Print Report

G531 Schoenoplectus spp. - Typha spp. Interior Freshwater Marsh Group

Type Concept Sentence: These arid west freshwater marshes are found at all elevations below alpine throughout the western interior basins and mountains of western North America, with dominant species such as Carex pellita, Carex praegracilis, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Paspalum distichum, Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Typha domingensis, Typha latifolia, and species of Bidens, Cicuta, Cyperus, Mimulus, and Phalaris.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Clubrush species - Cattail species Interior Freshwater Marsh Group

Colloquial Name: Arid West Interior Freshwater Marsh

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: These arid west freshwater marshes are found at all elevations below timberline throughout the western interior basins and mountains of western North America. Vegetation is characterized by a lush, dense herbaceous layer with low diversity, sometimes occurring as a monoculture. Structure varies from emergent forbs which barely reach the water surface to tall graminoids that reach as tall as 4 m high. Dominant species include Carex pellita, Carex praegracilis, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Paspalum distichum, Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Typha domingensis, Typha latifolia, and species of Bidens, Cicuta, Cyperus, Mimulus, and Phalaris. This group includes shallow freshwater to brackish waterbodies found in bottomlands along drainages, in river floodplain depressions, cienegas, oxbow lakes, below seeps, frequently flooded gravel bars, low-lying sidebars, in-fill side channels, small ponds, stockponds, ditches and slow-moving streams, perennial streams in valleys and mountain foothills, as well as in small depressions gouged into basalt by Pleistocene floods, channeled scablands of the Columbia Plateau and within dune fields in the intermountain western U.S. These wetlands are mostly small-patch, confined to limited areas in suitable floodplain or basin topography. They are mostly semipermanently flooded, but some marshes have seasonal hydrologic flooding. Water is on or above the surface for most of the growing season. A consistent source of freshwater is essential to the function of these communities. Soils are muck or mineral or muck over a mineral soil, and water is high-nutrient. It is often found along the borders of ponds, lakes or reservoirs that have more open water. Some occurrences are interdunal wetlands in wind deflation areas, where sands are scoured down to the water table. The water table may be perched over an impermeable layer of caliche or clay or, in the case of the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado, a geologic dike that creates a closed basin that traps water.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Temperate continental, permanently saturated to seasonally flooded wetlands, often with standing water for much of the year, dominated by emergent graminoid herbaceous vegetation. Characteristic dominant species include Typha spp., Schoenoplectus spp., Eleocharis palustris, Carex praegracilis, Carex pellita, and Cyperus spp.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This group does not include oceanic saline-influenced tidal areas (coastal saline marshes and brackish marshes) which belong to ~Temperate Pacific Salt Marsh Group (G499)$$. Marshes in saline waters located at the edge of the Great Salt Lake are included in ~North American Desert Alkaline-Saline Marsh & Playa Group (G538)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation is characterized by a lush, dense to open emergent herbaceous layer. The emergent vegetation is characterized by graminoids, annual or perennial forbs or a mixture of all three. Heights varies from low forbs that barely breaking the water surface to tall graminoids up to 4 m high. Sites are permanently or seasonally inundated which prevents the establishment of woody species. Ponds typically have concentric rings or zones of vegetation.

Floristics: These arid west interior marshes are dominated by emergent herbaceous species, mostly graminoids (Carex, Scirpus and/or Schoenoplectus, Eleocharis, Juncus, Typha,) but also some forbs. Stands vary in diversity, with some stands occurring as a monoculture of one of the dominant genera. Dominant species include Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Carex praegracilis, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Paspalum distichum, Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Typha domingensis, Typha latifolia, and species of Bidens, Cicuta, Cyperus, Mimulus, and Phalaris.

Dynamics:  Sites are depressions, ponds, springs, and riparian areas that are heavily inundated for at least part of the growing season which impedes the establishment of woody species. Isolated marshes in dune systems are subject to changes in size and location of the wet swales as the sand dunes shift, due to active dune migration. Dune "blowouts" and subsequent stabilization through succession are characteristic processes of the active dunes which surround the interdunal swales.
Environmental Description:  Climate: Temperate Continental climate. Environmental settings include bottomlands along drainages, in river floodplain depressions, cienegas, oxbow lakes, below seeps, frequently flooded gravel bars, low-lying sidebars, infilled side channels, small ponds, stockponds, ditches and slow-moving streams, perennial streams in valleys and mountain foothills. Elevations range from 890 to 1560 m (2930-5120 feet). Soil/substrate/hydrology: Substrates are variable but are generally fine-textured, alkaline, alluvial soil, coarse loam, sandy loam, sand, silt or peat. Hydrologic regimes vary from seasonal inundation followed by complete soil desiccation to year-round standing water. Water may be poorly oxygenated and nitrogen-rich. They are mostly semipermanently flooded, but some marshes have seasonal hydrologic flooding. Water is at or above the surface for most of the growing season. A consistent source of freshwater is essential to the function of these systems. Soils are muck or mineral or muck over a mineral soil, and water is high-nutrient. Environmental information compiled from Bowers (1982, 1984, 1986), Banner et al. (1986, 1993), Lloyd et al. (1990), MacKinnon et al. (1990), Cooper and Severn (1992), Viereck et al. (1992), Shiflet (1994), Holland and Keil (1995), Shephard (1995), Steen and Coupe (1997), Hammond (1998), Pineada et al. (1999), Boggs (2000), Pineda (2000), Rondeau (2001), Brand and Sanderson (2002), and Chappell and Christy (2004).
Geographic Range: This group is found throughout the temperate western North America interior (Columbia Basin, Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, and higher intermountain basins of western North America). It is also know to occur in dune fields across the intermountain western U.S., including the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado and the Pink Coral Dunes in Utah, and may also occur in dune fields in northeastern Arizona and the Great Basin, as well as in southwestern Wyoming in the Killpecker Dunes and Ferris Dunes, and southern Idaho.

Nations: CA,MX,US

States/Provinces:  AB, AZ, BC, CA, CO, ID, KS, MT, MXSON, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D031 2.C.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nb.1 Arid West Interior Freshwater Marsh Macrogroup M888 2.C.4.Nb.1
Group 2.C.4.Nb.1.a Clubrush species - Cattail species Interior Freshwater Marsh Group G531 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3891 Common Spikerush - Pale Spikerush Marsh Alliance A3891 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3892 Water Horsetail - Ferriss'' Horsetail Marsh Alliance A3892 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3894 Knotgrass Marsh Alliance A3894 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3895 Chairmaker''s Bulrush - Hardstem Bulrush - California Bulrush Marsh Alliance A3895 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3896 Southern Cattail - Broadleaf Cattail - American Common Reed Western Marsh Alliance A3896 2.C.4.Nb.1.a
Concept Lineage: G518 merged into G531 (GK/MSR 6-10-13)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < III.A.3.d - Fresh sedge marsh (Viereck et al. 1992)
< III.B.3.a - Fresh herb marsh (Viereck et al. 1992)
< Wetlands (217) (Shiflet 1994)
Concept Author(s): C. Chappell, R. Crawford, K.A. Schulz, in D. Faber-Langendoen et al. (2011)

Author of Description: M.E. Hall, G. Kittel and J. Christy

Acknowledgements: J. Christy

Version Date: 12-02-15
  • Banner, A., J. Pojar, and R. Trowbridge. 1986. Representative wetland types of the northern part of the Pacific Oceanic Wetland Region. Internal report FF85008-PR. British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Program. 45 pp.
  • Banner, A., W. MacKenzie, S. Haeussler, S. Thomson, J. Pojar, and R. Trowbridge. 1993. A field guide to site identification and interpretation for the Prince Rupert Forest Region. Ministry of Forests Research Program. Victoria, BC. Parts 1 and 2. Land Management Handbook Number 26.
  • Bezanson, D. 2000. Natural vegetation types of Texas and their representation in conservation areas. M.A. thesis, University of Texas, Austin. [http://tconr.home.texas.net/Vegetation/]
  • Boggs, K. 2000. Classification of community types, successional sequences and landscapes of the Copper River Delta, Alaska. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-469. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. March 2000. 244 pp.
  • Bowers, J. E. 1982. The plant ecology of inland dunes in western North America. Journal of Arid Environments 5:199-220.
  • Bowers, J. E. 1984. Plant geography of southwestern sand dunes. Desert Plants 6(1):31-42, 51-54.
  • Bowers, J. E. 1986. Seasons of the wind: A naturalist''s look at the plant life of southwestern sand dunes. Northland Press, Flagstaff, AZ. 156 pp.
  • Brand, C. A., and J. Sanderson. 2002. Characterization of water resources at The Nature Conservancy''s Medano-Zapata Ranch in the San Luis Valley, CO. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy of Colorado.
  • Brown, D. E., editor. 1982a. Biotic communities of the American Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 4(1-4):1-342.
  • Carr, W. R. 1991. Status report on Cyperus onerosus. Report prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM.
  • Carr, W. R. 2004. An annotated list of the G3/T3 and rarer plant taxa of Texas. Texas Conservation Data Center, The Nature Conservancy of Texas, Austin.
  • Chappell, C., and J. Christy. 2004. Willamette Valley-Puget Trough-Georgia Basin Ecoregion Terrestrial Ecological System EO Specs and EO Rank Specs. Appendix 11 in: J. Floberg, M. Goering, G. Wilhere, C. MacDonald, C. Chappell, C. Rumsey, Z. Ferdana, A. Holt, P. Skidmore, T. Horsman, E. Alverson, C. Tanner, M. Bryer, P. Lachetti, A. Harcombe, B. McDonald, T. Cook, M. Summers, and D. Rolph. Willamette Valley-Puget Trough-Georgia Basin Ecoregional Assessment, Volume One: Report prepared by The Nature Conservancy with support from The Nature Conservancy of Canada, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Natural Resources (Natural Heritage and Nearshore Habitat programs), Oregon State Natural Heritage Information Center and the British Columbia Conservation Data Centre.
  • Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, K. Snow, J. Teague, and R. White. 2003-present. Ecological systems of the United States: A working classification of U.S. terrestrial systems. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Cooper, D. J., and C. Severn. 1992. Wetlands of the San Luis Valley, Colorado: An ecological study and analysis of the hydrologic regime, soil chemistry, vegetation and the potential effects of a water table drawdown. Report submitted to the State of Colorado Division of Wildlife, the USDI Fish & Wildlife Service and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District.
  • Crowe, E. A., B. L. Kovalchik, and M. J. Kerr. 2004. Riparian and wetland vegetation of central and eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University, Portland. 473 pp. [http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/ publications.html]
  • Dick-Peddie, W. A. 1993. New Mexico vegetation: Past, present, and future. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 244 pp.
  • El-Hage, A., and D. W. Moulton. 1998. Area study: Parts of the Trans-Pecos, Texas. Evaluation of selected natural resources in parts of Loving, Pecos, Reeves, Ward, and Winkler counties, Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife, Resource Protection Division: Water Resources Team, Austin.
  • 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]
  • Hammond, D. J. 1998. Measuring changes in aerial extent of historic wetlands at Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado, 1936-1995. M.S. thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
  • Hendrickson, D. A., and W. L. Minckley. 1984. Cienegas - Vanishing climax communities of the American Southwest. Desert Plants 6(3):131-175.
  • Holland, V. L., and D. J. Keil. 1995. California vegetation. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, IA. 516 pp.
  • Jahrsdoerfer, S. E., and D. M. Leslie. 1988. Tamaulipan brushland of the lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas: Description, human impacts, and management options. USDI Fish & Wildlife Service. Biological Report 88(36). 63 pp.
  • Lloyd, D. A., K. Angove, G. Hope, and C. Thompson. 1990. A guide for site identification and interpretation of the Kamloops Forest Region. 2 volumes. Land Management Handbook No. 23. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC. [http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/lmh/lmh23.htm]
  • MacKinnon, A., C. DeLong, and D. Meidinger. 1990. A field guide for identification and interpretation of ecosystems of the northwest portion of the Prince George Forest Region. Land Management Handbook No. 21. Province of British Columbia, Research Branch, Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC.
  • Muldavin, E., M. P. Moreno, J. Thomson, and P. Mehlhop. 1994b. A vegetation map for White Sands National Monument. Final report prepared for White Sands National Monument: Alamogordo, NM, by New Mexico Natural Heritage Program.
  • Muldavin, E., P. Durkin, M. Bradley, M. Stuever, and P. Mehlhop. 2000a. Handbook of wetland vegetation communities of New Mexico. Volume I: Classification and community descriptions. Final report to the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Protection Agency prepared by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
  • Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices
  • Pineda, P. M. 2000. Invertebrate inventory of Indian Spring Natural Area, Saguache County, Colorado. Field Season 1999. Final report to Colorado Natural Areas Program. Denver, CO. 37 pp.
  • Pineda, P. M., R. J. Rondeau, and A. Ochs. 1999. A biological inventory and conservation recommendations for the Great Sand Dunes and San Luis Lakes, Colorado. Report prepared for The Nature Conservancy, San Luis Valley Program. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 86 pp.
  • Rodriguez, D., K. G. Sikes, T. Keeler-Wolf, G. Kittel, J. Curtis, C. Curley, and J. Evens. 2017. Vegetation classification of Channel Islands National Park. Report to the National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Rondeau, R. 2001. Ecological system viability specifications for Southern Rocky Mountain ecoregion. First edition. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 181 pp.
  • Shephard, M. E. 1995. Plant community ecology and classification of the Yakutat Foreland, Alaska. R10-TP-56. USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region. 213 pp. plus appendices.
  • Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
  • Steen, O. A., and R. A. CoupĂ©. 1997. A field guide to forest site identification and interpretation for the Cariboo Forest Region. Land Management Handbook No. 39. Parts 1 and 2. British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Program, Victoria, BC.
  • Szaro, R. C. 1989. Riparian forest and scrubland community types of Arizona and New Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 9(3-4):70-139.
  • TPWD [Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]. 1989d. Monahans Sandhills State Park summary of representative plant communities. October 1989. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin.
  • Ungar, I. A. 1965. An ecological study of the vegetation of the Big Salt Marsh, Stafford County, Kansas. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 116(1):1-99.
  • Ungar, I. A. 1972. The vegetation of inland saline marshes of North America, north of Mexico. Basic Problems and Methods in Phytosociology 14:397-411.
  • Viereck, L. A., C. T. Dyrness, A. R. Batten, and K. J. Wenzlick. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. General Technical Report PNW-GTR286. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 278 pp.