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G120 Typha domingensis - Schoenoplectus spp. - Sagittaria subulata Tidal Salt Marsh Group
Type Concept Sentence: These are brackish tidal marshes found along the North American Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts from the Bay of Fundy to Texas, dominated by species such as Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Bolboschoenus robustus, Spartina cynosuroides, Typha angustifolia, and Typha domingensis.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Southern Cattail - Bulrush species - Awl-leaf Arrowhead Tidal Salt Marsh Group
Colloquial Name: Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Brackish Salt Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: Brackish tidal marshes develop where saltwater mixes with freshwater, primarily in estuaries but also sometimes on the lee side of barrier islands or in other settings. The vegetation is primarily herbaceous, but there may be areas of shrub dominance. Graminoids are prominent and typically include tall species such as Typha angustifolia, Typha domingensis, Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Bolboschoenus robustus, and Spartina cynosuroides. The salt marsh grasses Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora may also be present, but generally are mixed with other species instead of exhibiting strong dominance as they do in the salt marsh setting. Those Spartina are typically most abundant where brackish marsh is transitioning to salt marsh, for example at the estuary mouth. Some brackish tidal marshes are forb-dominated; common species in these settings include Sagittaria subulata, Limosella australis, Lilaeopsis chinensis, Sagittaria calycina var. spongiosa, Polygonum arifolium, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Zannichellia palustris, Eleocharis parvula, and Amaranthus cannabinus. Some of these forbs also occur as associates where graminoids are dominant.
In Atlantic Canada, the brackish marshes have a somewhat different character. They are characterized by Carex paleacea, Hierochloe odorata, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Spartina pectinata, and/or Schoenoplectus maritimus/pungens; Solidago sempervirens is frequent; freshwater species, such as Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, Solidago uliginosa, among others, are typical; Carex mackenziei, Cladium mariscoides, Eleocharis parvula, Hordeum jubatum, Limosella australis, Samolus valerandi, and Teucrium canadense may be present. Coastal plain species such as Schoenoplectus americanus, Eleocharis rostellata, and Lilaeopsis chinensis (more typical in low salt marsh) are only found in western Nova Scotia.
In Atlantic Canada, the brackish marshes have a somewhat different character. They are characterized by Carex paleacea, Hierochloe odorata, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Spartina pectinata, and/or Schoenoplectus maritimus/pungens; Solidago sempervirens is frequent; freshwater species, such as Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, Solidago uliginosa, among others, are typical; Carex mackenziei, Cladium mariscoides, Eleocharis parvula, Hordeum jubatum, Limosella australis, Samolus valerandi, and Teucrium canadense may be present. Coastal plain species such as Schoenoplectus americanus, Eleocharis rostellata, and Lilaeopsis chinensis (more typical in low salt marsh) are only found in western Nova Scotia.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Herbaceous (less often shrub-herbaceous) vegetation influenced by mesohaline (brackish) tidal waters (generally 0.5-18 ppt salinity); dominance by a variable mixture of species that includes some plants intolerant of higher salinity waters; Schoenoplectus americanus, Typha angustifolia, Amaranthus cannabinus, Polygonum spp., Sagittaria spp., Limosella australis, Lilaeopsis chinensis, Eleocharis parvula, Spartina patens, and/or Spartina alterniflora may be present, but do not form monocultures.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Brackish marshes are distinguished by being confined within a tidal river and by reduced cover of Spartina patens and increased cover of associated brackish marsh species such as Schoenoplectus americanus, Typha angustifolia, Amaranthus cannabinus, and Polygonum spp. Flats with low forbs will be dominated by plants such as Sagittaria subulata and Limosella australis rather than by the halophytes (Salicornia and Sarcocornia spp., for example) seen in salt marsh flats. Associations with some brackish influence that occur as patches in the high marsh are somewhat intermediate and are placed in ~Atlantic & Gulf Coastal High Salt Marsh Group (G121)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Dominance ranges from extensive grasslands (tall Schoenoplectus spp., etc.) to sparsely vegetated mudflats.
Floristics: Graminoids typically include tall species such as Typha angustifolia, Typha domingensis, Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Bolboschoenus robustus (= Schoenoplectus robustus), and Spartina cynosuroides. The salt marsh grasses Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora may also be present, but generally are mixed with other species, and are most abundant where brackish marsh is transitioning to salt marsh, for example at the estuary mouth. Some brackish tidal marshes are forb-dominated; common species in these settings include Sagittaria subulata, Limosella australis, Lilaeopsis chinensis, Sagittaria calycina var. spongiosa, Polygonum arifolium, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Zannichellia palustris, Eleocharis parvula, and Amaranthus cannabinus. Some of these forbs also occur as associates where graminoids are dominant.
In Atlantic Canada, the brackish marshes have a somewhat different character. They are characterized by Carex paleacea, Hierochloe odorata, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Spartina pectinata, and/or Schoenoplectus maritimus/pungens; Solidago sempervirens is frequent; freshwater species, such as Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, Solidago uliginosa, among others, are typical; Carex mackenziei, Cladium mariscoides, Eleocharis parvula, Hordeum jubatum, Limosella australis, Samolus valerandi, and Teucrium canadense may be present. Coastal plain species such as Schoenoplectus americanus, Eleocharis rostellata, and Lilaeopsis chinensis (more typical in low salt marsh) are only found in western Nova Scotia (S. Basquill pers. comm. 2015).
In Atlantic Canada, the brackish marshes have a somewhat different character. They are characterized by Carex paleacea, Hierochloe odorata, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Spartina pectinata, and/or Schoenoplectus maritimus/pungens; Solidago sempervirens is frequent; freshwater species, such as Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, Solidago uliginosa, among others, are typical; Carex mackenziei, Cladium mariscoides, Eleocharis parvula, Hordeum jubatum, Limosella australis, Samolus valerandi, and Teucrium canadense may be present. Coastal plain species such as Schoenoplectus americanus, Eleocharis rostellata, and Lilaeopsis chinensis (more typical in low salt marsh) are only found in western Nova Scotia (S. Basquill pers. comm. 2015).
Dynamics: Wave and ice-scour can have a significant influence on the year-to-year appearance of the vegetation, and also influences variations in physiognomy and composition along estuary reaches.
Environmental Description: Climate: Cool-temperate to warm-temperate maritime climate. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Brackish tidal marshes develop along estuaries where freshwater mixes with ocean saltwater moving up the estuary from the tidal force. Waters in brackish marshes are generally in the 0.5-18 ppt salinity range, and the vegetation is subject to flooding from the twice-daily tides.
Geographic Range: This group occurs along the North American Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts from the Bay of Fundy to Texas.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AL, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, LA, LB?, MA, MD, ME, MS, NB, NC, NF?, NH, NJ, NS, NY, PA, PE?, QC, RI, SC, TX, VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.837561
Confidence Level: Low
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 | A4492 <i>Spartina alterniflora - Spartina cynosuroides - Cladium mariscus</i> Brackish Tidal Marsh Alliance | A4492 | 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 |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Estuarine Persistent Emergent Wetland (Cowardin et al. 1979)
- Cowardin, L. M., V. Carter, F. C. Golet, and E. T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. FWS/OBS-79/31. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, DC. 103 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Ferren, W. R., Jr., R. E. Good, R. Walker, and J. Arsenault. 1981. Vegetation and flora of Hog Island, a brackish wetland in the Mullica River, New Jersey. Bartonia 48:1-10.
- McCormick, J., and T. Ashbaugh. 1972. Vegetation of a section of Oldmans Creek Tidal Marsh and related areas in Salem and Gloucester counties, New Jersey. Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science 17:31-37.
- Odum, W. E., T. J. Smith, III, J. K. Hoover, and C. C. McIvor. 1984. The ecology of tidal freshwater marshes of the United States east coast: A community profile. FWS/OBS-83/17. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, DC. 176 pp.
- Visser, J. M., C. E. Sasser, R. H. Chabreck, and R. G. Linscombe. 2000. Marsh vegetation types of the Chenier Plain, Louisiana, USA. Estuaries 23(3):318-327.