Morella cerifera - (Ilex vomitoria) Saline Shrubland (CEGL003920)$$ along the southern Atlantic Coast from the Carolinas to Florida west to Louisiana and ~Iva frutescens ssp. frutescens - Baccharis halimifolia / Spartina spartinae Saline Shrubland (CEGL004616)$$ along the Texas Gulf Coast. This community is differentiated from ~Morella cerifera / Spartina patens Wet Shrubland (CEGL003839)$$ by the presence of Iva frutescens and by the influence of tidal flooding. It is differentiated from ~Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens / Panicum virgatum Saline Shrubland (CEGL003921)$$ by a relatively lower species composition, lower elevation and more gradual transition to the adjacent high salt marsh, and by the unimportance of Baccharis halimifolia and Panicum virgatum.

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

Floristics: Iva frutescens is the most characteristic and dominant shrub species. Spartina patens is a characteristic and usually abundant grass, often occurring as a monoculture beneath the shrub canopy. Other common herbaceous associates include Distichlis spicata and Spartina alterniflora; Juncus gerardii may also occur at the northern end of the range. Other less common associates may include Cuscuta gronovii, Limonium carolinianum, Lythrum lineare, and Solidago sempervirens. The vegetation is characterized by an open and relatively evenly spaced shrub stratum of short stature, rarely exceeding one meter in height, with a well-developed herbaceous layer, reflecting an intergrading of this community with the adjacent high salt marsh.

Dynamics:  This association can be flooded by storm tides. Heavy salt spray and tidal flooding from severe storms can cause die-back in the shrub layer. Seaward, this association grades into high salt marsh dominated by herbaceous vegetation. Landward, shrub cover becomes more dense.
Environmental Description:  This maritime and estuarine shrubland of the eastern Atlantic states occurs in association with salt marshes. It forms an ecotone between the high salt marsh and adjacent upland vegetation. It also occurs in patches on areas of slightly higher elevation within the salt marsh or on spoil mounds adjacent to ditches. This shrubland occurs above mean high tide but can be flooded by storm tides. Substrate is organic peat over glacial till, sand, or sandy loam.
Geographic Range: This association ranges from Massachusetts to South Carolina.

Nations: US

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


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.c Saltmeadow Cordgrass - Jesuit''s-bark High Salt Marsh Group G121 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Alliance A4489 <i>Baccharis halimifolia - Iva frutescens</i> Tidal Shrub Salt Marsh Alliance A4489 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL006848 Jesuit''s-bark / Saltmeadow Cordgrass Saline Shrubland CEGL006848 2.C.5.Nb.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Iva frutescens - Baccharis halimifolia (Good 1965)
< Iva frutescens / Panicum virgatum community (Metzler and Barrett 2006)
= Iva frutescens / Spartina patens Shrubland (Coulling 2002)
= Iva frutescens / Spartina patens Shrubland (Fleming et al. 2007b)
= Iva frutescens / Spartina patens Tidal Shrubland (Harrison and Stango 2003)
< Iva frutescens and Baccharis halimifolia (Klemas et al. 1973) [Delaware]
? Estuarine scrub-shrub wetland (Tiner 1985b) [New Jersey]
? Estuarine scrub-shrub wetland (Tiner 1985a) [Delaware]
? Salt Marsh (Rawinski 1984a) [formerly Southern New England and Gulf of Maine Salt Marshes]
= Salt bush - salt meadow marsh (Daiber et al. 1976) [Delaware]
= Salt grass - marsh elder savanna (Martin 1959b) [New Jersey]
? Salt marsh and upper border (Barry 1980) [South Carolina]
< Salt marsh community (Hill 1986) [Assateague Island]
< Saltbush zone (Boule 1979) [Virginia]
< Shrub succession community (Higgins et al. 1971) [Assateague Island]
< Swamp thicket (Klotz 1986) [Virginia]
Concept Author(s): L.A. Sneddon and A. Berdine

Author of Description: S.L. Neid, E.F. Largay, L.A. Sneddon

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-01-07
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